Solar-powered water quality sensor could help fish farmers to monitor pollution in ponds remotely

Solar-powered water quality sensor could help fish farmers to monitor pollution in ponds remotely
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Solar-powered water quality sensors could help fish farmers protect their aquatic assets and safeguard the future of food.

Aquaculture currently supplies more than half of the world's seafood, and in the last 10 years, the profits from global farming have quadrupled to more than $230 billion annually. However, pollution from industrial activities is seeping into commercial ponds and killing off millions of dollars' worth of fish. Agricultural fertilizers, for example, increase nutrients in the water leading to algal blooms. As the algae decomposes it uses up the , causing the fish to suffocate.

By keeping an eye on water quality, fish farmers can act when harmful levels of pollution are detected. However, most commercial only monitor one thing at a time, such as acidity or oxygen levels, on individual devices that the farmer must check manually. The multifunctional alternatives are bulky, expensive and need an expert operator.

Creating that do several things at once is challenging, and there is often a tradeoff between quality and quantity of functions. Electrical engineer Muhammad Hussain and his team created a small self-powered sensor that monitors multiple characteristics and transmits the data via Bluetooth.

Solar-powered water quality sensor could help fish farmers to monitor pollution in ponds remotely
Nazek El-Atab with the team's multisensory system. Credit: KAUST

The researchers built this multisensory system using a multidimensional integrated circuit (MD-IC). "Integrating different functions on to one computer chip is complex and expensive," lead author Nazek El-Atab explains. "But we have combined several chips into a cube so that each face serves a different purpose." The connected chips then act as one device.

The cube is designed to float with the sensors for pH, temperature, salinity and ammonia levels on the downward facing side. The casing is weighted to ensure it remains that way, even when disturbed by fish. "We wanted to create something small and light weight," says Nazek. "The farmer can simply throw the device into the water, and it rotates itself into the right position."

Solar-powered water quality sensor could help fish farmers to monitor pollution in ponds remotely
Steps to create a floating multidimensional integrated circuit: a) the MD-IC is encapsulated with a bio-safe polymer, b) with an asymmetric base to enable it to float but stay right-way up and c) with a solar cell on top and water sensors on the bottom. Credit: KAUST

The other outer faces include sensors that monitor air pollution, to charge the battery sealed within the cube, and an antenna for transmitting data via Bluetooth to a mobile phone. "The concept of MD-ICs is unique, as it opens up opportunities for single devices with internet of things applications," explains Hussein. "And is always an intriguing medium for electronics," he adds.

Solar-powered water quality sensor could help fish farmers to monitor pollution in ponds remotely
The multisensory system is weighted to keep it facing the correct way when in the water. Credit: KAUST

Preventing unnecessary fish deaths is a crucial step toward food security. "Saudi Arabia is investing 3.5 billion US dollars in aquaculture so it can produce 600,000 tons of seafood each year by 2030," says Nazek. The team hope their sensors will support this goal but also believes the little cubes could have a big future beyond the fish farm. "They could be sent down oil pipes to collect data on oil quality," she adds. The researchers are working on improving the device's self-cooling technology to stop it from overheating, and the next step will be to test it in the field.

Also important for the research was the assistance of the visiting undergraduate summer interns from Princess Noura University, the largest women's university in Saudi Arabia. "This exemplifies the commitment of KAUST to collaborate with in-Kingdom universities," Hussein says.

More information: Nazek El‐Atab et al. Heterogeneous Cubic Multidimensional Integrated Circuit for Water and Food Security in Fish Farming Ponds, Small (2019). DOI: 10.1002/smll.201905399

Journal information: Small

Citation: Solar-powered water quality sensor could help fish farmers to monitor pollution in ponds remotely (2020, February 27) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2020-02-solar-powered-quality-sensor-fish-farmers.html
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