INNOVATION DESIGN THINKING (1BIDTL158 )
TOPIC: Arduino Based Water Level Sensor in Flood Wall Deployment
Branch: Computer Science Engineering
Presented by: Team Titans Presented To: Prof. Ashwini T N
Anjali Archita
TEAM Ashmita
Diksha TITANS
Aashna Aseem
CONTENTS
1. Innovation Design Thinking (IDT) 9. Advantages
2. Steps involved in IDT 10. Bengaluru Case Study
3. Empathize: Understanding the
11. Implementing Arduino based system to manage
Problem flooding
4. Define – Problem Statement
12. Challenges
5. Ideate – Proposed Solution
13. Learnings from Project
6. Components Used
14. Skills Learned
7. Working Principle
8. Applications 15. Things to be Done Differently Next Time
16. Conclusion
INNOVATION DESIGN THINKING (IDT)
• Innovation is the process of creating new ideas, products, services or methods
that add value and solve real world problems effectively. It involves creativity,
experimentation and practical implementation of ideas to bring positive change.
• Innovation helps organizations remain competitive and improves the quality of
life by addressing unmet needs. Design thinking combines empathy, logic and
imagination to solve problems.
STEPS INNVOLVED IN IDT
Design Thinking is a problem-solving approach that focuses on:
1. Empathize – Understand the problem
2. Define – Identify the core issue
3. Ideate – Generate solutions
4. Prototype – Build a model
5. Test – Check and improve the solution
EMPATHIZE – UNDERSTANDING THE PROBLEM
• People living near rivers face sudden floods
• Lack of early warning systems in rural areas
• Expensive flood monitoring systems are not affordable
• Need for a simple, low-cost, and reliable system
DEFINE – PROBLEM STATEMENT
“How might we design a low-cost, reliable system to detect rising water levels and
alert people early to prevent flood damage?”
URBAN FLOODING IN
BENGALURU
IDEATE – PROPOSED SOLUTION
• Use Arduino as the controller
• Monitor water levels using sensors
• Provide alerts using buzzer, LED, or SMS
• Automatic and real-time flood monitoring
COMPONENTS USED
• Arduino Uno
• Water Level Sensor / Ultrasonic Sensor
• Buzzer
• LED indicators
• GSM module (optional)
• Connecting wires
• Power supply
WORKING PRINCIPLE
• This sensor works on the principle of variable resistance. The sensor consists of a
series of parallel exposed conductors. Together this series acts as a variable resistor,
whose resistance varies according to the water level in the water tank.
• As more water sensor is submerged in, the better is the conductivity and the lower is
the resistance. The less the water sensor is submerged in, the poor is the conductivity
and the higher is the resistance.
• The output of the water level sensor is according to the resistance of the water
produced. i.e. it will produce a voltage proportional with resistance.
• Installing the water level sensor near
river banks, we can deploy an
automatic wall deployment system.
• When water reaches a certain level,
walls can be accordingly lifted to block
the water.
• As the water level rises slowly, walls
can be slowly lifted to stop water from
coming in. This would thus prevent
flash floods occurring when all water is
suddenly emptied from a dam.
APPLICATIONS
Riverbanks
Dams and canals
Smart cities
Rural and flood-prone areas
Disaster management
systems
ADVANTAGES
• Low-cost and affordable
• Easy to install and maintain
• Real-time flood monitoring
• Can save lives and property
• Scalable for large areas
BENGALURU CASE STUDY
When it happens
Flooding in Bengaluru usually happens during heavy
rain spells, especially in the pre-monsoon (May) and
monsoon months when intense downpours
overwhelm the city’s drainage systems.
Where it happens
Flooding and waterlogging are most common in low-
lying and poorly drained areas of the city.
Commonly affected neighborhoods include parts of
Koramangala, Sai Layout, HBR Layout, Whitefield,
Manyata Tech Park/ORR corridors, Kengeri,
Yelahanka and other eastern/southern zones.
IMPLEMENTING ARDUINO BASED SYSTEM
TO MANAGE FLOODING
•Early warning system:
Water level sensors placed in stormwater drains, lakes, underpasses, and low-
lying areas can detect rising water levels. When the level crosses a safe limit, the
Arduino can trigger alarms, lights, or SMS alerts to authorities and nearby
residents, giving time to act.
•Real-time monitoring:
The Arduino continuously collects water level data and sends it to a central control
room or mobile app using GSM, Wi-Fi, or IoT platforms. This helps officials track
flooding conditions across different parts of the city.
•Automated flood control:
Based on sensor readings, the system can automatically control pumps, sluice gates, or
drainage motors to release excess water and prevent overflow.
•Data for planning
Stored data helps identify frequently flooded areas, peak water levels, and rainfall
patterns. This information supports better urban planning and drainage improvement.
•Low-cost and scalable:
Arduino systems are affordable, easy to install, and expandable, making them suitable
for large cities like Bengaluru where multiple flood-prone locations need monitoring
CHALLENGES
• Using the same apparatus repeatedly over time can decrease its efficiency and
thus can issue a warning even when its safe.
• Due to friction between materials, deploying walls regularly can wither the
materials.
• Careful planning must be implemented to ensure that system isn’t accidently
triggered.
• Using faulty components can cause the system to give false alerts.
LEARNINGS FROM PROJECT
• Learning how to apply the design thinking framework (empathize, define, ideate, prototype, test) to
solve real-world problems systematically.
• Understanding the importance of empathy and user-centered research in identifying meaningful
needs.
• Learning how to turn vague problem statements into clear, actionable challenges.
• Discovering the value of rapid prototyping and iterative improvement based on feedback.
• Learning techniques such as brainstorming, mind-mapping, journey mapping, and creating personas.
• Gaining insight into how creativity and structured processes can work together to generate innovative
solutions.
SKILLS LEARNED
• Empathy and user research: conducting interviews, observing behavior, and synthesizing insights.
• Creative ideation: generating diverse ideas, thinking divergently, and building on others'
suggestions.
• Prototyping: creating low-fidelity models, mockups, or storyboards to visualize ideas quickly.
• Collaboration & teamwork: communicating ideas clearly, giving and receiving constructive
feedback, and working across different perspectives.
• Problem-solving: breaking complex challenges into smaller components and iterating toward better
solutions.
• Presentation skills: pitching ideas confidently and explaining the rationale behind decisions.
CHALLENGES FACED IN THE IDEATION
• It was difficult to avoid jumping straight to solutions without fully understanding the problem.
• Conducting user interviews felt challenging at first-knowing what to ask and how to interpret
responses.
• Working in a team with different viewpoints required patience and strong communication.
• Narrowing down ideas during the ideation phase was tough because many concepts seemed promising.
• Creating prototypes within limited time or resources was demanding.
• Iterating based on critical feedback sometimes felt discouraging but ultimately improved the final
outcome.
THINGS TO BE DONE DIFFERENTLY NEXT TIME
• Spend more time on the empathy and research stage to gather deeper insights before
ideating.
• Test prototypes earlier instead of waiting to refine them too much.
• Document user research more thoroughly to avoid misinterpretations later.
• Encourage more diverse brainstorming sessions and push for bolder ideas initially.
• Communicate more consistently within the team to reduce misunderstandings.
• Allocate time for multiple iteration cycles rather than rushing toward a final solution.
CONCLUSION
• Arduino-based flood management system is effective
• Design Thinking helps create user-centered solutions
• Encourages innovation using simple technology
• Can play a major role in disaster prevention
• Is affordable to build and scalable
• Needs timely maintenance to function properly
THANK YOU