Expanding the Arsenal: How Divirod's Sensor-Agnostic Approach is Solving Unique Water Monitoring Challenges

At Divirod, our mission is to deliver accurate and actionable data to meet the unique needs of our clients, no matter the location or environment. While our roots are in GNSS-R technology, we pride ourselves on taking a sensor agnostic approach to collecting all forms of water data. This means we are not tied to any single technology. Instead, we leverage a diverse range of sensors to deliver tailored solutions that solve the most pressing data challenges.

Our technology stack originally centered on GNSS-R sensing, a pioneering altimetry method we have refined over the years. GNSS-R sensors are excellent for collecting multiple data points over broad areas of water such as coastal locations, reservoirs, and large rivers. They are at the heart of our work in water level monitoring, oceanography, and large-scale environmental assessments. However, as versatile as GNSS-R is, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. In enclosed areas like culverts, under bridges, or in narrow spaces where satellite signals may be obstructed, GNSS-R sensors may not perform optimally.

We pride ourselves on our industry leading GNSS-R technology, but we believe in implementing the right tool for the right purpose. To that end, we have successfully deployed ultrasound units to feed into our situational awareness, emergency response, and flood warning systems and are continuously evaluating other options to improve our offerings for clients.?

Ultrasound is a powerful tool for collecting data in environments where GNSS-R isn’t ideal, such as roadways, canals, narrow creeks, wooded areas, and small harbors. By integrating ultrasound sensors, we are now capable of delivering critical water level data in more restricted? environments.

One specific advantage of the ultrasound sensors is their ability to provide precise water level measurements in areas prone to flooding, but do not normally contain water, like roadways and intersections—places where GNSS-R sensors might struggle. In fact, we have already successfully deployed ultrasound sensors for contracts with cities facing recurring roadway flooding. This has been key to enhancing our flood alert systems, providing accurate, real-time data to mitigate flood risks and improve situational awareness.

Additionally, the integration of ultrasound has opened the door to other valuable data collection capabilities. For example, in small canals, ultrasound sensors enable the use of flow sensors, as the height measurements they provide are essential to producing accurate flow and volumetric data. This versatility is another testament to how our sensor-agnostic approach allows us to adapt to various client needs.

As we continue expanding our sensor toolkit, we’re focused on ensuring we use the right tool for the right purpose. Ultrasound has quickly proven its worth in applications where GNSS-R technology falls short, and it’s now part of a broader strategy that includes flow sensors, rain buckets, and other cutting-edge instruments. Adding the ultrasound is just one small step to expand our arsenal of hardware that ultimately fills the data needs of the customer.?

At Divirod, we are always looking for ways to improve. Have ideas for other sensors we should be incorporating into our system? We’d love to hear your thoughts. Your input could help us take our data solutions to the next level!