In Antwerp, Belgium, the Department of Holistic Water Policy chose an advanced IoT solution to remotely and continuously monitor water levels.
Autonomous VEGAPULS Air 41 radar level transmitters play a central role in this system, which is key to being prepared for flooding and drought-related low water levels.
Old versus new – rod gauge and the modern radar transmitter: VEGAPULS Air 41. Image Credit: VEGA Grieshaber KG
In 2019, the province of Antwerp opted to develop a structured IoT-based measurement network for its watercourses. There are currently 65 IoT measuring instruments on Antwerp’s watercourses, with the VEGAPULS Air 41 autonomous radar transmitter accounting for 45 of them.
Measurements from these individual measuring stations are received in real time via a central data platform. This platform allows separate limit values and automatic alarms to be set for each watercourse.
For example, the operator can take prompt action during dry periods to impose a water withdrawal ban or notify civil protection authorities at an early stage if the water level is rising too quickly.
Difficult Conditions for Efficient Level Measurement
The reliability of generated data is one of the most important criteria when selecting a suitable measurement solution.
VEGA radar transmitters are primarily used in Category 2 non-navigable watercourses. These small watercourses are up to 8 meters wide and are occasionally densely overgrown or located in difficult-to-access areas.
These locations are prone to many sources of interference, potentially leading to incorrect measurements. These features also make it difficult to take prompt corrective action when problems arise.
Advantages of VEGA Radar Transmitters
Watercourses are sometimes densely overgrown, but thanks to its small opening angle, this is no problem for the VEGAPULS Air 41 radar level transmitter. And since it has no blocking distance, it accurately detects even sudden and drastic increases in water level. Image Credit: VEGA Grieshaber KG
VEGA radar transmitters’ innovative technology has been shown to be an ideal solution in this setting. Accurate measurement is possible even in very narrow waterways, due to the technology’s potential to measure with a small beam angle of just under 8°.
VEGAPULS Air 41 is unaffected by temperature fluctuations and false echoes. Dead band and even sudden, drastic rises in water level are detected accurately because there is no blocking distance, even in settings where the VEGA radar transmitter is not installed at a high location.
Streamlined Work via On-Site Radar Technology
The VEGAPULS Air 41 also offers a useful Bluetooth function, meaning that maintenance personnel no longer have to stand in a river with waders, in workboats or on ladders, or lean over the edge of a bridge when carrying out measurements or adjustment work. Workers can simply stand nearby and log into the system using a smartphone.
Implementing Mobile Communication
Using LoRaWAN, the VEGAPULS AIR 41 radar transmitters require only small batteries and a compact housing. Image Credit: VEGA Grieshaber KG
The province of Antwerp required that the whole solution be compact, while ensuring sufficient battery capacity (and, therefore, an appropriate battery pack) to power transmitters in remote locations.
The VEGAPULS Air 41 radar transmitter uses LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network), a wireless technology designed to enable energy-efficient, long-range communication for Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
This technology enables the transmitter to provide service for a sufficiently long time while operating on small batteries and with a compact housing.
The time between required battery replacements primarily depends on the time intervals between measurements, with measuring intervals and, therefore, battery life, adjustable to fit the application in question.
Precise Measurement Technology from VEGA
This IoT solution has set the province of Antwerp on a promising path. Traditional water level measurement techniques proved complex, costly, and time-consuming, but the wireless solution provided by the VEGAPULS Air 41 radar transmitters offers a range of decisive advantages.
The VEGAPULS Air 41 delivers reliable, timely notifications of both low water levels and flooding, enabling early initiation of countermeasures.
This potent, structured measurement network has since been expanded to at least 100 measuring points.
Acknowledgments
Produced from materials originally authored by VEGA Grieshaber KG.
This information has been sourced, reviewed, and adapted from materials provided by VEGA Grieshaber KG.
For more information on this source, please visit VEGA Grieshaber KG.