Hydrometeorological monitoring using wireless sensor networks

Abstract

Urban floods are among the most frequent types of disasters on the planet. They are often pre-existing occurrences due to the region's physiographic characteristics, but they are exacerbated by the effects of urbanization, including waterproofing and modification of the hydrological cycle due to human activities. Approaches to addressing these events range from structural solutions, involving macro-drainage projects, to non-structural solutions, including land use regulations. In the context of Smart Cities, mitigation actions include the use of technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and computerized urban security management to improve the response to extreme hydrometeorological events. From this perspective, this work aims to propose sensor nodes and gateways for the creation of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) for hydrometeorological monitoring and flood forecasting. The work was based on a scientific review of the literature and technical manuals, including the selection of development boards, communication module, sensor modules, coding, and testing. The tests demonstrated that microcontroller systems can comprise a WSN, processing data collections every few seconds at low cost and with low power consumption. Furthermore, sensor nodes are scalable and versatile, incorporating a variety of sensors and communication protocols.