Research Update: Project ABRRAM Finds Strong Spatial Agreement Between Flood Reports and NOAH Hazard Maps Across Metro Manila
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November 09, 2026
The Project ABRRAM Team has released preliminary findings from its ongoing study examining the spatial agreement between flood observations from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), crowdsourced Waze flood reports, and UP NOAH flood hazard maps across Metro Manila.
The study integrates government and crowdsourced flood observations with existing hazard maps to assess how closely reported flooding locations correspond with mapped flood-prone areas.
Figure 1. Integrated flood observation and hazard maps. Sample maps showing MMDA and high-reliability Waze flood observations overlaid on UP NOAH flood hazard maps, including Quezon City.
Preliminary results show that 77.6% of MMDA observations and 68.7% of Waze reports spatially agree with NOAH’s low-flood-hazard map without applying an additional buffer. When a 25-meter buffer is considered, agreement increases significantly to 91.3% and 89.1%, respectively and at 50-meter buffer, agreement further increases to 96.2% and 94.6, respectively.
Figure 2. Spatial agreement at varying buffer distances. Comparison of MMDA and Waze flood observations against NOAH’s low-flood-hazard map, showing increasing spatial agreement as buffer distances expand from 0 to 200 meters.
Spatial buffers help account for potential reporting delays and location uncertainties, particularly among Waze users who may report flooding before or after passing the affected area due to traffic conditions or vehicle movement. Further studies will examine these factors and determine appropriate buffer distances for more accurate spatial comparisons.
The ongoing study demonstrates the potential of combining official observations, crowdsourced reports, and flood hazard maps to strengthen flood risk assessment, situational awareness, and evidence-based disaster preparedness.
This research is part of Project ABRRAM’s broader initiative to develop data-driven solutions for disaster risk reduction and resource allocation in the Philippines
Figure 3. Flood observations across Metro Manila LGUs. Distribution of MMDA flood observations (2024–2026) and Waze flood reports across Metro Manila.
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