A New Era of Coastal Monitoring
Imagine being able to monitor the health of coastal environments wirelessly without expensive equipment with very good accuracy. That’s exactly what the University of Vermont research team is pursuing by designing a novel pore pressure probe. Using Long-range Wide-area Networks (LoRaWAN) wireless technology, this device can transmit data over long distances with minimal energy consumption. It’s an effective tool for sensing at remote locations where power sources are not available. The probe is equipped with eight pressure and temperature sensors arranged along a copper pipe to capture data at different depths. This setup allows researchers to observe how pressure changes with depth, giving them a clear understanding of groundwater dynamics and sediment stability. These insights are crucial for understanding and predicting hazards like erosion and landslides.
How Does it Work?
This probe features Long-Range Internet of Things and pressure and temperature sensors, all connected to a central microprocessor. The sensors are strategically placed along the copper pipe, providing simultaneous measurements at multiple depths. The LoRa-enabled microprocessor gathers sensor data and transmits them wirelessly to a cloud-based server for analysis. To maximize battery life and ensure efficient data transmission, the probe uses smart data compression techniques that reduce the size of each data packet. This means faster transmission, reduced chances of data loss, and better network reliability—even in challenging environments.
Field Testing and Results
This probe has been rigorously tested in both the lab and the field. In laboratory tests, it was submerged in a water container to validate the accuracy of its pressure and temperature readings. The linear response value R2 equals 0.99 for temperature and pressure measurements, and the sensitivity of the pressure sensor is 0.97 mbar/cm.
Field tests in Leddy Beach, VT, provided even more compelling evidence of the probe’s capabilities. Deployed on the beach, the probe successfully captured the subtle changes in pore pressure caused by incoming waves, detecting variations up to 30 cm below the surface. Its ability to operate continuously on a single battery pack for over a month makes it ideal for long-term monitoring in remote environments.
Applications Beyond Coastal Monitoring
The potential of this probe goes far beyond coastal monitoring. Imagine using it in agriculture to optimize irrigation by precisely measuring soil moisture and pore pressure. At just $420, this device is affordable enough for widespread use. Its versatility makes it a powerful tool for researchers and practitioners for a wide range of applications.
The material based in this article is supported by the NSF grant 2119485.
Soheyl Faghir Hagh is a graduate research assistant at the Department of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, the University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont. His research initiatives include developing wireless sensor nodes for environmental monitoring, such as water quality and coastal environments. His research interests include the Internet of Drones (IoD), LoRaWAN sensor nodes, machine learning, circuit and device design and fabrication.
