Young innovators of Mapúa University showcased their research on fire detection and monitoring in the 2018 National Science and Technology Week forum last July 18 at the World Trade Center. 

Team FLAME, one of the seven 2017 Young Innovators Program (YIP) awardees, was composed of seven Grade 12 students of the Mapúa Senior High School taking up Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education, namely, Jacob Martin Manguiat, Emmanuel Freeman Paloma, Alec Denji Santos, Darwyn James Goling, Louie Andrie Reyta, Adrian Robert Doroteo, and Franklin Godwin Lañojan. The team developed Project FLAME or Project Fire Luminosity Alert and Multisensory Equipment.

“Through the Internet of Things technology, we are not only measuring data, we are actually predicting it,” said Alec Denji Santos, team leader of FLAME. “The equipment will not only send warnings and fire alerts to BFP, it will also send the exact location or the area of where the fire is happening.”

The Internet of Things is a new technology that wirelessly connects devices and sensors over the Internet. It is an open technology that creates possibilities in big data analytics allowing users to analyze data coming from different sensors and predictions. 

“During our disaster risk reduction management class, we saw the trend and the rate of fire incidents in the country, and it is increasing every year. Using our knowledge in our own field of expertise, we developed Project FLAME,” said Emmanuel Freeman Paloma, team member.

Team FLAME started as the 2017 robotics team of Mapúa Senior High School. The students transitioned into conducting research and innovation projects after they were granted funding by the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) through Young Innovators Program, which provides support to young innovators and researchers who can be promising scientists and engineers of the future. The council’s new program paves the way to the increase in research publications and the development of innovative technologies and devices in the Philippines. 

“The energy of our young students to do research is intact. They think outside the box, and are not easily distracted. You just have to mentor them,” said Engr. Ericson Dimaunahan, physics instructor and adviser of Team FLAME. 

Team FLAME’s project took one year to finish. The students had to undergo trainings in public speaking and learn technical programming in the duration of the research. It was completed in June 2018 and was submitted to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for implementation.

“Our adviser trained us to dig deeper and to do research like a true researcher. He guided us throughout the whole research and instructed us on what areas to focus and study,” said Darwyn James Goling, team member.