Low-Cost Optical Sensors for Water Quality IOT Networks

The Problem

Australia’s inland and coastal waterways are under profound threat due to increasing human activity and climate change and impacts from bushfire sediment, storm events, pollution and contamination. But current monitoring, whether by sampling or sensors, is sparse and disjointed, and is limited by cost, spatial extent, time and data availability.

Our Solution

An Internet of Things (IOT) solution is the most cost-effective approach to meeting the goals of ubiquitous, autonomous sensing across the Australian aquatic landscape. However, at this point in time, few sensors exist to create such a solution.  

Building on CSIRO’s strong history of sensor and sensor platform development, this project will explore the development of cost-effective, low maintenance, turbidity and nitrate sensors based on the considerable promise offered by optical methods. We plan to make full use of the Autonomous Sensing FSP Sensor Prototyping Hub to design optical solutions and test prototype systems. To test our systems in real world applications we will exploit the strong connections with a diverse range of stakeholders offered by the AquaWatch Australia Mission.  

Collaborators

This project is lead by Tim Malthus (Enviro) in collaboration with Stephen Gensemer (MAN) and Postdoctoral Fellows Tarun Sanders (Enviro) and Asma Akther (Manu).