An IoT Based Multi-Parameter Remote Data Acquisition System for Flash Flood Monitoring

This paper presents the design and implementation of a data acquisition system which leverages an Internet of Things (IoT) platform for the monitoring of flash floods. A number of sensors are strategically installed in flood prone areas, allowing the capture of a range of critical physical parameters-including ambient temperature, relative humidity, rainfall intensity, soil moisture, water levels, and flow rates. The sensors are wired to an Arduino microcontroller, which concatenates the data obtained from different sensors. This data is then transmitted using the Long Range (LoRa) wireless modulation technique, to a comprehensive IoT system, with an intuitive graphical user interface. This enables visualization of instantaneous values and time variations of the system parameters. Furthermore, the system is programmed to issue alerts and notify users promptly in the event of imminent flash floods. In addition, all data is also forwarded to the ThingSpeak IoT cloud system, making it readily accessible to authorized users, across various locations. Rigorous testing of the system has validated its reliability in transmitting accurate and timely data, thereby confirming its efficacy as a critical tool in flood risk management and mitigation strategies.