Smart Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Technologies (SEMAT)—A New Paradigm for Low-Cost, Remote Aquatic Environmental Monitoring

Abstract

Expense and the logistical difficulties with deploying scientific monitoring equipment are the biggest limitations to undertaking large scale monitoring of aquatic environments. The Smart Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Technologies (SEMAT) project is aimed at addressing this problem by creating an open standard for low-cost, near real-time, remote aquatic environmental monitoring systems. This paper presents the latest refinement of the SEMAT system in-line with the evolution of existing technologies, inexpensive sensors and environmental monitoring expectations. We provide a systems analysis and design of the SEMAT remote monitoring units and the back-end data management system. The system’s value is augmented through a unique e-waste recycling and repurposing model which engages/educates the community in the production of the SEMAT units using social enterprise. SEMAT serves as an open standard for the community to innovate around to further the state of play with low-cost environmental monitoring. The latest SEMAT units have been trialled in a peri-urban lake setting and the results demonstrate the system’s capabilities to provide ongoing data in near real-time to validate an environmental model of the study site.

Towards the Development of an Affordable and Practical Light Attenuation Turbidity Sensor for Remote Near Real-Time Aquatic Monitoring

“…We are working on an initiative to create an affordable, remote aquatic environmental monitoring platform [28][29][30][31][32]. Our work thus far has shown that such an approach is indeed possible with current technologies.…”

Renovation of Automation System Based on Industrial Internet of Things: A Case Study of a Sewage Treatment Plant

“…At present, some scholars have studied the remote monitoring system of water quality and ecological environment. Trevathan [7] et al proposed a smart environmental monitoring and assessment technology (SEMAT). SEMAT is a new remote water environment monitoring scheme, which can scientifically configure the difficulty of water quality environment monitoring and reduce the logistics cost.…”

“…After using this system, the staff can deal with it in 3 min, ensuring the quality of the effluent. The COD instrument range is (0-100) mg/L, normal water quality standard is (40-60) mg/L; SS instrument range is (0-100) mg/L, normal water quality standard is (10-20) mg/L, pH instrument range is (0-14) and normal water quality standard is (6)(7)(8). In the experiment, when the CASS tank level is 0.8 m, only one blower is running.…”

Up-cycling e-Waste into Innovative Products through Social Enterprise

“…It is then up to the motorist to slow down or stop to allow the pedestrian to safely cross the road. The Smart Buoys project is about developing affordable aquatic environmental monitoring equipment that remotely collects data in near realtime (Trevathan et al 2012;Trevathan and Johnstone 2018). The traditional approach to water quality monitoring is to travel to the water body and take a one-off manual sample.…”