The final judging of the six finalists in the UP BEST* Tech Tournament 2010 was successfully done last Monday, May 31. 

*Bright engineering, science & technology-based solutions to pressing socio-economic problems in the Philippines such as floods, landslides, windstorms, earthquakes or other environmental hazards

Design of a System, Structure or Device for Disaster Risk Management

The six finalists are as follows:

(1) An Integrated Methodology for an Effective Solution to the Flood Problem of Metro Manila particularly the Pasig-Marikina River Basin

(2) Modular Extensive Green Roof-Rainwater Harvesting System for Flood Risk Management in the Philippines

(3) Automated Weather Monitoring System

(4) System for Managing Risk thru Technology (SMART): City

(5) BAYANeHAN Disaster Management System

(6) SLiDAR Landslide Detection and Ranging “Sensing Slides, Saving Lives”

Criteria for judging include (a) creativity/design innovation - 50%; (b) usefulness, value of the research – 30%; (c) project presentation – 20%. The above projects were thoroughly questioned and commented by the judges. The panel of judges is multidiscplinary which composed of scientistists, engineers, and sociologists that represent academe, private and public sectors of the community. The panel of judges is composed of the following:

Dr. Caesar A. Saloma – Dean, UP College of Science

Dr. Zosimo E. LEe – Dean, UP College of Social Science and Philosophy

Dr. Leonardo Q. Liongson – Professor, UP Institute of Civil Engineering

Dr. Emmanuel M. Luna – Professor, UP College of Social Work and Community Development

Engr. Valentin A. Reyes – UPAE President 2001, Senior Associate, APAC Operations, JMJ Associates

The programme concluded with the announcement of Best Three Projects wherein the fourth to sixth project listed above were recognized. Awarding of winners will be announced on June 13 during the University of the Philippines Alumni Engineers (UPAE) Homecoming. Engineer Valentin Reyes closed with a statement that all participants are winners because of their courage in stepping out of their comfort zones to think of projects that could help improve disaster risk management in the country. Mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipino na makikinabang sa mga proyekto!