A float-controlled self-contained laser gauge for monitoring river levels in tropical environments

IF 2.1 Q3 ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC

HardwareX Pub Date : 2025-07-24 DOI:10.1016/j.ohx.2025.e00682

Alain Pierret , Norbert Silvera , Keo Oudone Latsachack , Khampasith Chanthavong , Phabvilay Sounyafong , Olivier Ribolzi

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Abstract

In this paper we present the design, construction and performance of a self-contained float-controlled water level gauge for monitoring water levels in streams and small rivers. This device is inexpensive (cost of about EUR 220), easy to build (no electronics skills or specialized tools required; assembled in a few hours) and straightforward to use. The gauge remains autonomously operational for several weeks in remote locations without the need for an external power supply or solar panel and in the harsh tropical climatic conditions. Data can be downloaded wirelessly in the field using an Android smartphone or tablet. This gauge is capable of a measurement precision of ±1 mm at temperatures ranging from 20 to 30 °C and accurate to within 2 mm of manual readings in a controlled laboratory environment. In the field, the mean absolute error (MAE) of measurements taken with the water level gauge compared to that obtained with the OTT-SE200 − a commercial float-controlled angle encoder water level gauge − over a full tropical rainy season and for a measurement range of 0.5 m, was 2.6 mm (n = 8,017).

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一种浮子控制的自给式激光测量仪，用于监测热带环境中的河流水位

本文介绍了一种用于监测溪流和小河水位的独立浮子控制水位计的设计、构造和性能。该设备价格低廉（成本约220欧元），易于构建(不需要电子技术或专门工具；组装在几个小时内)和直接使用。在偏远地区，在恶劣的热带气候条件下，该仪表可以在不需要外部电源或太阳能电池板的情况下自主运行数周。数据可以在现场用安卓智能手机或平板电脑无线下载。该仪表能够在20至30°C的温度范围内测量精度为±1毫米，并在受控的实验室环境中精确到手动读数的2毫米以内。在现场，在整个热带雨季，测量范围为0.5 m时，与商用浮子控制角度编码器水位计ot - se200相比，使用该水位计测量的平均绝对误差（MAE）为2.6 mm （n = 8,017）。

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来源期刊

HardwareX Engineering-Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

CiteScore

4.10

自引率

18.20%

发文量

124

审稿时长

24 weeks

期刊介绍： HardwareX is an open access journal established to promote free and open source designing, building and customizing of scientific infrastructure (hardware). HardwareX aims to recognize researchers for the time and effort in developing scientific infrastructure while providing end-users with sufficient information to replicate and validate the advances presented. HardwareX is open to input from all scientific, technological and medical disciplines. Scientific infrastructure will be interpreted in the broadest sense. Including hardware modifications to existing infrastructure, sensors and tools that perform measurements and other functions outside of the traditional lab setting (such as wearables, air/water quality sensors, and low cost alternatives to existing tools), and the creation of wholly new tools for either standard or novel laboratory tasks. Authors are encouraged to submit hardware developments that address all aspects of science, not only the final measurement, for example, enhancements in sample preparation and handling, user safety, and quality control. The use of distributed digital manufacturing strategies (e.g. 3-D printing) is encouraged. All designs must be submitted under an open hardware license.