Published May 4, 2023 -References Smart City- 2 Min. reading time

Flood early warning system protects against flooding

Remedy: Sensors measure water levels of water bodies

Heavy rain and flooding in Germany are on the increase. Since the major catastrophe in the Ahr valley, many municipalities and cities have become sensitized in this regard.

Continuous monitoring of water levels can reduce the risk of flooding.

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The situation before

In the past, it happened more and more often that streams and rivers in parts of the Hochtaunuskreis rose to such an extent after heavy rainfall that flooding occurred, including in the town of Neu-Anspach, where the Usa burst its banks.

The city responded by installing a flood early warning system based on LoRaWAN radio technology. The technology partners were m2m Germany and melita.io.

Another factor in rising water levels is leaves, branches and other objects that are carried along with the river flow. These can clog the openings of intake structures and basins, preventing water from draining away and causing water levels to continue to rise.

If this goes unnoticed, it further promotes the risk of flooding.

The solution

Ultrasonic sensors were installed at two measuring points along the Usa, including at the entrance to the intake structure, which continuously monitor the water level. The sensors used here are VEGAPULS Air 41 sensors from VEGA Grieshaber. The values from the sensor are sent to a LoRaWAN gateway and from there to the m2m Germany Cockpit, an IoT platform. If preconfigured limit values are exceeded, the fire department and building yard are alerted to initiate appropriate countermeasures.

Via a public dashboard on the website of the town of Neu-Anspach, residents can even view the water levels at any time.

"With the newly installed sensors, we keep a constant eye on the water levels. This allows us to react adequately to rising water levels, initiate appropriate countermeasures and thus protect our residents from flooding!"

Markus Wolf, Head of Technical Services & Landscape City of Neu-Anspach

Whatever it takes:

Early detection of rising water levels
Immediate initiation of appropriate measures
Remote monitoring eliminates time-consuming control trips
Protection of residents from floods and inundations

Future further application possibilities

Early fire detection
Forward-looking water management
Control of heating systems according to demand
Measuring indoor climate and air quality in schools and daycare centers
Noise measurements on busy roads

Find out what else is possible in municipalities and cities using LoRaWAN radio technology on the "LPWAN for Smart Cities" page.

Download Use Case now

Use Case Neu-Anspach