January, 2019
- The innovation is renamed from WaterMapper (name of the company) into SkyDowser (the name of the technological sensor). The URL alias is accordingly modified.
- Link to the company's web is restored
by Sergio Contreras (WP3 leader)
SkyDowser
Climate change is un undeniable fact to which we, as mankind, have to find ways to adapt. To a large extent this change relates to water. In case of extreme weather, water supplies become equally extreme, either as droughts or floods. To fight such extremities we need to bring water management to the next level. As every good manager knows: there can be no effective action if there is no insight. Insight in water however is difficult, since a large part of the earth's water resources is hidden underground. How can we gain the required insights in groundwater, such that we can take the proper actions and mitigate the consequences of climate change?
SkyDowser is a very special sensor system, carried by a drone, which is able to map the earth's first 50m of soil at high speeds, at least an order of magnitude higher than what is currently available. Due to this big improvement the cost of groundwater monitoring is reduced by an order of magnitude as well. The sensor uses classical groundwater exploration techniques, repackaged in a light-weight fashion for operation with drones. The measured signals can be used to detect groundwater levels, determine soil moisture levels and map salt-water intrusion.
Technology validated in lab.
Basic technological components are integrated to establish that they will work together. This is relatively “low fidelity” compared with the eventual system. Examples include integration of “ad hoc” hardware in the laboratory.
Basic technological components are integrated to establish that they will work together. This is relatively “low fidelity” compared with the eventual system. Examples include integration of “ad hoc” hardware in the laboratory.
We have developed a prototype of our sensor system. The prototype features integrated hard and software past the breadboard stage (TLR 4-5). Testing however has been mostly limited to lab tests. We are therefore anxious to get the system out in the field and start testing in collaboration with a variety of potential end-users.
How does it work?
The SkyDowser uses the fundamental electromagnetic properties of the earth to find, quantify and analyse groundwater. The sensor continuously transmits an electromagnetic field, which in turn causes Eddie-currents to run below the earth's surface. These currents induce a secondary electromagnetic field, which is picked up by the sensor's receivers.
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