The DREAM booth exhibit continued to increase awareness of LiDAR technology to the public as an early warning system and land use planning tool during the DOST National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) held last July 23-28, 2014 in the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. Avid NSTW-goers from the media, Local Government Units (LGUs), and students from Science High Schools, among others, sought the latest information and updates on LiDAR coverage.

Dr Martin Isenburg gave a talk in the NSTW Emerging Technologies Forum sponsored by PCIEERD last July 24, 2014. He laid down the basics of LiDAR and gave a short overview of the DREAM LiDAR Program in the Philippines.

As part of their one-week seminar in the Philippines, the Center on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) delegates representing 7 countries visited the DREAM Office in the National Engineering Center last 4 July 2014. Program Leader Dr. Enrico Paringit presented the Program’s workflow and the applications of its outputs, particularly in disaster mitigation.

Organized by the Student Affairs Committee of the UP Department of Geodetic Engineering (GE), more than twenty (20) GE Freshmen went on a Company Visit and Office Tour of DREAM in the National Engineering Center, University of the Philippines, Diliman, last June 27, 2014.

In the Asia-Europe Meeting Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management hosted by the Philippines held last June 4-6, 2014, President Aquino included in his keynote speech the large-scale enhancement of scientific capabilities in our country. The 18 critical river basins’ early warning systems are developed by Project NOAH, under which DREAM generates LiDAR data for flood modeling and mapping.

Last June 3, 2014, Congress adopted House Resolution No. 1118 congratulating the DOST-DREAM Program for winning the prestigious Geospatial World Excellence for Policy Implementation Award for 2014.

In his welcome speech for the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2014, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III stated Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology as one of the main scientific tools in the ongoing mapping efforts of the Philippines. He underscored the benefits of using LiDAR maps particularly in fostering stronger communities amid climate change.

The Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM) Program, represented by its Program Leader Enrico C. Paringit, Dr.Eng. and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Mario Montejo, received on May 8 the Geospatial World Excellence in Policy Implementation Award for 2014, in the Geospatial World Forum awarding ceremony held in Geneva, Switzerland.

Immediately after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda, the Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM) Program, mobilized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), provided technical assistance in the rapid assessment of damaged infrastructures in the City of Tacloban.

Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM) contributes its LiDAR data products and flood hazard maps to the Yolanda Rehabilitation Scientific Information Center (YoRInfoCenter) launched by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) last May 17 at the National Engineering Center, University of the Philippines-Diiman.