Water sampling process for ecological monitoring of water bodies: Modeling and calculation of parameters

The process of water sampling, carried out for the purpose of environmental monitoring of various water bodies, is labor-intensive and quite expensive. Therefore, it is necessary not only to ensure the objectivity of water sampling at various depths of water bodies, but also to have the ability to predict this process based on an analytical model. Despite many existing methods of water sampling, none of them contains a simulation model that could allow the implementation of this operation at various depths of water bodies, taking into account interrelated parameters, namely, the speed of water flow, pressure at various levels and the time of filling the bathometer - a device for collecting water samples. The most promising direction for monitoring water bodies is the use of unmanned aerial vehicles as environmentally friendly equipment, in contrast to surface watercraft. The article presents the first developed analytical model of the water sample process using a bathometer mounted on a quadcopter. This model allows for fairly accurate calculations of the parameters of the bathometer, taking into account the characteristics of water bodies at various depths. Analytical dependencies are given for calculating the time of filling the bathometer, taking into account the immersion depth, pressure, and water flow velocity. The results of modeling the specified process are presented in the form of graphs of changes in the parameters of the water sampling device depending on the characteristics of water bodies, and the results of the modeling are analyzed. The main motivation for the conducted research is to ensure the objectivity of collecting water samples and the possibility of predicting this process in order to save financial costs. Ultimately, the analytical model developed for the first time provides an opportunity for engineers and researchers in the field of environmental monitoring of a reservoir to create similar equipment, depending on other production tasks.