A Low-Cost, DIY Ultrasonic Water Level Sensor for Education, Citizen Science, and Research

• DOI: 10.5670/oceanog.2023.101
• Publication Date: 2022-10-15T00:10:58Z
• Authors: Philip Bresnahan; Ellen Briggs; Benjamin Davis; Angelica Rodriguez; Luke Edwards; Cheryl Peach; Nan Renner; Harry Helling; Mark Merrifield
• Keywords: Firmware; Data logger; Arduino

A low-cost (~$100), do-it-yourself (DIY) ultrasonic water level sensor/datalogger has been designed, constructed, and tested for use in education, citizen/community science, research settings. The sensor package comprises an distance sensor, a microcontroller running Arduino firmware, micro-SD card datalogging, real-time clock timekeeping sleep functions, OLED screen display. Electronics are housed custom containers using either upcycled plastic or laser-cut acrylic. Reported accuracy is 5 cm across range of 15–645 cm, with estimated power budget 76 days operation on rechargeable 10 amp-hr battery. DIY field alongside two commercial sensors 18 Wilmington, North Carolina, including during Tropical Storm Colin, all measurements close agreement (e.g., root mean squared error 1.5 between the proven unit). Potential applications, design construction, deployment recommendations described, as well simple inexpensive modifications to its packaging that could further improve performance. Preliminary lesson plans written accompany device high school- undergraduate-level educational projects available.