Supporting Climate-Smart Agriculture with Intelligent Water Monitoring
Aqua Watch is an intelligent water level monitoring solution developed in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank. It enables precise water management for Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation systems, helping farmers optimize water usage, improve crop yields, and significantly reduce methane emissions from rice paddies.
Climate & Sustainability
Hardware + Software Integration
Research to Field Deployment
About Aqua Watch
Smart Water Monitoring for Sustainable Farming
Aqua Watch is an intelligent water level monitoring system designed specifically for AWD irrigation in rice farming. The solution uses dual-sensor technology housed in a durable PVC structure to deliver accurate, real-time water level data, enabling farmers and agricultural authorities to make informed irrigation decisions. By supporting AWD practices, Aqua Watch helps reduce methane emissions from rice paddies by 30-40%.
The Challenge
Balancing water efficiency, crop productivity, and environmental impact
Traditional irrigation methods rely heavily on manual observation and continuous flooding, leading to excessive water use, higher labor costs, and increased greenhouse gas emissions. The Asian Development Bank required a reliable, low-maintenance system that could operate in remote, off-grid locations while providing real-time monitoring and supporting large-scale sustainability programs.
Accurate measurement of water levels in harsh field conditions using dual-sensor technology with ultrasonic and conductive sensors.
Solar-powered system with battery backup ensuring reliable operation in remote agricultural locations without grid access.
Threshold-based alerts via GSM and SMS for proactive irrigation control and timely decision-making.
Supporting methane emission reduction and water conservation aligned with climate-smart agriculture goals.
The Solution
Smart AWD Tube with cloud-connected monitoring
We developed Aqua Watch as a complete IoT ecosystem combining hardware, connectivity, and cloud applications. The system delivers precise water level measurements and remote monitoring through web and mobile dashboards.
Hardware: Ultrasonic & Conductive Sensors | Comms: GSM/MQTT | Power: Solar + Battery | Software: Web & Mobile Dashboards
Dual-sensor water level monitoring
Conductive sensors detect water contact, while ultrasonic sensors provide non-invasive depth measurement with ±1 cm accuracy.
Solar-powered, off-grid operation
20W solar panel with battery backup ensures up to 24 days of operation without sunlight.
Real-time data and alerts
Threshold-based alerts via GSM and SMS for proactive irrigation control.
Cloud and dashboard integration
Web and mobile dashboards with weather data integration for informed decision-making.
Key Features
Designed for durability, accuracy, and ease of use
Precision Measurement
Measuring range of -20 cm to +20 cm relative to ground level with ±1 cm accuracy.
Solar Powered
20W solar panel with battery backup providing up to 24 days of autonomous operation.
GSM Connectivity
Multi-band cellular connectivity (2G/3G/4G) with SMS alerts and MQTT protocol support.
Threshold Alerts
Automated water level alerts for proactive irrigation management and timely responses.
Tool-Free Installation
Modular design with UV-resistant PVC/ABS enclosure, operating from -10°C to +60°C.
Web & Mobile Dashboards
Remote monitoring with weather data integration for comprehensive field insights.
The Outcome
Enabling data-driven, sustainable irrigation
Aqua Watch empowers farmers and agricultural programs with real-time insights into water levels, enabling efficient AWD irrigation practices. The solution supports water conservation, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and provides a scalable foundation for smart agriculture initiatives led by the Asian Development Bank.
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