An Intelligent Automated Barrier for Mitigating Internal Flood Damage in Residential Buildings

Introduction: Severe weather events such as floods are increasing in frequency and pose significant risks to homes, infrastructure, and human safety. Traditional domestic flood protection systems often require manual setup or user intervention, limiting their effectiveness during sudden flood events. Addressing this gap, we propose an integrated automated barrier system that is designed to reduce internal flooding and associated damage for residences located on sloped streets.

Methods: The developed system combines mechanical components with sensor-driven automation to detect rising floodwater and react in real time. The key elements include an array of hinged diverting plates (lintels) and a vertical sealing barrier installed at the entrance threshold. When sensors register imminent water ingress, the system autonomously deploys the lintels to redirect surface flow away from the doorway, creating a localized dry area. Simultaneously, the sealing barrier engages to prevent water from penetrating the the building's interior. The design process incorporated standard door dimensions and complied with relevant safety and automation regulations.

Results: Prototype testing under simulated flood conditions demonstrated consistent activation without human intervention, effective water diversion away from the entryway, and reduced internal water penetration compared to conventional static barriers. The automated control logic reliably interpreted sensor inputs, triggering timely deployment and retraction of barrier elements.

Conclusions: The intelligent automated barrier shows promise as a proactive residential flood mitigation solution that enhances response times and protects property with minimal human input. Future work will refine sensor calibration and assess long-term field performance across diverse flood scenarios.