Flood Detection System
By B.E. Alejandro • 6 minutes read •
Summary
Professional river monitoring and early flood warning system using an independent LoRa mesh network, with real-time visualization in ATAK/iTAK.
Project Description
Distributed sensor system that monitors water levels at various river points, transmitting real-time data through a Meshtastic (LoRa) mesh network, visualized on ATAK/iTAK maps with GPS geolocation and live metrics.
Main Technologies
Meshtastic
LoRa mesh network operating without internet or cellular connection. Long-range communication (2–50 km) between self-organizing, resilient nodes.
ATAK/iTAK
Situational awareness software used by rescue and emergency teams. Map visualization with GPS location of each sensor and real-time metrics.
Heltec LoRa V3
ESP32-S3 board with integrated LoRa SX1262 radio, OLED display, WiFi, and Bluetooth. More efficient than Arduino, suitable for professional projects.
Ultrasonic Sensor
Waterproof JSN-SR04T sensor that measures distance without contact, calculating river water level.
System Components
Node Hardware (2 nodes)
- Heltec LoRa V3 (ESP32-S3 + LoRa + OLED + 3000mAh battery)
- JSN-SR04T ultrasonic sensor
- 6V 2W solar panel + charge controller
- Waterproof enclosure
Gateway (1 unit)
- Raspberry Pi 4
- Additional Meshtastic node
- Software: TAK Meshtastic Gateway
Visualization
- ATAK (Android) or iTAK (iOS)
- Offline maps
- Connection via multicast or TAK Server
System Architecture
[Sensor Río 1] → [Heltec V3] → [Red Mesh LoRa] ←→ [Gateway] → [ATAK/iTAK]
[Sensor Río 2] → [Heltec V3] → [Red Mesh LoRa] ←→ [Gateway] → [ATAK/iTAK]
Data Flow:
- Ultrasonic sensor measures water level
- Heltec V3 processes and displays on OLED
- Transmits via LoRa mesh
- Gateway translates to ATAK format
- ATAK/iTAK displays on GPS map
Node Configuration
Node 1 - Shore Sensor
- Location: Riverbank
- Fixed GPS: 25.6866, -100.3161 (example)
- Function: Detect rising water at the riverbank
- OLED Display: Shows real-time level
Node 2 - Center Sensor
- Location: River center (bridge)
- Fixed GPS: 25.6820, -100.3155 (example)
- Function: Monitor main river channel
- OLED Display: Shows real-time level
Separation
- Distance: ~500 meters between nodes
- Communication: Direct LoRa link
- Range: Up to 10 km in urban area
Operation
Measurement
- Ultrasonic sensor measures distance every 5 seconds
- Water level:
Level = Sensor Height - Measured Distance - Displayed locally on OLED
Transmission
- Every 60 seconds via Meshtastic:
- Fixed GPS position
- Current water level
- Battery status
- Timestamp
Visualization in ATAK
- Each sensor appears on the map at its exact location
- Clicking reveals real-time metrics
- Updates every 60 seconds
Alerts
- Normal: Level < 3.5 m → OK
- Alert: 3.5–4.5 m → Warning
- Danger: > 4.5 m → Critical alert
System Advantages
Independence
- No Internet: Fully autonomous LoRa mesh
- No Cellular: No tower dependency
- Resilient: Works during disasters
Professional
- ATAK: Used by real rescue teams
- ESP32-S3: Advanced platform
- Visualization: Real-time mapping
Scalable
- Easy to add more nodes
- Self-organizing mesh network
- Low cost per additional node
Educational
- Physics: Ultrasonic/electromagnetic waves, solar energy
- Technology: IoT, mesh networking, signal processing
- Social Impact: Early warning saves lives
Applied Physics
Ultrasonic Waves
- Frequency: 40 kHz
- Speed of sound: 343 m/s
- Distance:
d = (t × v) / 2
Electromagnetic Waves (LoRa)
- Frequency: 915 MHz
- Wavelength: 33 cm
- Long-range propagation
Solar Energy
- 6V 2W photovoltaic panel
- 3.7V 3000mAh battery
- Autonomy: days/weeks
Costs
Per Sensor Node
| Component | Price (USD) | Price (MXN) |
|---|---|---|
| Heltec V3 Kit | $30–35 | $540–630 |
| Ultrasonic sensor | $10 | $180 |
| Solar panel + charger | $15 | $270 |
| Enclosure and cables | $15 | $270 |
| Subtotal | ~$75 | ~$1,350 |
Gateway
| Component | Price (USD) | Price (MXN) |
