·
"Internet of
Water" is marketed through AIoT4All, a Tec de Monterrey startup focused on
developing IoT products with artificial intelligence.
·
The interchangeable
sensors can measure a wide range of parameters and variables in freshwater
bodies.
·
The project originated
with the goal of monitoring Rio Grande de Santiago, a river in Jalisco, known
for being the most polluted in Mexico.
·
In the future, Machine Learning,
Artificial Intelligence, and Advanced Control capabilities will be integrated.
Guadalajara, Jalisco, December 2024.-
The Center for Innovation, Technological Development, and Applications in the
Internet of Things (CIIoT) at Tec de Monterrey, Mexico's top university in
engineering and technology according to the QS World Ranking 2025, has
developed "Internet of Water," a technology platform based on IoT
(Internet of Things) that monitors water quality in rivers, lakes, lagoons, and
streams by measuring contaminant levels.
Investigations and projects carried out by the Tec de Monterrey’s CIIoT
are highly relevant due to Mexico's severe water pollution issues: 60% of
potable water is contaminated. According to the National Network for Water
Quality Measurement (RENAMECA), 59.1% of surface water bodies such as rivers,
streams, lakes, and coastal areas present some level of pollution, while only
40.9% meet quality standards that ensure effective access to potable water.
The CIIoT has integrated into "Internet of Water" sensors
specifically designed to measure various substances in water, making it a
sophisticated monitoring system with a LoRa communication gateway that sends
data to antennas for transmission to a database, solar panels that power
low-energy lithium batteries, and buoys that keep the device afloat.
Currently, "Internet of Water" is marketed through AIoT4All, a
Tec de Monterrey startup focused on developing IoT products with artificial
intelligence. The university has contributed seed capital funding and provides
research and operational spaces. The specialized team was developed with funds
from ITESM and the Government of the State of Jalisco.
According to Alfredo Figarola, these developments are now at level 7 on
the TRL scale (Technology Readiness Level), meaning that the technology has
been tested in real-world environments and is ready for commercialization.
"This floating platform features sensors that measure various
parameters to determine water quality, currently evaluating 25 parameters with
eight different variables," explained Alfredo Figarola, professor at Tec
de Monterrey's Guadalajara Campus and leader of the CIIoT. The sensors analyze
parameters such as dissolved oxygen, turbidity, pH, temperature, dissolved
solids, and conductivity, as well as pollutants like lead, cadmium, phosphates,
and values such as chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand
(BOD), among many others.
The advanced platform design allows sensors to be swapped out according
to the needs of the environment and the water body being analyzed, thus
ensuring flexibility in the measurement of parameters and variables, the
researcher commented.
The Origin of "Internet of Water"
The project that led to "Internet of Water" began as an
initiative by the Government of the State of Jalisco to assess conditions in
the Rio Grande de Santiago, declared in 2020 to be the most polluted river in
the country. The government contacted Professor Figarola to develop a device
that could automatically measure dissolved pollutants and provide objective
information for remediation decisions.
The CIIoT team embarked on thorough research and designed a platform
that monitors the river leveraging their expertise in IoT (Internet of Things)
technologies. Once the first prototype was developed, proof-of-concept tests
were conducted in real-world environments, facing various challenges. One major
issue was the lack of internet connectivity along the river, which led to the
need for methods to enable the platform to communicate with antennas for data
transmission. A LoRa (low range) gateway was configured to send a signal to a
microcontroller capable of receiving, processing, and storing the data in a
database.
Additionally, adverse climatic and geographical conditions affected the
IoT sensors' functionality, causing inaccurate data. Another challenge was
maintaining the stability of the floating platforms in changing currents, as
well as preventing vandalism, which severely damaged components.
Four years after the original idea, the current version has overcome
these challenges and is far more advanced and functional than the initial
prototype, demonstrating that "Internet of Water" has great potential
in water preservation.
Today, the platform can also detect deviations in a river’s flow or
illegal water extraction in lakes and springs. Moreover, it can identify
illegal wastewater discharges. "IoT technology enables continuous
monitoring, and when a variation is detected, warnings are issued to prompt
necessary action," said Figarola.
"Internet of Water" has extended its reach to a growing number
of environments, including water treatment plants, aquaculture farms, and
universities.
Integration of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
The CIIoT’s development still holds significant potential for
improvement. A Machine Learning component will be integrated into the sensors,
enabling a broader range of elements to be analyzed without increasing the cost
of physical components, such as sensors and hardware. Additionally, an
artificial intelligence (AI) layer and control mechanisms will be added to
optimize monitoring and real-time decision-making.
"Internet of Water" is a clear example of Tec de Monterrey's
commitment to research and technological innovation, as well as to preserving
vital resources like water. This development not only promises to improve water
quality in Mexico but also positions the university at the forefront of
advanced technological solutions to address global environmental issues.
# # #
About Tecnologico de
Monterrey
Tecnologico de Monterrey (http://www.tec.mx) is a private, non-profit
university recognized for its academic excellence, educational innovation, and
global vision. It was founded in 1943 and currently has a presence in 33
municipalities across 20 states in Mexico, with an enrollment of 62,000
students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, as well as more than 27,000
high school students. Accredited by SACSCOC since 1950, it ranks 184th in the
QS World University Rankings 2024 and 4th in Latin America according to the THE
Latin America University Rankings 2023. It also stands out in global
employability and entrepreneurship programs, being part of international
networks such as APRU, U21, and WUN.
