2026: Smart Flow Sensors For Smart Stormwater Management (TNC)
Climate change and growing urbanization are intensifying pressures on water resources. Urban watershed runoff leads to pollution and increased flood risk. The Nature Conservancy’s Brightstorm project addresses these challenges by implementing Digital Water Solutions (DWS), automating stormwater infrastructure operation. However, existing flow monitoring technologies that they rely on require physical water contact, are expensive and labor-intensive, and need specialized expertise and frequent calibration visits. Cornell and TNC researchers will develop a non-contact, image-based system to gauge surface water flow in small waterways, including natural and engineered channels. They will utilize infrared and visible-light images of the flowing water surface to calculate flow velocity and discharge, building on previous Cornell work using small, low-cost cameras. Unlike existing technologies, this system minimizes disruption at measurement locations, greatly expanding deployment possibilities, particularly on privately owned land. This will enable the expansion of DWS sites and flow gauging at other locations.
Cornell: Seth A Schweitzer (Cornell Duffield Engineering/Civil and Environmental Engineering) and Todd Cowen (Cornell Duffield Engineering/Civil and Environmental Engineering)
TNC: Matthew Rea (Director of Water Technology) and Craig Holland (Senior Director of Investments)