Developing the next generation of USGS water monitoring technology

Once fully operational, the technology has the potential to revolutionize how the USGS collects water quality data at monitoring sites, allowing USGS scientists to collect more data over larger river sections than is possible with current operational methods and technology.

The USGS is working closely with university and private sector partners to advance this technology.

Through a research and development contract with Jaia Robotics, the USGS is working to expand the capabilities of the JaiaBot platform to add water quality sensors for dissolved oxygen, pH, and fluorescence, as well as cameras to collect image data.

In addition, the USGS has signed three collaborative agreements with university researchers to study different aspects of JaiaBot.

Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth are evaluating the accuracy of JaiaBot’s measurements by comparing them to concurrent measurements taken using traditional techniques and methods.

The U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Alabama have collaborated to develop a miniature acoustic modem that can be integrated with the JaiaBot to provide underwater communications capabilities during deployment.

At the University of Delaware, scientists are developing algorithms that will enable robots to communicate and make decisions in the most efficient way possible, performing pre-defined tasks without human intervention.

Aerial imagery

In collaboration with the University of Idaho, scientists are investigating methods to use aerial imagery (near-field and satellite) to estimate river flow in the presence of standing waves. The U.S. Geological Survey currently does not have the capability to measure flow in the presence of standing waves, which creates a gap in our monitoring capabilities during extreme flooding.

If this method proves effective and is put into use, the USGS will have the ability to measure flow in areas that are currently unmeasured or even entire remote regions. This could be achieved using imagery data that is often freely available or can be easily collected by field staff using drones.

USGS continues to evaluate new monitoring methods and instrumentation to improve monitoring efficiency, increase measurement accuracy, add new data types, and enhance the temporal and spatial resolution of water data in the hydrological monitoring network.

Through the NGWOS External Research and Development Program, USGS will identify which technologies are most promising and develop strategies to transition them from research to national network operations.

To learn more about NGWOS, visit: Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS).