Surface Water Eutrophication: an Issue Calling for Real-time Cloud Monitoring
A.U.G. Signals is embarking on a new research project, “Real-time cloud-based monitoring of nutrients in agricultural effluent for mitigation of algal blooms in surface water” with German partners, Hydroisotop GmbH and TUM. This is a 2 year joint R&D project supported by NRC-IRAP (Canada) and ZIM (Germany).
Eutrophication is a global environmental problem. It occurs when high nutrients and minerals in water causes an undesirable amount of algae increase. Eutrophic events are prevalent across multiple continents and signify a need for more robust monitoring to facilitate rapid responses to pollution threats. Therefore, in this project, partners aim to develop and test a real-time cloud-based monitoring platform by integrating real-time sensors and analyzers in order to monitor, record and communicate the real-time information of nutrient levels, pollution sources and cyanotoxins. The pilot test of sensor prototypes in both Canada and Germany over this project will provide the data to develop machine learning algorithms which can correlate the data of (1) between dissolved nutrient with total nutrient level; and (2) between dissolved nutrient with the production of cyanotoxins. The outcomes of this project will also provide the groundwork for partners to study the impact of real-time data to enhance existing nutrient reduction solutions.
In Canada, AUG will also continue to work with the academic partner, Prof. Scott Mundle, at the Great Lake Institute for Environmental Research of University of Windsor, who has extensive expertise in developing environmental sampling and field test methods. Dr. Mundle had his team currently have ongoing projects in greenhouse, agricultural, urban and oil/gas field watersheds that will serve as sample sites. With real-time monitoring data available remotely via a cloud-based platform, this project outcome will facilitate government, conservation authorities, and regulatory agencies to effectively measure, monitor and identify pollution sources.