Online sensor technologies

Deliverable (D2.1)

This is the second policy brief from the NORDBALT-ECOSAFE project published ‘Monitoring water quality with sensors - based on experiences from streams in Northern Europe’. Changes in land use and climate are affecting our water resources in many ways, and can result in nutrient enrichment (eutrophication), increased sediment loads and other pollution (e.g., heavy metals, organic pollutants, and other hazardous substances). Hence, it will become increasingly important to monitor responses in water quality of both human pressures and the effects of the mitigation measures we employ. At the same time, water quality, especially in streams, is notorious for its rapid fluctuations over time, which can mean that information is lost when using water grab sampling with monthly, bi-weekly or even weekly intervals. Here, sensor technology can offer a solution, as it can monitor a set of substances frequently and give us data in real-time, at relatively low costs. In this policy brief, mainly aimed at water managers, we give an overview of advantages and challenges with sensor monitoring, related to their multiple uses.

Deliverable (D2.2)

Deliverable D2.2 is uploaded to the EU portal in late February 2024. The new deliverable includes that we are displaying an interactive map on our project Online Networking Platform that gives stakeholders the possibility to see and learn about real time data on water quality from a number of sensor stations in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. Support information about the specific stations displayed and a factsheet to learn more about use of sensor data is also provided on the platform.

Objectives

WP2 aims to clarify to which degree sensors can meet the data needs for stakeholders dealing with eutrophication problems, showcase sensor opportunities in monitoring programmes, and increase citizen awareness by establishing living labs for online data demonstrations.

Tasks

2.1: Investigate stakeholders’ needs for data when assessing safe ecological boundaries in different types of water bodies.
2.2: Identify ‘living labs’ for demonstration of sensor stations, including real-time data transfer, to enhance citizen awareness and further develop and explore the use of early warning systems
2.3: Evaluate the impact of sensor use in future regular monitoring programmes for reaching safe ecological boundaries in freshwater.

Coordinator

Eva Skarbøvik, NIBIO

Workpackage 2