VTM: Ground Water Level Monitoring
G.J. de Blois Watertechnologie and VTM Group have been collaborating for some time in the field of IoT and the LoRa Network of KPN. G.J. de Blois specializes in climate-adaptive water management. A specially developed pump system that runs on solar energy and uses sensors that communicate via the KPN LoRa network is now providing sub-irrigation in agriculture.
Sustainable solar-powered pumps that use LoRa technology.
Farmers who had to irrigate their crops, especially during dry periods, were usually reliant on large diesel pumps to power their irrigation systems. Due to the increasing frequency of dry periods caused by climate change, farmers in the Netherlands are using these systems more and more.
Not only is this a significant cost for farmers and consumes a lot of fuel, it also results in a substantial emission of CO2 and other harmful substances. A sustainable and cheaper alternative are solar-powered pumps that can be turned on and off with sensors that communicate via the KPN LoRa network. This is called Climate Adaptive Drainage (CAD).
Climate Adaptive Drainage
Due to climate change, we are facing increasing peak flows and water shortages. G.J. de Blois can reduce these problems by using Climate Adaptive Drainage. Regional water managers, such as water boards, and farmers, for example, can use a remotely controllable drainage system and, during heavy rainfall, raise the drainage level, thereby capturing water in the soil and reducing the speed at which it flows into surface water.
Staying in control
Water can be temporarily retained in the soil in exceptional cases of heavy rainfall. One advantage for water boards is that this saves them money because pumping capacity and/or storage areas can be more cost-effectively accommodated. In addition, farmers can use their Climate Adaptive Drainage system to conserve water for dry periods. The pumps developed by G.J. de Blois for use in agriculture are foldable and movable, making them flexible to use. This compact and off-grid pump system has an average pumping capacity of 400m3/day at a lift height of one meter. In practice, this is sufficient for fields of up to about seven hectares. The system has monitoring functions via an app and/or online portal to allow the pump to be controlled remotely.
Read more about this case here (in Dutch).
