Improving the accuracy of water level measurements

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 109 views

Introduction

The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized the way we monitor and manage various aspects of our lives, including environmental monitoring. One critical aspect of environmental monitoring is the monitoring of river water levels, which is essential for preventing flood disasters. In this article, we will discuss the design and development of an IoT-based river water level monitoring system using the Lora Multihop network.

Background

River water level monitoring is a critical aspect of flood disaster prevention. Traditional methods of monitoring river water levels involve manual measurements, which are time-consuming and prone to errors. The advent of IoT technology has made it possible to develop automated systems for monitoring river water levels. However, these systems often require internet access, which is not always available in remote locations.

System Design

The IoT-based river water level monitoring system developed in this study consists of three sensor nodes (A, B, and C) and one gateway. The sensor nodes are equipped with JSN SR04T sensors to measure the distance between the sensor and the water surface, MRV-RFM95W Lora modules for data transmission, and ESP32 microcontrollers as data processors. The gateway is connected to the internet through a WiFi network.

System Operation

The system operates as follows:

Node A sensor measures the water level and sends data through the Lora network to Node B sensor.
Node B sensor receives data from Node A sensor, measures the water level itself, and continues the data to Node C sensor.
Node C sensor receives data from Node B sensor, measures the water level itself, and sends the data to the gateway.
The gateway receives data from Node C sensor and sends it to the cloud platform through a WiFi network.

Data Delivery Interval Settings

The data delivery intervals in each node sensor are determined using fuzzy logic with the Sugeno method. The input used is water level and changes in water level. This system is designed to send data at least every 25 seconds and a maximum of every 5 seconds.

Test Results

Lora Multihop network testing shows a maximum range of 700m with RSSI -113 dBm and SNR -18.50DB values. The data travel time for one hop is 180 ms, two hops 866 ms, and three hops 1654 ms. This system is able to overcome the duplication, looping, and collision of data packages with an average loss of data loss of 0.375% and an average data error rate of 0.5%.

System Advantages

The IoT-based river water level monitoring system with the Lora Multihop network offers several advantages:

Real-time Monitoring

This system allows monitoring of river water levels in real-time, providing more accurate and faster information.

Long Distance Access

This system can be accessed remotely via the internet, allowing it to be monitored and controlled from any location.

Cost Savings

This system uses energy-efficient Lora technology, reducing operational costs.

Data Availability

Data collected by this system can be stored and analyzed to help in predicting and overcoming the potential for flood disasters.

Conclusion

The IoT-based river water level monitoring system with the Lora Multihop network developed in this study has been proven effective in monitoring river water conditions in real-time and sending data to the cloud platform. This system provides important information to help in preventing and minimizing the risk of flood disasters.

Future Work

Future work includes:

Improving the accuracy of water level measurements
Increasing the range of the Lora Multihop network
Developing a more robust and fault-tolerant system
Integrating the system with other IoT devices and sensors

References

[1] IoT-based River Water Level Monitoring System with Lora Multihop Network
[2] Fuzzy Logic Control for IoT-based River Water Level Monitoring System
[3] Lora Multihop Network for IoT-based River Water Level Monitoring System

Appendices

System Design Diagram
System Operation Flowchart
Test Results Table
System Advantages Table
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about IoT-based River Water Level Monitoring System with Lora Multihop Network =====================================================================================

Q1: What is the purpose of the IoT-based river water level monitoring system?

A1: The purpose of the IoT-based river water level monitoring system is to provide real-time monitoring of river water levels, enabling early warning systems for flood disasters and helping to prevent and minimize the risk of flood-related damage.

Q2: How does the Lora Multihop network work?

A2: The Lora Multihop network is a wireless communication technology that allows devices to communicate with each other over long distances. In the IoT-based river water level monitoring system, the Lora Multihop network is used to transmit data from the sensor nodes to the gateway, which then sends the data to the cloud platform.

Q3: What are the advantages of using the Lora Multihop network in the IoT-based river water level monitoring system?

A3: The advantages of using the Lora Multihop network in the IoT-based river water level monitoring system include:

Long-distance communication: The Lora Multihop network allows devices to communicate with each other over long distances, making it ideal for monitoring river water levels in remote areas.
Low power consumption: The Lora Multihop network is designed to be energy-efficient, reducing the power consumption of the system and extending its battery life.
High reliability: The Lora Multihop network is designed to be highly reliable, with a low data loss rate and a high data error rate.

Q4: How does the fuzzy logic control system work?

A4: The fuzzy logic control system is used to determine the data delivery intervals in the IoT-based river water level monitoring system. The system uses fuzzy logic with the Sugeno method to analyze the water level and changes in water level, and then determines the optimal data delivery interval.

Q5: What are the benefits of using the IoT-based river water level monitoring system?

A5: The benefits of using the IoT-based river water level monitoring system include:

Real-time monitoring: The system provides real-time monitoring of river water levels, enabling early warning systems for flood disasters.
Long-distance access: The system can be accessed remotely via the internet, allowing it to be monitored and controlled from any location.
Cost savings: The system uses energy-efficient Lora technology, reducing operational costs.
Data availability: Data collected by the system can be stored and analyzed to help in predicting and overcoming the potential for flood disasters.

Q6: How can the IoT-based river water level monitoring system be integrated with other IoT devices and sensors?

A6: The IoT-based river water level monitoring system can be integrated with other IoT devices and sensors using various protocols, such as MQTT, CoAP, and HTTP. This allows for the collection and analysis of data from multiple sources, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the river water level and flood risk.

Q7: What are the future plans for the IoT-based river water level monitoring system?

A7: The future plans for the IoT-based river water level monitoring system include:

Improving the accuracy of water level measurements: The system will be upgraded to improve the accuracy of water level measurements, enabling more precise monitoring of river water levels.
Increasing the range of the Lora Multihop network: The system will be upgraded to increase the range of the Lora Multihop network, enabling monitoring of river water levels over longer distances.
Developing a more robust and fault-tolerant system: The system will be upgraded to develop a more robust and fault-tolerant system, enabling it to operate reliably in a variety of environments.

Q8: How can the IoT-based river water level monitoring system be used in other applications?

A8: The IoT-based river water level monitoring system can be used in other applications, such as:

Monitoring of other environmental parameters: The system can be used to monitor other environmental parameters, such as temperature, humidity, and air quality.
Monitoring of industrial processes: The system can be used to monitor industrial processes, such as water treatment and waste management.
Monitoring of infrastructure: The system can be used to monitor infrastructure, such as bridges and buildings.

Q9: What are the potential risks and challenges associated with the IoT-based river water level monitoring system?

A9: The potential risks and challenges associated with the IoT-based river water level monitoring system include:

Data security: The system is vulnerable to data security risks, such as hacking and data breaches.
System reliability: The system is vulnerable to system reliability risks, such as equipment failure and power outages.
Environmental factors: The system is vulnerable to environmental factors, such as extreme temperatures and humidity.

Q10: How can the IoT-based river water level monitoring system be maintained and updated?

A10: The IoT-based river water level monitoring system can be maintained and updated by:

Regular software updates: The system software will be updated regularly to ensure that it remains secure and functional.
Hardware maintenance: The system hardware will be maintained regularly to ensure that it remains in good working condition.
Data analysis: The system data will be analyzed regularly to ensure that it is accurate and reliable.