Drown WATCH Innovation: Surveillance Technology for Drowning Prevention Applying Space Technology and Geo-informatics

Abstract

This innovative development research aimed to develop and investigate the effectiveness of the Drown WATCH innovation, a system for monitoring and preventing drowning using space technology and geoinformatics. The study was conducted in Health Region 9. Conducted between June 2024 and August 2025, with the experimental sample group consisting of 100 Drown WATCH operational personnel from 5 sub-districts, 20 people per sub-district. The participants included community leaders, village health volunteers, municipal officers, sub-district administrative organization staff, and public health personnel. The sample size was calculated using simple random sampling with a purposive sampling method. The instruments used were the Drown WATCH innovation (a drowning prevention monitoring technology), a water source risk assessment form, and an innovation utilization assessment form. Spatial data were analyzed using ArcGIS, while statistical data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including T-tests, Chi-square tests, and content analysis.

The study results indicated that the Drown WATCH innovation effectively changed water source management to enhance safety before and after implementation. It significantly reduced the number of at-risk water sources at these sources (p-value < 0.01). Following the innovation's implementation, the percentage of at-risk water sources decreased in all sub-districts, notably in Wang Mi sub-district, which had the highest number of at-risk water sources prior to the intervention. A significant reduction in at-risk water sources was observed after the innovation's use. The evaluation of the innovation's impact on reducing drowning incidents and mortality rates in the experimental and control areas showed that the innovation significantly reduced the number of drowning fatalities in the experimental area (p-value < 0.01). The Case Fatality Rate decreased to 57.1%. The overall satisfaction with the innovation's benefits was high (mean 4.5), with the highest satisfaction being in the alignment with the innovation's development objectives to reduce drowning risk and prevention (mean 4.6). Particularly, the most beneficial application was in identifying at-risk areas using spatial mapping (mean 4.6). Therefore, the Drown WATCH innovation effectively reduced drowning mortality rates by altering at-risk water source management factors and increasing the installation of drowning prevention equipment through spatial mechanisms using space technology and geoinformatics. This innovation should be implemented to create safe areas and develop drowning prevention measures in other communities.