Underwater wireless real-time water monitoring available for ports

CSignum has completed the first live European deployment of its Continuous Water Quality Monitoring (CWQM) system at the Port of Horsens in Denmark, transmitting real-time data from seabed to cloud without the need for cables.

The demonstration lasted 35 minutes and provided uninterrupted multiple-parameter readings from the fjord, enabling officials to observe fluctuations in dissolved oxygen levels as they occurred rather than relying on intermittent sampling.

The CWQM solution comprises CSignum’s EM-2Q water quality sensor unit paired with an EM-2G gateway to relay data securely over distances of up to 100 metres.

Attendees at the Port of Horsens demonstration included Danish investors, defence officials, water experts and representatives from Ørsted and the City of Horsens.

CSignum says that the EM-2Q sensor uses electromagnetic fields to transmit information reliably across the water–air interface, even in turbid, bio-fouled or acoustically noisy shallow-water environments.

The system is compatible with most existing underwater sensors and can be integrated without harm to marine life, according to the company.

Recovery of the equipment is achieved by activating a remote-controlled buoyancy bag, which brings the unit to the surface.

CSignum highlights that the wireless, portable design reduces reliance on divers or fixed infrastructure and lowers the risk of theft or vandalism.

CSignum chief operating officer Graeme Boyce said that observing “real-time multi-parameter trends – not just snapshots – is phenomenal. It empowers smarter, faster and more sustainable decisions and brings multiple benefits to serve the needs of all stakeholders involved in water quality.” He added that Horsens was only the beginning and that the company planned to scale the technology across Europe and beyond.