Platforms

Choosing the right platform for water monitoring can mean the difference between data and no data. It is important to work with an experienced field team to design a system that can stand up to natural forces and vandalism, yet also be easily accessible by technicians.

How can you select the best technology to fit your monitoring project?

Monitoring Cycle QuickLinks

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Here are tested solutions for improving the efficiency of continuous monitoring. In most cases, integrating several functions into one platform and automating the field data collection provides the biggest cost savings. Automated equipment has a higher upfront cost. But it pays for itself quickly through reduced costs for labor, boat rental, travel, and time away from the office.

Also, match the platform to the environmental condition. Platforms range from fixed structures to floating platforms to autonomous vehicles. All offer their own benefits and data capabilities.

Land-Based Platforms

Sturdy enclosures with integrated telemetry and MET
Pump and flow-cells used to deliver water only when measurements are occurring
Accommodates variety of sensors or samplers

Benefits:

Safe, vandal-proof
Easy to maintain since there is no need to get on or in water
Pump system reduces biofouling, which significantly lengthens maintenance interval

Limitations:

Must be installed on land, close to water

HydroSAM Intake Monitoring System Reduces Frequency of Site Visits
Catchment Monitoring Network Protects Thames River

Fixed Platforms—Existing Structures

Takes advantage of existing structures on the water
Stilling wells protect the instruments

Benefits:

Limited mounting hardware - relatively low-cost option
Telemetry and MET options

Limitations:

Permission to attach to bridge or pier
Water quality data may not be representative if fixed platform interferes

Water Quality Monitoring System with Real-time Telemetry for Ecological Monitoring of Coastal Wetlands

Fixed Platforms—New Structures

Install structure at site of interest to house water quality sensors and other monitoring and telemetry equipment.

Benefits:

Locates monitoring station in exact location
Customizable platform for project

Limitations:

Platform materials must be transported to monitoring site
May require construction equipment
Typically limited to shallow waters next to shore

If you need assistance with designing and building your monitoring site, contact YSI's field services team.

info@amjenviro.com
877-392-9950 or 727-565-2201

Buoys and monitoring modules are the robust foundation for your monitoring program. These versatile platforms can accommodate as much data collection equipment as you need, and can often be expanded at later dates.

Look for systems which can support meteorological sensors, current meters, wave sensors, water quality and nutrient sensors, dataloggers, antennae, solar panels, and more.

Pontoon Platforms

Rugged floating platform supports variety of sensors, solar panel, antenna, and more.

Benefits:

Provides excellent working platform for maintenance and servicing
Easy to deploy
Relatively low-cost floating platform

Limitation:

Only appropriate for low-energy environments

More information on buoy and floating platform options

Buoy Platforms

Durable floating platform in variety of sizes

Benefits:

Designed for use in high-energy environments
Flexible platform: easy to add additional sensors such as MET, nutrient analyzers, hydrocarbons, etc.
Accommodates large payload and rough environments

Limitation:

Higher up-front capital cost

More information on buoy and floating platform options

Real-time Water Quality Monitoring on Dubai Creek

Automated Vertical Profiling Systems provide the ability to measure water quality at multiple points within a water column continuously and in near real-time. Vertical profiles provide a valuable and unique dataset on the dynamics of the water body.

In addition to reducing your costs, automated profiling will show you events as they unfold. You can be better prepared for:

Harmful algal blooms
Sediment plumes
Taste and odor issues
Low dissolved oxygen and potential fish kills
Stratification monitoring
Storm events

Fixed Auto-Profiling Platform

Attaches to any fixed structure such as a bridge or pier

Floating Auto-Profiling Platform

Pontoon-based for low-energy environments (reservoirs, small- to mid-sized lakes or estuaries)
Buoy-based for high-energy environments

More information on YSI Vertical Profiling Platforms

Vertical Profiling Safeguards Drinking Water and Sheds Light on Cyanobacteria

Underway Monitoring

Underway monitoring is horizontal water quality mapping from a boat.

Underway monitoring systems allow one to take advantage of "vessels of opportunity" by adding a monitoring package to a vessel that is making routine trips, such as a passenger ferry, cargo ship, private boat, or research vessel. The addition of GPS to the sensor data is required to provide a spatial tag to the data stream.

Benefits:

Minimal maintenance
Autonomous operation
Collects data at the surface as vessel travels along route

Limitations:

Because each vessel is unique, an underway monitoring system is a custom solution, which means higher up-front costs
Data only collected at or near the surface

Ferry Monitoring to Uncover the Secrets of the Sea
Historic Voyage in Chesapeake Bay Provides Unique Water Quality Data

Automated Mapping (Horizontal and Vertical) with AUV

The pressure to expand and improve environmental data collection with limited resources has never been greater. At the same time an increased understanding of the extreme variability in natural systems (temporal and spatial) requires data to be collected at a higher resolution.

To achieve higher resolution data, you may consider using an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) designed for environmental mapping applications. An AUV augments data collected by stationary equipment.