Making the invisible in water visible
This UT FieldLab experiment falls under the theme Watercycle and climate. View all experiments related to this theme.
Introduction
At first glance, water just looks blue or green, but hidden inside are stories about its health and quality. AquaSense is an outdoor laboratory that turns a small pool into a living window on water science. With satellites, drones, and smart sensors, we can see changes in clarity, algae, and nutrients—signals that tell us how safe and healthy the water really is. Suhyb Salama: “The beauty is that water speaks in colors and patterns. With the Earth Observation technology, we can translate those signals into knowledge that helps protect both people and nature”.
What are we researching?
Our goal is to understand how light, colour, and other signals provide information about water quality. How can we detect changes in clarity, nutrients, or algae? And how do we translate these signals into reliable measurements from drones or satellites? This knowledge is crucial for monitoring lakes, rivers, and coastal waters worldwide.
How does it work?
The AquaSense lab consists of a 10 × 4 metre basin equipped with sensors that measure light reflection, water quality and dynamics. By simulating controlled variations in water quality, we test how well different technologies detect changes. The data is linked to aerial and satellite imagery to improve algorithms for remote water quality assessment. AquaSense is not only a research facility but also a place for education and public engagement, where visitors learn how technology helps protect water.
Why is this important?
Water quality is a key indicator of ecosystem and human health. By developing better monitoring methods, we can detect pollution faster, protect ecosystems, and support sustainable water strategies – from local lakes to global observation systems.