As Thailand’s Heat Climbs, GISTDA Launches LifeDee for Nationwide Monitoring and Surveillance of Drowning Risks

As Thailand’s Heat Climbs, GISTDA Launches LifeDee for Nationwide Monitoring and Surveillance of Drowning Risks

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As temperatures rise across Thailand, public health officials are turning their attention to a quieter but persistent danger: drowning. It remains a leading cause of death in both children and adults, with incidents peaking between March and May during the hot season and school holidays.

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This situation is particularly alarming, and the risk is expected to intensify. The Thai Meteorological Department has warned that the heat index — the temperature the human body actually feels — could reach 52 to 60 degrees Celsius in early April. That level is considered “extremely dangerous”, particularly for vulnerable populations.

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According to the Department of Disease Control (DDC), Thailand recorded 3,941 drowning deaths in 2025, equivalent to approximately 10 people per day. Children under 15, working-age adults and older people are among the most affected. Most incidents occur in irrigation canals, reservoirs, and natural water sources, with the highest mortality rates concentrated in the Northeast.

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In response to these risks, Thailand has intensified its drowning prevention efforts. This initiative aligns with the Global Strategy for Drowning Prevention, endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly, and supports the global target of a 35 percent reduction in drowning-related deaths by 2035. The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), in collaboration with the Division of Injury Prevention at the Department of Disease Control, has developed a nationwide system to identify high-risk drowning areas — addressing a public health challenge that intensifies during the hot season and school holidays. The system uses satellite images to identify water bodies across the country and integrates data from multiple agencies to support the management of high-risk areas through the LifeDee platform.

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“LifeDee was originally developed as a tool for tracking air pollution building on the existing Check Phoon application. The platform integrates real-time PM2.5 monitoring, health risk assessment and access to public health services into a single system, allowing people from all groups to access information and services more easily. It is no longer just about public health monitoring. We are expanding to improve overall quality of life—linking environmental risks with practical services people can use every day”, said Dr. Chanika Sukawattanavijit, head of the Social Stability Division at GISTDA.

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LifeDee is now being redesigned based on universal design principles to ensure equal, convenient, and safe access for older adults and people with disabilities. Among the features scheduled to roll out in the coming months are evacuation routes for floods and other disasters, as well as improved access to public services for vulnerable populations, which are expected to be available by September this year. The drowning risk map has now been expanded to cover the entire country and is publicly available.

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Dr. Sirirat Suwanrit, director of the Division of Injury Prevention at DDC, described the collaboration as a step forward in integrating geospatial technology with public health data. The system represents a shift toward proactive risk management, supporting surveillance, targeted risk communication, and local-level interventions with greater efficiency. It is expected to significantly reduce drowning-related deaths in the long term. Furthermore, DDC plans to integrate data with relevant agencies at the local level to ensure that information used to support these efforts is accurate, timely and accessible across all population groups.

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Dr. Jiratiwan Kruasilp, a Geo-informatics Specialist from the Office of Geo-Informatics Development and Application at GISTDA, said the drowning risk mapping system began as a pilot in the Northeast, the region with the country's highest drowning rates. The study focused on areas under the Office of Disease Prevention and Control Region 9 in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. It identifies high-risk water bodies and those where mitigation measures have already been implemented. These include warning signs and lifesaving equipment installed by local communities and relevant agencies.

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The system has since expanded to cover the entire country, with data detailed enough to zoom in at the district level. It classifies drowning risk based on historical fatalities from 2020 to 2024, using data from the Strategy and Planning Division of the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health. Risk levels are color-coded according to criteria set by the DDC. For instance, areas marked in red indicate high risk, with a minimum of five recorded deaths, while green areas indicate lower risk, with only one recorded death. The system can also identify the age groups of victims in each area, with data available by month and year.

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The public can easily access the data through the LifeDee application. Users can view nearby high-risk areas and locate the nearest hospitals in case of emergency. In critical moments, these capabilities could save lives.

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It is one example of how space-based technology can be applied to everyday challenges. Combined with health and environmental data, satellite images bring risks into clearer focus, helping authorities plan, monitor and respond in time.