Aquatic Autonomous Observatory - NSVS

Design and Development of Aquatic Autonomous Observatory (Niracara Svayamsasita VedhShala - NSVS) for In situ Monitoring, Real Time Data Transmission and Web based Visualization.

Development of a modularly designed, stable buoy platform for river water quality monitoring, capable of being deployed for long periods of time, easily maintained and transported, has design flexibility, low-cost, robust and self-sustainable in producing and utilizing the harvested energy. The system apparatus comprises:

1. modular system capable of being assembled and transported with ease,
2. utilizes all the available energy harvesting resources from the riverine environment,
3. has design flexibility to ensure addition of extra devices that can be carried out with consummate ease,
4. provides energy autonomy for the system at all times,
5. has a self-cleaning system for the sensors involved with a pumping system as well as a stirrer assembly and
6. can be deployed for long periods of time without much maintenance and manual interference.

Inland water pollution has been a great area of concern, due to contamination of fresh water. Various studies for sample collection in rivers have been conducted to ascertain the water quality. A few drawbacks of the current water sample collection procedures are:

1. the absence of real-time data,
2. absence of robust and efficient water quality monitoring capability,
3. lack of self-cleaning system for sensors and
4. lack of renewable power source.

The river water quality monitoring buoy described herein relates to apparatus and method for real-time, in-situ monitoring of river water quality with a stabilized and modular buoy integrating an array of energy harvesting systems. The system relates to river/lake water monitoring system, in particular to systems such as buoys. It has a sensor housing and cleaning system. In other words, special emphasis is devoted to the invention design, such that it improves or is implemented in fabricating a lighter and smaller buoy for deployment in rivers, a system capable of integrating a range of water quality measuring sensors and equipment, a system able to integrate different energy harvesting systems (photovoltaic panels, wind turbine and vortex induced vibration system) and environmental protection of installed systems.

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