By Andi Anderson
Researchers at Purdue University are developing a cost-effective solution for monitoring groundwater movement beneath the earth’s surface. The new technology could help improve environmental monitoring while making advanced sensing equipment more accessible to researchers and organizations.
Groundwater sensors play an important role in tracking underground water movement. They are used to study contamination, monitor wetland conditions, assess water loss, and evaluate the stability of structures. However, these specialized devices are often expensive and available in limited numbers.
To address this challenge, Jacob Hosen, assistant professor of internet-of-things and ecological analytics in the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University's College of Agriculture, is leading the development of a new sensor system built with 3D printing technology.
Working as a contributor to River Restoration Intelligence and Verification, Hosen and his team focused on creating an affordable alternative to traditional groundwater monitoring devices. The sensors were designed from the ground up and use circuit boards equipped with temperature sensor arrays to measure both the speed and direction of groundwater flow.
The devices are housed in specially designed 3D-printed cases that can be produced and refined directly in the laboratory. This approach allows researchers to improve designs quickly while reducing manufacturing costs.
"A big part of designing an accurate sensor is creating a housing that won't disrupt the water flow," Hosen explained. "We're 3D printing textures that will recreate the soil environment, so the water flows through the sensor in the same way it flows through the ground."
The project emphasizes affordability and local production. The team sources manufactured components such as circuit boards from U.S.-based vendors and completes the remaining assembly process in-house using a 3D printer and a modified toaster oven.
"We can make all of this with just a few vendors in the U.S., and then do the rest of the assembly in-house for just a few hundred dollars a unit," Hosen said. "That's not something you can do in most ecology labs."
The initiative also provides valuable hands-on learning opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students. Participants gain experience in circuit board assembly, prototype development, 3D printing, and product testing.
"It's a useful proof of concept of a different way of building these types of devices," he said.
Early testing has shown encouraging results, with the sensors operating continuously underwater for seven to eight months without failure. The devices can also transmit data wirelessly through LoRa networks while storing information locally as a backup. If successful on a larger scale, these affordable sensors could support long-term groundwater monitoring and environmental research for months or even years.
Photo Credit: purdue-university
Categories: Indiana, Education