A Smart Illicit Water Discharge Monitoring System
Disciplines
Civil Engineering | Data Science | Environmental Engineering | Software Engineering
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Toward a Mobile Illicit Discharge Detection System
The purpose of our research project is to develop an autonomous system that monitors illicit water discharge. Illicit water discharges are anything that enters our sewer system that is not uncontaminated stormwater. These discharges can constitute anything from improperly disposed of household chemicals to pesticides and fertilizers. These waste products have disastrous consequences for public health and the environment when they find their way into our streams and rivers. Currently, in Georgia, the major flaw with illicit water discharge detection is that it is done manually. This makes detection a problematic task due if the illicit discharge events are intermittent and gradual. In addition, because of spatial variability, it is a tedious task for stream monitoring teams to identify the source. This study attempts to design an illicit discharge system design for continuous monitoring. The current autonomous monitoring system is a mobile system, making it more robust to handle rough field conditions. An attempt will be made to demonstrate the system live during the presentation. The system can potentially help in providing real-time feedback to stream monitoring teams and hence improve the surface water quality in Georgia.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
SPCEET - Civil and Environmental Engineering
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Tien Yee
A Smart Illicit Water Discharge Monitoring System
Toward a Mobile Illicit Discharge Detection System
The purpose of our research project is to develop an autonomous system that monitors illicit water discharge. Illicit water discharges are anything that enters our sewer system that is not uncontaminated stormwater. These discharges can constitute anything from improperly disposed of household chemicals to pesticides and fertilizers. These waste products have disastrous consequences for public health and the environment when they find their way into our streams and rivers. Currently, in Georgia, the major flaw with illicit water discharge detection is that it is done manually. This makes detection a problematic task due if the illicit discharge events are intermittent and gradual. In addition, because of spatial variability, it is a tedious task for stream monitoring teams to identify the source. This study attempts to design an illicit discharge system design for continuous monitoring. The current autonomous monitoring system is a mobile system, making it more robust to handle rough field conditions. An attempt will be made to demonstrate the system live during the presentation. The system can potentially help in providing real-time feedback to stream monitoring teams and hence improve the surface water quality in Georgia.