In the heart of southern Brazil, where the Araranguá River meets the sea, a technological revolution is brewing, one that could redefine how farmers monitor and manage their most precious resource: water. Analúcia Schiaffino Morales, a researcher from the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, has spearheaded a project that leverages the Internet of Things (IoT) to create a real-time water monitoring system, potentially transforming precision agriculture and water management practices.
The Araranguá River estuary, a vital water source for local rice fields, faces significant pollution challenges. Urban activities, coal mining, and saline water intrusion threaten the water quality, directly impacting agricultural productivity. Traditionally, farmers have had to manually test water quality, a time-consuming and often inefficient process. Morales’ IoT-based solution aims to change that.
“The presence of salt in irrigation water can compromise rice growth,” Morales explains. “Our system helps farmers decide whether to use the water for irrigation, saving them time and resources.” The technology employs low-cost wireless sensor networks to collect data, which is then transmitted to a cloud-based platform via a mobile phone network. Farmers can access this data through a smartphone application, receiving real-time updates on water quality.
The implications of this research extend far beyond the rice fields of southern Brazil. As water scarcity and pollution become increasingly pressing global issues, the need for efficient, real-time water monitoring systems grows. Morales’ work offers a scalable solution that could be adapted for various agricultural sectors and regions, enhancing water management practices worldwide.
“The system can be continuously monitored and show notifications to the user,” Morales adds, highlighting the system’s potential to prevent crop loss and reduce productivity. This proactive approach could significantly impact the agricultural industry, leading to more sustainable and efficient farming practices.
Published in *Acta Scientiarum: Technology* (translated to English as *Deeds of Science: Technology*), this research represents a significant step forward in the integration of IoT technology into precision agriculture. As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and resource depletion, innovations like Morales’ IoT-based water monitoring system offer a beacon of hope, paving the way for a more sustainable and technologically advanced future.