FloodNotifyPro

Prototype for the FloodNotifyPro with the Raspberry Pi attached
Side view
Front View

Inspiration

Flood early warning systems provide a large challenge, especially in lower-income areas without much infrastructure.

What it does

 FNP monitors the flow rate of rivers and streams and compares them to stats recorded by USGS for the given streams. If the stream notices an increase in water flow or the sensor detects a lower increased amount of water for a prolonged period of time, it notifies the main server predicting a potential flood warning. Pairs of these devices can also be used in tandem as a flash flood warning system. The two Raspberry Pi's communicate with one another continuously to record and compare streamflow statistics.

How we built it

Using a RaspberryPI microcontroller and an old fan, we created a working prototype and proof of concept. Although if ever actually implemented, we would use raspberry pi pics due to their lower power intake, size profile, and cost.

Challenges we ran into

We had a hard time with the sensor to make analytic graphs and if given more time we could actually implement the sensor to show visualize them. The raspberry pi alone can not read analog inputs, so we had to use an analog-to-digital signal converter and then use a zener diode to limit the voltage across the gpio pins.