To improve flood and drought forecasting, SEED-FD is deploying hydrological micro-stations in the Danube and Paraná River Basins. Their advanced sensors provide real-time data on water levels, water surface velocities, images and water surface temperature, delivering precise information to enhance forecasting accuracy. By refining hydrological models and strengthening early warning systems, the project aims to provide more reliable tools for proactive response to extreme weather.
Image 1: Hydrological micro-station installed at a river (photo credit: vorteX-io)
The Role of Micro-Stations in Advancing Hydrological Forecasting
Flood and drought forecasting relies on accurate, real-time data to improve the models underlying early warning systems. As part of SEED-FD, six vorteX-io hydrological micro-stations are being deployed to provide continuous, precise measurements of key hydrometeorological variables. These compact, autonomous sensors will generate critical data to refine flood and drought forecasting across diverse hydrological environments.
The deployment of micro-stations is directly aligned with SEED-FD’s use case regions:
- In the Danube River Basin, where existing monitoring networks already provide extensive data, the focus is on testing and validating the performance of vorteX-io micro-stations. By comparing their real-time in-situ measurements with satellite-based observations, SEED-FD aims to assess their accuracy and optimize forecasting models accordingly.
- In the Paraná River Basin, data availability is limited, making reliable flood and drought predictions challenging. SEED-FD seeks to bridge this gap by introducing new in-situ measurements that will enhance forecasting accuracy for this highly dynamic river system.
Image 2: Hydrological micro-station featuring sensors, cameras, and communication technology for precise real-time measurements (photo credit: vorteX-io)
Cutting-Edge Technology for Real-Time Hydrological Monitoring
SEED-FD’s micro-stations provide continuous, high-precision hydrological data. Despite their compact size, these autonomous units are equipped with advanced sensor technology, enabling real-time monitoring of river conditions and improving data quality through visual validation.
Each micro-station integrates multiple measurement systems and a dedicated communication module:
- LiDAR Sensors: These use laser technology to measure water surface elevation with high precision, enabling highly accurate flood monitoring without any measurement drift.
- Infrared Cameras and Image Analysis: The micro-stations capture images at regular intervals, including at night using infrared LED technology. These images help verify hydrological conditions, identify anomalies such as floating debris, and determine whether a riverbed is dry or has flowing water. If irregularities appear in the data, visual analysis allows for corrections or adjustments, ensuring higher accuracy in hydrological measurements.
- Video Processing: The micro-stations record videos of the river surface, which are then analyzed to calculate water surface velocity, a key parameter for determining river discharge when combined with water level and bathymetry data.
- Thermal Sensors: These measure water surface temperature, which can provide insights into water quality and ecosystem health.
- GNSS Receivers: These ensure precise positioning and detect even slight movements in structures like bridges, helping maintain data accuracy.
- GSM Connectivity: Collected data is transmitted in real-time via 3G/4G networks, ensuring seamless integration into forecasting systems.
The micro-stations adjust their sampling frequency based on hydrological conditions such as water levels. When conditions are stable, they take fewer measurements, such as one per hour or every 30 minutes. As water levels rise, they increase their sampling rate to capture critical changes, recording data in short intervals of up to five minutes. This adaptive approach ensures that critical data is collected precisely when it is needed most.
Deployment Process: Challenges and Progress
Although the installation of a micro-station is a straightforward process that takes about an hour, finding a suitable location and obtaining the necessary permissions is time-consuming. Before deployment, each site must be carefully selected based on hydrological significance, structural feasibility, and regulatory requirements. Since installations may affect infrastructure and navigation, multiple approvals are needed from authorities overseeing roads, bridges, and waterways.
In the Danube Basin, three micro-stations are planned for deployment within the SEED-FD project. Suitable locations are being evaluated to ensure they meet the project’s requirements and provide valuable comparative data within the existing monitoring network. As part of this process, coordination with relevant authorities is ongoing to obtain the necessary permissions, with installation of the micro-stations expected in the coming months.
On the Paraná River, securing installation permits has proven more complex due to its status as a transnational waterway. As part of SEED-FD, three micro-stations are planned for deployment in Argentina. SEED-FD is working closely with COMIP, a bilateral commission representing Argentina, Paraguay, and other countries bordering the Paraná River, to navigate the regulatory process. With multiple stakeholders overseeing infrastructure and navigation, extensive coordination has been required. Final approvals are expected soon, allowing the installation process to move forward.
Impact on Stakeholders
The real-time data provided by these micro-stations will have wide-reaching benefits:
- Governments will have access to more precise early warning systems, enabling them to develop better risk management strategies, and implement more effective flood protection measures.
- Humanitarian organizations can use the improved forecasts to plan and allocate resources more efficiently, ensuring timely assistance to vulnerable communities affected by extreme weather events.
- Local communities will receive more reliable flood and drought warnings, allowing them to take precautionary measures and reduce potential damage to homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods.
By making hydrological data more accurate and accessible, SEED-FD supports better decision-making and resilience against extreme weather.
Real-Time Hydrological Data with Micro-Stations – Conclusion and Outlook
As SEED-FD continues its journey towards improving flood and drought forecasting, the deployment of micro-stations in critical river basins will make an important contribution. By providing real-time, high-precision data, these stations are used to improve the accuracy of hydrological models, benefiting a wide range of stakeholders. In the coming months, SEED-FD will focus on installing the micro-stations in the field, integrating their data, and evaluating the improvements in forecasting accuracy.
Follow SEED-FD’s progress and stay informed about new developments in hydrological forecasting. More updates will be shared through the SEED-FD website and social media channels.