Small satellite and multi-sensor network for real time control and analysis of lakes surface waters

Collecting samples manually and sending them to the laboratory for analysis represents the traditional method of water quality testing. However, nowadays, it has been unable to fulfill the needs of water quality. An innovative project has been initiated to monitor floods and water quality in Tunisia in order to meet the current water resources management automation and remote monitoring requirements. It presents an application for the international space project initiative HumSat and GENSO network. The aim of this initiative is monitoring the environment of our planet. This system consists of three segments: spatial segment including the constellation HumSat, ground segment entailing the ground station and user segment which contains platforms and scientific users. The platform is equipped with multi-parameter sensors of water quality testing, GPS, microcontroller, communication module and other accessories. Various parameters such as level and water quality can be detected under the control of these platforms all the day. This instrument collects the hydrological information and sends it to the satellite. The download of this data is obtained by ground station included in GENSO network. Finally, users will retrieve the data via internet. The real time data will be acquired and processed for statistic, analysis, curve and well management for surface water in Tunisia. In this paper, we discuss the use of space technology in the hydrodynamic and physico-chemical data collection on the Tunisian territory. This system presents many benefits such as hydrological forecasting and operation of hydrological networks as well as the possibility to launch scientific experiments related to water to hydrologists.