world. Discrete water quantity measurements and water quality sampling are
conducted at regular time intervals (e.g., monthly) and do not provide sufficient
data to capture temporal and spatial changes that occur during episodic events. In
recent decades, there have been significant advances in water monitoring technologies that include sensor technologies, remote monitoring technologies, and data
transfer technologies. These technologies allow water resource managers and
researchers to capture real-time water quantity and quality data during episodic
events such as major storms. Real-time and continuous water monitoring can capture
temporal changes and provides broader spatial coverage of water quantity and quality
in a watershed. Furthermore, it allows data collection when it is normally impractical
with discrete sampling (e.g., during major storm events, nighttime, remote, and
dangerous locations). This chapter presents an overview of advances in water sensor
technologies. Topics discussed include various types of sensors for water quantity
and water quality measurements, examples of commercially available water quantity
and water quality monitoring devices, data collection and transport platforms, and
data management and quality assurance/quality control for water monitoring.
Keywords Biosensors • Chemical sensors • Data platform • Optical sensors •
Physical sensors • Telemetry • Water level sensors • Water monitoring
1 Introduction
Measurements of natural water quantity and water quality are essential to make
informed decisions for sustainable management of water resources and ecosystem
protection. Measurements of the quantity of water are required for drought and
flood management; for estimating the availability of water supplies for municipal,
industrial, and agricultural uses; and for estimating pollutant loads in surface
waters. Water quality measurements are required to assess the overall health of a
watershed, the suitability of the watershed to support living resources and provide
ecosystem services, and to identify potential threats to human health.
During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, manual or discrete
water monitoring techniques were developed and refined for water quality and
quantity measurements, and many of these techniques are still used around the
world. Discrete water quantity measurements and water quality sampling
conducted at regular time intervals (e.g., monthly) provide a broad view of seasonal
changes of water quantity and quality but do not provide sufficient data to capture
temporal and spatial changes that occur during episodic events such as precipitation
and major storm events, pollutant discharges and spills, and harmful algal blooms.
In order to capture the impacts of these episodic events, temporally and spatially
intensive monitoring techniques need to be applied.
In recent decades, there have been significant advances in water monitoring
technologies that include sensors technologies, remote monitoring technologies,
and data transfer technologies [1]. These technologies allow regulatory agencies/
water resources managers and researchers to capture real-time data for water
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T. Younos and C.J. Heyer
conducted at regular time intervals (e.g., monthly) and do not provide sufficient
data to capture temporal and spatial changes that occur during episodic events. In
recent decades, there have been significant advances in water monitoring technologies that include sensor technologies, remote monitoring technologies, and data
transfer technologies. These technologies allow water resource managers and
researchers to capture real-time water quantity and quality data during episodic
events such as major storms. Real-time and continuous water monitoring can capture
temporal changes and provides broader spatial coverage of water quantity and quality
in a watershed. Furthermore, it allows data collection when it is normally impractical
with discrete sampling (e.g., during major storm events, nighttime, remote, and
dangerous locations). This chapter presents an overview of advances in water sensor
technologies. Topics discussed include various types of sensors for water quantity
and water quality measurements, examples of commercially available water quantity
and water quality monitoring devices, data collection and transport platforms, and
data management and quality assurance/quality control for water monitoring.
Keywords Biosensors • Chemical sensors • Data platform • Optical sensors •
Physical sensors • Telemetry • Water level sensors • Water monitoring
1 Introduction
Measurements of natural water quantity and water quality are essential to make
informed decisions for sustainable management of water resources and ecosystem
protection. Measurements of the quantity of water are required for drought and
flood management; for estimating the availability of water supplies for municipal,
industrial, and agricultural uses; and for estimating pollutant loads in surface
waters. Water quality measurements are required to assess the overall health of a
watershed, the suitability of the watershed to support living resources and provide
ecosystem services, and to identify potential threats to human health.
During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, manual or discrete
water monitoring techniques were developed and refined for water quality and
quantity measurements, and many of these techniques are still used around the
world. Discrete water quantity measurements and water quality sampling
conducted at regular time intervals (e.g., monthly) provide a broad view of seasonal
changes of water quantity and quality but do not provide sufficient data to capture
temporal and spatial changes that occur during episodic events such as precipitation
and major storm events, pollutant discharges and spills, and harmful algal blooms.
In order to capture the impacts of these episodic events, temporally and spatially
intensive monitoring techniques need to be applied.
In recent decades, there have been significant advances in water monitoring
technologies that include sensors technologies, remote monitoring technologies,
and data transfer technologies [1]. These technologies allow regulatory agencies/
water resources managers and researchers to capture real-time data for water
172
T. Younos and C.J. Heyer