MANILA — A new Filipino invention called RAMUN (Resistivity Acquisition and Monitoring of the Underground) has won the national James Dyson Award for its potential in disaster risk reduction. Developed by Joseph Aristotle de Leon of De La Salle University, RAMUN uses sensors and electric current transmitters to measure soil resistivity, which indicates how well the ground resists the flow of electricity.
This data can help assess underground conditions after earthquakes or landslides, offering valuable insights for disaster preparedness. In addition to its applications in natural disaster monitoring, RAMUN can be used in construction and groundwater pollution detection. Data collected by the device is processed into timelapse videos for clear visual analysis.
De Leon is currently developing a field prototype to advance the project, with hopes of making it a vital tool in both public safety and environmental monitoring.