Capabilities

• Data Collection (UAV/Sensors)
• Data Processing and Storage
• Electronics Research, Design and Production
• 3d Printing and Scanning
• Multiple workstations for students and researchers

 Capacities

• Improved measurements for predicting water quality and quantity
• Increased support for forecasting the threat of disaster from floods and droughts
• Information for communities and industries to reduce and manage their flood risk
• Information for farmers and ranchers to manage drought impacts on agriculture
• New environmental technologies for sustainable development in Canada

The SWSL has multiple workstations and tremendous electronic facilities for sensor design research. The lab supports the deployment of airborne drones equipped with sophisticated sensors for mapping and diagnosis of land surface processes.  Novel ground-based sensors support environmental monitoring and hydrological process studies. These sensors include UAV-based and terrestrial LiDAR, Multispectral, Hyperspectral, Optical, Thermal and IR imaging radiometers, Field spectrometer and traditional survey equipment.

 Lab Equipment

• 3 Permanent workstations (Students, Researchers and Scientists)
• Novatel Base station (roof mounted continuous operation) (PwrPak7)
• Stratasys 3d Printer (Model F370)
• Portable 3d scanners (Artec 3D Spider and Eva models)
• Espec Environmental Chamber
• Custom Computer and Server systems 
• Portable diagnostic electronics station
• Reflow Oven and Stencil printer
• Virtual Reality (VR) devices (x3)

A number of UAVs are available for mapping of landscapes during the snow-covered and snow-free seasons.  The UAVs owned and operated by the SWSL are deployed at field sites in the Prairies and Rocky Mountains.  UAV platforms manufactured and configured by DJI International, Sensefly, DraganFly  and Freefly systems are available for use in research projects.  

SWSL Drones and Associated Sensors

DJI m600 with Riegl MiniVux1

ALTA X with M1000 Medusa Gamma Ray Spectrometer

 eBee X with Duet T 

Introduction

• SWSL designs, develops and tests sensors and systems that measure all components of the hydrological cycle. 
• The sensors are self-calibrating with onboard signal processing for in-field feedback and rapid data availability. 
• SWSL research is focused on the use of active and passive technologies involving acoustics, electromagnetic waves, visible and near-infrared cameras as well as LIDAR and GPS and how novel devices can be used to provide data inputs to mathematical models of climate change, drought, snowmelt, and flooding. 
• To ensure that the research is reproducible for maximum applicability, all source code, data, and ancillary information scientific papers written for the SWSL will be available for download from a github repository.

• Chione
• Achelous
• Water Watcher
• Self Calibrating Heat Pulse Probe