Presented by a research team from the University of Zadar, the DROWAQ system is an innovative UAV solution for monitoring water quality in dedicated sites. It involves a high-precision drone, an automatic sampler, a multiparameter probe, and a specially designed 3D-printed housing. As the drone hovers over the water, an electric mechanism lowers the probe to a predefined depth, where sensors record parameters such as temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. The data are transmitted in real time to a mobile application, where they can be instantly analysed and visualised.
In its first field tests, this “flying laboratory” effectively detected micro-changes in water quality much faster than traditional methods. One of the biggest advantages is that sampling points can be precisely programmed and revisited with centimetre-level accuracy, which makes for a very accurate comparison of water quality over time. In this way, the system goes beyond traditional point sampling and gradually creates a high-resolution map of the ecological state of a water body, including information on key water quality indicators.
The development of systems like DROWAQ is part of a broader vision within the ROBONETCBC project. This initiative connects research institutions and experts from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro. It aims to promote and advance innovative applications of blue technologies for monitoring and preventing pollution in marine and freshwater ecosystems.
The ROBONETCBC project aims to build an “environmental nervous system” – a network of smart points that collect data in real time and share them among partners. By combining robotics, sensors, and data science, researchers can create predictive models of pollution spread, monitor changes in marine and freshwater ecosystems, and respond promptly to environmental threats.
So, the next time you look out over the sea or even a calm river, remember – somewhere above the surface, a silent robot might be hovering, listening to the language of water.
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