Integration and Evaluation of LoRa Sensor Technology for a Flood Early Warning System

The Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) is interested in the opportunities offered by low-cost, high-frequency autonomous LoRa-based sensor technology as an alternative to expensive high-precision gauges. Data from SEPA’s high cost/accuracy gauges are available online but provide sparse spatial coverage (http://apps.sepa.org.uk/waterlevels/). This feasibility project will evaluate whether LoRa sensors can provide significant low-cost added early warning value to catchments where no formal flows warning scheme exists. This will involve the development of a number of sensors and installation of a LoRaWAN gateway to send data to a server. The study will include developing and evaluating optimal sensor positioning models for given environmental and technological constraints. Also, functional data analysis statistical techniques will be developed for data upscaling, sensor output uncertainty quantification, and to evaluate LoRa sensor data against an existing station for use in flood warnings.