Push Admin

Article (news)

Izzy Lee

ABS-CBN News

In a modern city, we’re often caught up with what we see around us—towering buildings, busy roads, and people in a rush. But there are things happening beneath the ground we typically can&#x27;t see.This is where 24-year-old Joseph Aristotle de Leon, a recent graduate of De La Salle University in Manufacturing Engineering and Management, focused his invention. His creation, RAMUN (Resistivity Acquisition and Monitoring of the Underground), is designed to reveal what’s happening underground—an innovation that earned him the title of national winner at the James Dyson Award 2024, a competition that seeks innovative designs that solve real-world problems.&quot;Maraming mga bagay na nangyayari sa ilalim na di natin napapansin pero like nagiging evident na lang once na naging worse na po sa environment natin...Magiging worse na lang siya once umabot siya sa surface,&quot; de Leon said.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/2024/9/10/abs-cbn-news-named-outstanding-sci-tech-advocate-by-dost-2039" id="isPasted">ABS-CBN News named outstanding sci-tech advocate by DOST </a></div>(Many things happen underground that we don&#x27;t notice until they become evident because they have worsened our environment. The problems only become apparent once they reach the surface.)According to de Leon, a clear example of how RAMUN can make a difference is in the issue of flooding. He explained that one major cause of flooding is ground subsidence, which occurs when the ground sinks due to the depletion of groundwater. He added that in urban areas like Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao, our groundwater systems are being drained faster than they can be replenished. This excessive extraction of groundwater leads to ground subsidence, which isn&#x27;t always visible until it causes serious problems like flooding. &quot;With RAMUN, once we have a better understanding kung ano &#x27;yung nasa ilalim natin, we have better implementation and solutions para...hindi na mangyari. Mas lesser na yung impact,&quot; he said. (With RAMUN, once we have a better understanding of what’s underneath the surface, we can implement better solutions to prevent problems from occurring. This helps reduce their impact.) One of RAMUN&#x27;s key features is its sensors, designed to be installed on roads and operate 24/7 to continuously monitor underground conditions. The collected data is processed with specialized software, showing what’s happening beneath the surface.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/08/01/23/un-warns-against-excessive-tech-use-in-classrooms">UN warns against &#x27;excessive&#x27; tech use in classrooms </a></div>The system works by using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), a technique that injects electrical currents into the ground through transmitters. The response of these currents, which vary depending on the properties of the soil and underground conditions, is recorded by the sensors.Although it isn’t a literal video, de Leon described it as a &quot;time-lapse resistivity map,&quot; which helps users visualize underground movements, such as pollutants or groundwater.&quot;I call it video, kasi kada frame nandun &#x27;yung special aspects at the specific time,&quot; he said.(I call it a video because each frame shows the special aspects at a specific time.) While RAMUN is still under development, de Leon remains optimistic.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/8/19/philippine-space-council-told-to-bring-space-technology-closer-to-the-people-1533" id="isPasted">Philippine Space Council told to bring space technology closer to the people </a></div>&quot;Hopefully may mahanap tayo na area or may area tayo na pwedeng lagyan natin si RAMUN and see kung anong nakikita natin sa ilalim. Not only see kung anong nangyayari sa underground but also do something,&quot; he said.(Hopefully, we can find an area where we can install RAMUN and observe what’s happening underground. It’s not just about seeing what’s going on but also about taking action.)RAMUN has advanced to the international round of the James Dyson Award 2024. Additionally, GeopolyCement and Fire GeoPrimer from Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) were finalists and will also move on to the international round.The Top 20 shortlist will be announced on October 16, and the international winners, including the sustainability winner, will be revealed on November 13.&quot;It&#x27;s a great honor because it recognizes my hard work and my vision kasi, and also the support from the people that help me,&quot; he said.(It&#x27;s a great honor because it recognizes my hard work and vision, as well as the support I received from others.) De Leon&#x27;s advice to future innovators?&quot;Stay curious lagi and explore different things...Try to be interdisciplinary since good technology are really interdisciplinary,&quot; he said.

In a modern city, we’re often caught up with what we see around us—towering buildings, busy roads, and people in a rush. But there are things happening beneath the ground we typically can't see.

In a modern city, we’re often caught up with what we see around us—towering buildings, busy roads, and people in a rush. But there are things happening beneath the ground we typically can't see.

How a DLSU graduate's invention lets people see what’s underground

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

Lifestyle

How a DLSU graduate's invention lets people see what’s underground

Izzy Lee,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 14, 2024 09:34 PM PHT

Read More:

ABSNews

ramun

dlsu

james dyson

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.