Water quality measurement buoy

Water quality is an essential factor for the health and well-being of people and ecosystems. However, many coastal and lake areas suffer from pollution from various sources, such as industrial, agricultural, urban or tourist activities. This situation negatively affects biodiversity, food security, economic development and the quality of life of local communities. To address this problem, continuous and efficient monitoring of water quality is required, which makes it possible to detect and prevent environmental and health risks, as well as measures to design and implement appropriate management and restoration. However, conventional monitoring methods, based on specific sampling and laboratory analysis, are expensive, slow and limited in their spatial and temporal coverage. In this context, smart buoys emerge as a technological innovation that offers a more effective and sustainable solution for monitoring water quality. These buoys are equipped with a variety of advanced sensors that can measure a wide range of environmental parameters, such as temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, chlorophyll, nutrients, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, bacteria, viruses, etc. In addition, smart buoys can transmit the collected data in real time via wireless or satellite networks, making it easier to access and process by scientists and environmental authorities. The objective of this project is to build a low-cost smart buoy to measure the water quality of bays and lakes, using accessible and easy-to-assemble materials and components. This buoy will allow obtaining relevant and updated information on the state and evolution of aquatic ecosystems, as well as identifying and alerting about possible pollution episodes. The project is part of a Cuban-Belgian collaboration, financed by the Academy of Research and Higher Education (ARES), which seeks to promote the exchange of knowledge and experiences between both countries in the field of environmental monitoring.