A High-Frequency and Real-Time Ground Remote Sensing System for Obtaining Water Quality Based on a Micro Hyper-Spectrometer

Abstract

The safeguarding of scarce water resources is critically dependent on continuous water quality monitoring. Traditional methods like satellite imagery and automated underwater observation have limitations in cost-efficiency and frequency. Addressing these challenges, a ground-based remote sensing system for the high-frequency, real-time monitoring of water parameters has been developed. This system is encased in a durable stainless-steel shell, suited for outdoor environments, and features a compact hyperspectral instrument with a 4 nm spectral resolution covering a 350–950 nm wavelength range. In addition, it also integrates solar power, Wi-Fi, and microcomputers, enabling the autonomous long-term monitoring of water quality. Positioned on a rotating platform near the shore, this setup allows the spectrometer to quickly capture the reflective spectrum of water within 3 s. To assess its effectiveness, an empirical method correlated the reflective spectrum with the actual chlorophyll a(Chla) concentration. Machine learning algorithms were also used to analyze the spectrum’s relationship with key water quality indicators like total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). Results indicate that the band ratio algorithm accurately determines Chla concentration (R-squared = 0.95; RMSD = 0.06 mg/L). For TP, TN, and COD, support vector machine (SVM) and linear models were highly effective, yielding R-squared values of 0.93, 0.92, and 0.88, respectively. This innovative hyperspectral water quality monitoring system is both practical and reliable, offering a new solution for effective water quality assessment.