Cost-Effective Radar Sensors for Field-Based Water Level Monitoring with Sub-Centimeter Accuracy

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that low-cost radar sensors can accurately measure water levels with sub-centimeter precision in real-world conditions, offering a practical, non-contact solution for autonomous water monitoring.

Contribution

It introduces a cost-effective radar sensing approach for water level monitoring, validated through field tests showing high accuracy with minimal calibration.

Findings

Radar sensors achieve centimeter-scale water level accuracy.

Minimal calibration needed for reliable measurements.

Suitable for autonomous drone and robotic deployment.

Abstract

Water level monitoring is critical for flood management, water resource allocation, and ecological assessment, yet traditional methods remain costly and limited in coverage. This work explores radar-based sensing as a low-cost alternative for water level estimation, leveraging its non-contact nature and robustness to environmental conditions. Commercial radar sensors are evaluated in real-world field tests, applying statistical filtering techniques to improve accuracy. Results show that a single radar sensor can achieve centimeter-scale precision with minimal calibration, making it a practical solution for autonomous water monitoring using drones and robotic platforms.