|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 4 | $55 | $990 |
| Meshtastic node | $35 | $630 |
| Accessories | $10 | $180 |
| Subtotal | ~$100 | ~$1,800 |
Complete System (2 nodes)
| Concept | Price (USD) | Price (MXN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 sensor nodes | $150 | $2,700 |
| Gateway | $100 | $1,800 |
| TOTAL | ~$250 | ~$4,500 |
Implementation Schedule
Week 1: Basic Setup
- Purchase components
- Flash Meshtastic on Heltec V3
- Configure basic nodes
- Test mesh communication
Week 2: Sensors
- Connect ultrasonic sensor
- Program data reading
- Display on OLED
- Calibrate sensor
Week 3: GPS and Telemetry
- Configure fixed GPS positions
- Set up TAK_TRACKER role
- Enable telemetry
- Test transmission
Week 4: Gateway and ATAK
- Install Raspberry Pi
- Configure TAK Meshtastic Gateway
- Install ATAK/iTAK
- Verify map visualization
Week 5: Deployment
- Assemble complete nodes
- Install in real locations
- Configure solar panels
- Field testing
Week 6: Optimization
- Adjust alert thresholds
- Optimize power consumption
- Document project
- Prepare presentation
Social Impact
Early Warning
- Minutes/hours of notice before flooding
- Time to evacuate high-risk zones
- Saves lives and protects property
Vulnerable Communities
- Low cost (~$250 USD full system)
- Easy to install
- No infrastructure required
- Minimal maintenance
Education
- Demonstrates applied physics
- Teaches IoT technologies
- Promotes science and innovation
- Inspires students
Project Differentiators
vs Cellular/IoT Systems
- ✅ No internet dependency
- ✅ Disaster-proof
- ✅ No monthly fees
- ✅ Longer range (LoRa)
vs Satellite Systems
- ✅ Much cheaper
- ✅ Lower latency
- ✅ Easier to deploy
- ✅ Scalable
vs Basic Arduino
- ✅ More powerful ESP32-S3
- ✅ Integrated OLED display
- ✅ Integrated LoRa
- ✅ Professional-grade
Advantages for CCI 2025 Competition
Science
- Wave physics (ultrasonic, electromagnetic)
- Signal processing
- Solar energy
- University-level concepts
Technology
- ESP32-S3 (beyond basic Arduino)
- LoRa mesh network
- ATAK/iTAK (military-grade software)
- Advanced IoT
Innovation
- Infrastructure-independent network
- Real-time professional visualization
- Scalable, modular system
- Edge computing
Social Impact
- Early warning saves lives
- Low cost for communities
- Suitable for vulnerable areas
- Direct population benefit
Competition Requirements
✅ Science & Technology
- Applied physics (waves, energy)
- Advanced tech (ESP32, LoRa, IoT)
✅ Innovation
- Independent mesh network
- ATAK visualization
- Resilient system
✅ University Level
- Advanced physics concepts
- ESP32 programming
- Communication networks
✅ Interactivity
- OLED display per sensor
- Real-time visualization in ATAK
- Automatic alerts
✅ Social Impact
- Flood protection
- Early warnings
- Low cost
Comparison with Previous Project
Previous Project (2024)
- AI-based human detection
- Search and rescue
- Post-disaster counting
Current Project (2025)
- Flood detection
- Early warning (prevention)
- Continuous monitoring
Evolution
- ✅ Maintains social impact
- ✅ Adds prevention (not only response)
- ✅ Uses applied physics (waves)
- ✅ More advanced platform (ESP32 vs Arduino)
- ✅ Mesh network (innovation)
Next Steps
Immediate
- Purchase 2 Heltec LoRa V3 units
- Purchase JSN-SR04T ultrasonic sensors
- Obtain Raspberry Pi 4
Short Term
- Flash Meshtastic
- Configure nodes
- Test mesh communication
Medium Term
- Program sensors
- Install gateway
- Configure ATAK
Long Term
- Field deployment
- System optimization
- Documentation for competition
Conclusion
Professional flood detection system combining:
- Science: Wave physics, solar energy, signal processing
- Technology: ESP32-S3, LoRa, Meshtastic, ATAK/iTAK
- Innovation: Independent mesh, military-grade visualization
- Social Impact: Early warning saves lives
Cost: $250 USD ($4,500 MXN) for complete 2-node system
Time: 6 weeks development
Level: University, CCI 2025 ready
Result: High-impact, cutting-edge winning project