A Multi-Sensing Technology Approach for the Environmental Monitoring of the Ystwyth River

TL;DR

This paper describes a system using sensors and a mobile app to monitor and visualize water quality in the Ystwyth River, helping stakeholders manage pollution.

Contribution

The novel contribution is an integrated system combining real-time sensor data with a user-friendly app for accessible water quality monitoring and decision-making.

Findings

High-frequency monitoring revealed pollution events linked to rainfall and farming.

Grassland and livestock farming were identified as major drivers of water quality variability.

A web and mobile app was developed to visualize real-time sensor data with pollutant markers.

Abstract

What are the main findings?
Real-time environmental surveillance of the Ystwyth River was conducted using AquaSonde sensors (Aquaread Water Monitoring Instruments, Kent, United Kingdom).High-frequency monitoring captured short-term turbidity and nutrient fluctuations linked to rainfall and agricultural activity.Land-use analysis showed improved grassland and livestock farming as major influences on water-quality variability.A web and mobile application was developed for data visualisation with site-specific pollutant markers.

Real-time environmental surveillance of the Ystwyth River was conducted using AquaSonde sensors (Aquaread Water Monitoring Instruments, Kent, United Kingdom).

High-frequency monitoring captured short-term turbidity and nutrient fluctuations linked to rainfall and agricultural activity.

Land-use analysis showed improved grassland and livestock farming as major influences on water-quality variability.

A web and mobile application was developed for data visualisation with site-specific pollutant markers.

What are the implications of the main findings?
Continuous sensor monitoring improves temporal resolution and enables real-time detection of event-driven pollution.Integrating sensor data with land-use mapping supports identification of pollution hotspots and informed catchment management.The system promotes proactive water management, with future AI and satellite integration to enhance prediction and mitigation.

Continuous sensor monitoring improves temporal resolution and enables real-time detection of event-driven pollution.

Integrating sensor data with land-use mapping supports identification of pollution hotspots and informed catchment management.

The system promotes proactive water management, with future AI and satellite integration to enhance prediction and mitigation.

Monitoring water quality in Welsh rivers has become a critical public concern, particularly in efforts to address pollution and protect the environment. This study presents the development and assessment of an interactive web and mobile application, featuring a real-time mapping interface built using the Mapbox framework. The platform provides stakeholders, including farmers, environmental agencies, and the public, with easy access to real-time water quality data using the Ystwyth River in Mid-Wales as a trial system. Users can click on map markers to view sensor readings for key water quality parameters. These include pH, electrical conductivity (EC), temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS) and nutrients levels such as nitrate (NO3). This paper focuses on the feasibility of combining in situ sensor technology with a user-friendly mobile app to enable stakeholders to visualize the impact of land management practices and make informed decisions. The system aims to enhance environmental surveillance, increase transparency, and promote sustainable agricultural practices by providing critical water quality information in an accessible format. Future developments will explore the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) for predictive modelling and satellite data for broader spatial coverage, with the goal of scaling up the system to other catchments and improving proactive water quality management.

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