The Role of Ultrasonic Sensors in Flood Monitoring Systems

Natural disasters can happen anywhere in the world, and, in recent years, they have occurred with greater frequency. One of the most common types of natural disasters is floods. Due to the devastation, they can reign on a community, region, or, in the event of large-scale flooding, country, it is important to be properly prepared to handle them before they occur. That’s why many environmentally focused organizations and groups have invested in flood detection systems that implement ultrasonic sensors.

What Are the Primary Causes of Floods?

Flooding can occur for a number of reasons in both coastal and non-coastal areas. Some of the most prevalent causes are:

• Heavy rainfall
• Storm surge
• Snow and ice melt runoff
• Breaking/broken dams and levees

What Kind of Damage Can Floods Cause?

Floods can have a variety of consequences depending on where they strike, how long they last, how much water is involved, what preparations were made beforehand, and many other factors. The most extreme negative consequence that can happen is the loss of human life. However, floods can also cause the following:

• Property damage
• Crop destruction
• Livestock death
• Infrastructure damage/destruction

All of the above can have a significant social and economic impact on both individuals and communities. Additionally, they can cause severe environmental repercussions (e.g., habitat destruction and ground/groundwater contamination).

How Can Ultrasonic Sensors Help With Flood Preparedness?

The key to minimizing or mitigating flood damage is being prepared. Flood monitoring and warning systems are essential to this strategy as they collect data about flood-prone areas and provide predictions on when, where, and how a flood may strike. This information helps response personnel establish a more effective preparation plan.

Ultrasonic sensors are a vital component of modern flood detection and alert systems. As they utilize high-frequency (ultrasonic) soundwaves to calculate the distance to a remote object without physically touching it, they can be used to create systems that reliably determine wave height and water levels at much lower installation and maintenance costs.

The ultrasonic sensors at Senix find use in flood monitoring and forecast systems around the world, from Virginia to Vietnam to Australia. The ToughSonic sensor line features waterproof construction with an IP68 rating, and offers reliable performance even in the face of the toughest weather conditions or passing waves. The data the sensors collect can be transmitted wirelessly to a centralized data management system using AirWire LoRa (the Senix solution for wireless sensor monitoring) or another similar software solution. This makes them ideal for use in smart cities looking to establish or upgrade their disaster preparedness plans.

Contact the Ultrasonic Sensor Experts at Senix Today

While floods can cause significant damage, destruction, and devastation, it is possible to mitigate these consequences by being prepared. Monitoring and collecting data about water levels in flood-prone areas can help the necessary parties prepare for and, potentially, prevent floods and flood-related problems. Ultrasonic sensors play a vital role in the systems used for these purposes, which makes them important to flood preparedness.

Need ultrasonic sensors for your flood monitoring and alert system? Turn to the experts at Senix. Our ToughSonic sensors have a proven track record in flood monitoring and forecast systems across the globe. For more information on our ultrasonic sensors, contact us today.

How Can Senix Non-Contact Ultrasonic Sensors Measure & Control Roll Diameter?

Senix ToughSonic General Purpose ultrasonic distance and levels sensors are designed for use in some of the harshest industrial environments and are suitable for use with a variety of materials, ranging in type, color, translucence, and reflectivity, from aluminum to steel and paper to plastic.  Unlike other techniques such as optical or photoelectric sensors, Ultrasonic sensors measure roll diameter regardless of the roll material type, color, or hardness and provide fast, accurate and reliable diameter measurements whenever the target is within range. With their high reliability, these easy-to-use sensors are an excellent solution for many roll measurement applications.

Roll Diameter Measurement

Senix ToughSonic® ultrasonic sensors use “non-contact” technology to measure the roll diameter of materials without touching or damaging the target as they are wound and unwound for various applications.

Roll Full Detection

Roll full detection is used to measure the diameters of rolls as material winds onto them. When a roll is full, the sensor sends a notification to the system and any other connected devices, so the necessary equipment or employees know to remove it.

Roll Empty Detection

Roll empty detection is used to measure the diameters of rolls as material winds off them. When a roll is empty, the sensor sends a notification to the system and any other connected devices, so the necessary equipment or employees know to replace it.

Roll Slack Monitoring (or Tension Control)

Roll slack monitoring is used to monitor rolls as material winds onto them or off them. If the amount of slack in the material exceeds a set limit, the sensor sends a notification to the system and any other connected devices, so the necessary equipment or employees know to tighten or loosen the material.

Industries Served:

• Converting
• Foil & Film
• Metals
• Printing
• Pulp & Paper

Senix ToughSonic sensors have a variety of outputs.  Senix Sensors include both 0-10 VDC and 4-20 mA analog outputs, and choice of RS-232 or RS-485 serial communication, and built-in switches to signal motor drives, brakes, clutches, or controllers to manage web motion in production. ToughSonic sensors include synchronization features to prevent crosstalk from multiple sensors in close proximity.

In addition to roll diameter measurement, LEARN MORE about other distance ranging applications such as:

• Loop Control
• Web Break
• Tension control
• Dimensioning
• Distance Measurement
• Object Detection
• Positioning
• Sorting

See a recent typical application of measuring material used in Cold Foil Printing