The Bolgatanga Technical University (BTU) has emerged as the winner of the 2026 Women in Engineering (WinE) Affair, an innovative challenge. The university's WinE Team developed a smart emergency communication and flood-monitoring system. This system is designed to detect flooding early and help save lives of people trapped by floodwaters. The competition was organised under the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE) and had about 19 universities participating.
The BTU WinE Team won a trophy and a cash prize of GH¢20,000.00. Their innovation combines a flood-level sensor, alarm system, emergency communication mechanism, and GPS technology. This system detects dangerous rises in floodwater, alerts people in affected areas, and transmits their location to emergency responders. The system was developed under the Internet of Things (IoT) category.
Ms Aurelia Ayamdor, Assistant Lecturer at BTU's Electrical and Electronics Department, is the patron of the university's Women in Engineering students. She stated that the team developed the system in response to the increasing incidence of flooding in parts of Ghana. The system helps people trapped during floods to communicate with emergency responders, including the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Ghana National Fire Service.
The flood-monitoring system has a sensor that monitors the height of rising floodwater and detects when it reaches a dangerous level. Once the water reaches that level, the sensor automatically triggers an alarm and activates the emergency communication system. The system then sends signals to relevant emergency-response institutions, along with the GPS location of the affected premises.
Ms Ayamdor explained that the system enables responders to identify where assistance is required. The team plans to collaborate with ministries and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to scale up the project for use in flood-prone communities. The ultimate objective is to develop the system into a practical solution that contributes to saving lives during floods.
Dr George Dordah, Dean of BTU's School of Engineering and Built Environment, stated that the innovation demonstrates students' ability to apply classroom knowledge to address real-world challenges. He said the system provides early warning before flooding becomes more dangerous and facilitates faster rescue operations. The university intends to seek partnerships with relevant ministries and emergency-response institutions to scale up the project.
Mr Kenneth Nsoyine Atonka, President of BTU's Student Representative Council (SRC), congratulated the team on their win. He commended them for demonstrating hard work, discipline, determination, and teamwork. The SRC is proud of the students and will continue to support initiatives that empower women in engineering.
Key points
- Bolgatanga Technical University wins 2026 Women in Engineering innovation challenge.
- The university's flood-monitoring system combines IoT technology with emergency communication mechanisms.
- The system aims to provide early warning and facilitate faster rescue operations in flood-prone areas.
