Reducing flood vulnerability with high precision sensor technology

Australia has been battered with La Niña phenomenon in the last three years, which result in increasing occasions of flash flooding and extreme weather conditions. The latest floods in Australia have been among the worst the country has ever seen, causing enormous devastation and limiting supply of grocery staples. Many of the towns affected by the latest flooding have already seen a series of cascading climatic events in recent years.

To minimise the damage from these adverse weather events, we need to come up with mitigating solutions. For example, flood gates can be installed in high-risk areas to control the flow of floodwater when flood alerts are issued.

The basic measurement involved in flood prevention and other overflowing water conditions is water level monitoring. Millions of pressure transmitters have been used around the world for monitoring water level in dams and overflow tanks in wastewater treatment plants for flood prevention purposes. The idea is, when the water level reaches a dangerous level, an alert will be issued by the system that automatically activates flood prevention measures implemented by local authorities.

Flood gate monitoring systems

Pressure transmitters from KELLER have been widely used around the world in the design of such systems. In particular, KELLER 33X pressure transmitters are embedded in the flood gate systems in Venice due to their extremely high measurement accuracy of 0.01% to detect even the tiniest fluctuation in pressure. The flood prevention system combines an independent data recorder and a remote transmitter to reliably transmit water levels and pressure data to a control room over the GSM mobile phone network via SMS, e-mail, or FTP in order to provide flood warnings in real time.

The above-mentioned system can be installed with a series of hollow mechanical structures or electronically controlled gates. In the example above, the system is secured by a giant hinge set in concrete. When the flooding alert is issued, air is pumped into the gates, which causes them to rise up to form a protective barrier. When the water is at the normal level, the gates lie retracted beneath the water level. The Keller 33X was chosen for this application as high precision data were required to control and monitor the gates.

Water level monitoring systems

Monitoring the water level in dams is required as a flood preventive measure, especially in areas where frequent flooding occurs.

General oil-filled gauge pressure transmitters are not generally suitable for use in areas that experience frequent flooding due to the high moisture content in the air. The new absolute water pressure sensor from KELLER has been used for water level monitoring applications, especially in dams and wastewater tanks. The Keller PAA-36XW pressure transmitter is equipped with barometric pressure sensor and can communicate with Modbus protocol. Furthermore, this pressure transmitter has an additional layer of lighting protection for outdoor applications and can withstand wet and humid environments, offering long-term measurement stability.

Automated flood warning systems

Traditionally, special maps were created for high-risk areas that show flooding patterns and the actions to be taken. However, extreme weather events are becoming more common and more difficult to predict. Therefore there is now a greater possibility that flooding can hit new municipalities that are not equipped with flood prevention system. As a result, local governments now need to implement IoT-capable solution to cover all the municipalities.

The design of IoT-capable flood warning systems includes a pressure transmitter and a remote data transmission unit. The ARC-1 battery-operated remote data transmission unit has a data-logging function and can be easily installed in the monitoring pipes. It can also periodically transmit the water level and pressure data via 2G, 3G, 4G, IoT, LTE or LoRaWAN. Data can be easily accessed via cloud-based monitoring software.

High precision pressure sensors from KELLER

Pressure transmitters from KELLER are known for their high accuracy, stability, and reliability. KELLER uses advanced microelectronic technology to produce pressure sensors and transmitters with a high signal-to-noise ratio, low temperature coefficients, and excellent long-term stability. The sensors are designed to operate in harsh environments and can withstand exposure to extreme temperatures, pressure, and vibration.

With their modular design, KELLER pressure transmitters can be easily customised, which provides high flexibility in industrial applications, especially for OEM manufacturers. For example, customers can choose from a range of options to configure the product to their specific application requirements, including different pressure ranges, output signals, and electrical connections.

With more than 40 years of industrial experience, Bestech Australia has worked with world-leading suppliers of high precision sensors technology to support industrial testing and engineering validation requirements in Oceania. Bestech has worked with local water authorities to supply large quantities of pressure sensors for measurement systems for wastewater management in Victoria. We pride ourselves in delivering high-quality equipment to fulfil all testing needs while also providing full after-sales technical support to assist until the completion of the project. Bestech engineers build a long-term collaborative relationship with their clients and are always available to answer any doubts and questions. To speak with one of Bestech’s specialists, contact Bestech on 03 9540 5100 or enquiry@bestech.com.au. Alternatively, visit Bestech’s website for more information on sensors and high precision measurement systems.

Image: iStock.com/kawamura_lucy