Suchit wrote that Thaiflood.com in collaboration with Google used Google Earth Builder to , and that Thaiflood.com also has an Android-based application that enables field volunteers to collect data and monitor flood levels while identifying locations through GPS technology via mobiles. Could 'crowdsourcing' via on-the-ground monitors with smartphones have helped the Thai government become aware--or even avert--disasters like the flooding of Nava Nakorn and Bang Pa-in Industrial Estates?

According to Suchit, Thai wind energy company Fatshore has developed a flood warning device prototype called Fatshore Scada to support Thaiflood.com projects--it monitors rainwater and river levels, transmitting the data to the government's flood control center electronically, and "the locally made system costs only tens of thousands of baht compared with millions for an import." Fatshore's Managing Director Chainarong Sukumprasertsri said the idea "was inspired by the US government's Citizen Weather Observation Program that collects weather data from the public. The more citizens contribute data to the central system, the more accurate the picture of the water situation nationwide." Also, Microsoft (Thailand) is working with local partner Ecartstudio on a location-based information system which will show "an overlay of flood-related information such as the population, relief efforts, evacuation centres and even parking areas for each location displayed on the map."

Did the Thai government ever consider using these resources, during a year when my sources in Bangkok told me it started raining heavily in March (typically the hot, dry season)? Has there been any concerted Thai government water-management effort during a time when it's clear that the global climate is changing, with floods and/or droughts manifesting at random?