Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1498518
e 2023 USE CASE Cellcom and TEKTELIC Collaboration for Environmental Monitoring SITUATION Environmental monitoring is essential for assessing the impacts of various activities on the environment and for developing appropriate mitigation measures. One of the main aspects is water quality monitoring, which involves collecting and analyzing water samples from different sources to detect and evaluate the presence of • pollutants • contaminants • nutrients • pathogens and other parameters that affect water quality. With this in mind, UW-Green Bay is partnering with Cellcom and TEKTELIC to collect and share environmental data on the health of local waterways. BENEFITS Utilizing LoRaWAN® technology for the research project: • Cost-effective • Provides long-range coverage • Allows for immediate and continuous data. As the result, researchers (faculty, staff, and students) can study thermal stratification, hypoxia (low dissolved oxygen), algal blooms, and the effects of climate change in real time. The data collected on the water conditions will then be used to manage, restore and protect the Green Bay region's freshwater. COMPANY LOGO CHALLENGE The main challenge, in this case, was to address the water quality issues of Green Bay and Lower Fox River. The bay is susceptible to oxygen deficiency, commonly referred to as dead zones. Frequent fertilizer runoffs carry excess nutrients to lakes and bays, which promotes the rapid growth of harmful algae blooms. The algae settle to the bottom and deplete the oxygen in the water as it decays, which potentially can kill fish and other organisms. Another issue is water clarity, which results in blocked or reduced light to aquatic plants and other smothering aquatic organisms. Poor water clarity can lead to an overall health decline of aquatic species ranging across all levels of the aquatic food chain. SOLUTION To continuously monitor the water conditions in the area, UW- Green Bay researchers are deploying buoy platforms with integrated LoRaWAN® sensors. The sensors measure a variety of relevant water quality parameters, such as: • Temperature • Dissolved oxygen • Chlorophyll • Turbidity • Specific conductance • pH. The data collected by the buoys is then transmitted to nearby TEKTELIC KONA Mega Gateways, which pass it further on. Industry Partnership Gateway Provider COMPANY CONTACT INFO TEKTELIC Communications, Calgary AB, Canada: https://tektelic.com/ Email: info@tektelic.com UW-Green Bay, Green Bay, WI, the US: https://www.uwgb.edu/ Cellcom, De Pere, WI, the US: https://www.cellcom.com/