IoT monitoring of water
In today's world, monitoring the state of water is critically important for protecting public health, preserving ecosystems, and ensuring sustainable development. The use of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies allows for high-accuracy collection and analysis of data from remote locations in real time, which helps to make informed decisions and ensures prompt response to changes in water parameters.
In Ukraine, there are practically no automatic online water quality monitoring stations. By 2024, there were several dozen of them in the river basin. Siverskyi Donets, Tisza, Desna, but, for various reasons, they are not functioning now or information about them is not published. On the other hand, there are many similar solutions for atmospheric air quality, for example, data can be viewed or downloaded on portals SaveEcoBot , EcoCity etc. Therefore, it is necessary to create a similar monitoring network.
One of the main differences that makes it difficult to deploy a water monitoring system compared to an air monitoring system is that for the latter, the device can simply be placed on the wall of your building at work or at home, plugged into an outlet and connected to your WiFi (that's right, as a rule, it is done), and with regard to water monitoring, a special place in the water with autonomous power and a signal collection network is required. If the first two questions can be answered, then the choice of signal collection method is an open question. The authors have experience in solving these issues on the basis of the Sigfox IoT network.
Innovative French Sigfox technology is a leading solution for long-distance data transmission with low energy consumption. This technology provides communication even in the most remote locations where traditional means of communication are unavailable, making the system optimal for monitoring water resources such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs and other natural and artificial bodies of water. The system provides an opportunity to receive accurate data on water condition indicators — temperature, pH level, concentration of pollutants, etc. — and transfer them to cloud services for further storage and comprehensive analysis.
The purpose of this work is to design a water monitoring system using the Internet of Things and Sigfox technology. The object of research is an information system based on IoT technology using LPWAN network technologies. The subject of the research is the processes and methods of monitoring water parameters using the Internet of Things (IoT) technology and Sigfox technology.
Initial prerequisites for the development of a water condition monitoring system
The development of this system was preceded by numerous studies, design and testing of the developed information solutions, which made it possible to form the necessary knowledge base and practical experience. In particular, an analysis of the coverage area of the Sigfox station was carried out, an information system for indoor temperature monitoring was developed, and a prototype of a water quality monitoring system based on Sigfox technology was created.
The decision to use the Internet of Things and Sigfox technology was determined by a number of factors. First, IoT enables the integration of various sensors and devices for real-time data collection, which is critical for effective monitoring of environmental parameters such as water quality. Secondly, the Sigfox technology, which belongs to the LPWAN class, provides high efficiency of data transmission over long distances with low energy consumption. Thirdly, Sigfox allows you to reduce the costs of the communication infrastructure, since this technology does not require complex solutions for the organization of local networks.
The structure of the information system
The architecture of the water condition monitoring system, based on the Internet of Things (IoT) and Sigfox technologies, consists of several key components that interact to collect, process and transmit water condition data. The main elements of this architecture include:
- Sensors: At the initial level of the system, there are sensors designed to measure various water parameters, such as temperature, pH, pollution level, oxygen content and other critical indicators.
- Data collection devices: Sensors are connected to microcontrollers that process the data received from the sensors.
- Sigfox network: After processing, the data is transmitted over the Sigfox network. This low-power broadband wireless technology provides energy-efficient and reliable data transmission over long distances
- Data processing server: Centralized processing of the received data takes place on the server, where the data is analyzed, stored and processed for further visualization.
- Web App or Mobile App: Users access water status information through a web app or mobile app.
- Notification system: The system also includes mechanisms for notifying users of changes in water conditions. This can be implemented via SMS, email or push notifications.
Hardware components of the monitoring system
The device will consist of a microcontroller, a Sigfox data transmission module and IoT sensors that will measure the main water parameters. It is suggested to use industrial types of sensors, which are designed for long-term continuous stay in water and measurement of indicators. Completion of development and implementation involves the creation of a system with submersible sensors and mounted water level monitoring sensors that transmit data through the Sigfox network to the cloud environment. The received data will be processed and aggregated in the cloud environment, after which it will be sent to a specialized application for visualization and analysis. In addition, it is possible to implement an application programming interface (API) for transferring information to open data portals, in particular to the Open Data Portal of the Vinnytsia City Council.
It is suggested to use the following express analysis sensors:
• pH;
• electrical conductivity;
• redox potential;
• dissolved oxygen;
• temperature;
• water level.
It is suggested to place the microcontroller, Sigfox module and sensor boards in a plastic waterproof housing with IP68 degree of protection. This body can be fixed on a floating platform or on a stationary post, for example, on a pier. Sensors are immersed to a depth of several meters in water.
Ultrasonic sensors for water level control are suggested to be placed on bridge supports or stationary post supports, as this arrangement ensures stability and accuracy of measurements. This will allow continuous monitoring of water level changes with high accuracy, since the ultrasonic wave passes through air, not water, which ensures stability of measurements even in the presence of obstacles on the water surface. The layout of the monitoring devices is shown in Figure 5, where A is the ultrasonic sensors, and B is the water quality measuring device:
System of early response to pollution
An early response system for pollution in the river basin is a critical component of water quality monitoring using Internet of Things (IoT) technology and the Sigfox network. The main purpose of this system is to ensure prompt detection of dangerous changes in the state of water and to take urgent measures to prevent environmental disasters.
Sensors located at various points in the river monitor abnormal indicators, such as sudden changes in pH, rising levels of pollutants or other dangerous parameters. If such anomalies are detected, the sensors automatically transmit this information via the Sigfox network to a centralized data collection system that processes the data in real time, analyzing it for potential threats.
Scheme of operation of the IoT system of early response to pollution of natural waters
In case of exceeding the critical values of the water level or detection of pollutants by monitoring devices (A), the system initiates a response mechanism. Messages are automatically generated and sent to the relevant authorities, such as local environmental services, water utilities or rescue services. These messages contain important information about the type and level of pollution or water level, as well as the geolocation of the location of the anomaly, which allows services to quickly assess the situation and determine the need to go to the scene.
In case of serious contamination, the system is able to initiate automatic closing of the sluice gates (B) to prevent contaminated water from entering the water supply system (C). This process is implemented through specially developed mechanisms that can be remotely activated in response to signals from the monitoring system. Such measures ensure the protection of water supply and reduce the risk of hazardous substances entering drinking water. Similarly, it is possible to implement a flood protection system based on a water level sensor, if there is such a need.
Additionally, the system can include a data visualization function that presents all information about water quality and measures taken in an easy-to-understand format. This aspect is important for rapid response and coordination of actions between different services, because it provides access to up-to-date data not only for specialists, but also for the public.