WeCity introduces the Healthy Urban Living Sensor Kit, a revolutionary tool for assessing residential areas’ air, water, and soil quality. As new homes continue to sprout, prioritizing healthy urban development is imperative. WeCity’s cutting-edge solution empowers comprehensive, multi-year monitoring of an area’s environmental conditions. This comprehensive approach enhances our ability to scrutinize the outcomes of various measures.
In the latest projects by Heijmans, the Healthy Urban Living Sensor Kit has been seamlessly integrated. These communities will undergo continuous monitoring in the years to come, with initial findings already underway.
Diving into the details, this innovative kit leverages two ground moisture sensors from Sensoterra, strategically placed to measure soil moisture at a 30 cm depth. By charting the Volumetric Water Content percentage (VWC%), adjusted for local soil conditions, we gain valuable insights. For example, the data reveals soil moisture’s response to a dry spell in early August and its rapid recovery following heavy rains starting August 18. Monitoring these trends over time helps identify areas where additional steps, like planting or improved drainage, might be necessary.
Moreover, the kit is equipped with moisture sensors to measure soil moisture. These sensors, provided by Sensoterra, were installed to assess soil moisture at a depth of 30 cm. The Volumetric Water Content percentage (VWC%) is charted, adjusted for the local soil type. The data tells an intriguing story, showing the soil’s response to a dry period in early August. It also reflects the impact of heavy rains starting on August 18. Interestingly, one location exhibits faster drainage than another. Ongoing monitoring enables us to gather insights and determine if extra measures like planting or enhanced retention are required.
In addition to soil moisture, the kit includes moisture sensors for fine dust concentration (PM2.5), offering crucial information about air quality. The district features two Teneo IoT bv sensors to measure particulate matter, with one near the road and the other within the neighborhood. Examining the graph, particulate matter levels are grouped into four ranges, revealing elevated values post-heavy rainfall. Further analysis is needed to elucidate this phenomenon.
The kit also incorporates two Electrical Conductivity (EC) sensors designed to measure water conductivity. Water conductivity is vital because it helps assess the presence of dissolved substances, chemicals, and minerals in the water. Higher impurity levels correlate with increased conductivity. Notably, a high EC value isn’t necessarily negative, as it can result from salt in the water.
EC sensors offer intriguing insights into fluctuating EC values, with various natural and human factors influencing these variations. Natural elements such as temperature, evaporation, and rainfall, as well as human factors like road salt and debris, all impact water EC. One fascinating observation is the spike in EC values on August 18 following heavy rainfall, particularly at a sensor located where garden and pavement runoff accumulates. In contrast, the sensor placed near a tranquil ditch exhibited a delayed and less intense response to the same rainfall event.
In summary, the Healthy Urban Living Sensor Kit empowers meticulous assessment of air, water, and soil quality in residential areas. It leverages ground moisture sensors, moisture sensors, and EC sensors to provide comprehensive data. This holistic approach enhances our ability to monitor and evaluate the impact of various measures, contributing to healthier urban development.
About Sensoterra
Sensoterra develops low-cost, simple, and robust wireless soil moisture sensors, providing actionable insights that enable water management platforms and solutions. Our sensors are built to integrate into any platform with our unique ‘API first’ philosophy – offering freedom and flexibility for data integration. It is our mission to enable water management platforms and solutions worldwide. We help by ‘Making Sense of Water’. We produce simple, robust, and low-cost wireless soil moisture sensors that are easy to deploy and built to integrate. With proven success in the applications of smart city landscaping, environmental monitoring, and precision agriculture, the Sensoterra solution integrates seamlessly in existing water and land management platforms.
Learn more at www.sensoterra.com
Contact for more information, pictures and/or interview requests:
Jessica Nuboer
Marketing & Communications
Sensoterra
Email: [email protected]
