The engineers of Queensland has developed a river Drifter device, warning about the threat of flooding, when sewage or algae bloom. It looks like a simple tube of PVC, equipped with sensors that transmit data about the quality and speed of the water in real time.
Smart tube can be an alternative to the standard stationary sensors flood monitoring that are used now. In contrast, Drifters are more mobile and can throw to any part of the body of water, including from a helicopter.
Data in real time is transmitted via Bluetooth and cellular network using a SIM card, and the GPS shows the exact location of the device. This allows you to quickly find the places where there is a threat of flooding.
Currently undergoing field-testing floating and stationary Drifters for measuring water pH, turbidity, salinity, temperature and oxygen content. The device can be easily reoriented for measurements in agriculture and in waste management.
Source — QUT