FreeUP Blog Series
What’s happening now & in the future with water
Our aim
We aim to inform and assist the public, industry and regulators with a unified system of water sensing and to put that informatin into context.
Our technology provides the data and insights and these blogs aim to assist with people’s understanding and context.
We hope that toether, insights and understanding can navigate us to a postive future of water security with minimal enviromental impact for all.
What is a sonde
Sensor clusters by another name A sonde is a type of instrument that is used for environmental monitoring. It typically consists of a sensor or set of sensors that are used to measure various parameters, such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen,...
Swarm logic and it’s uses in sensing and robotics
What is swarm logic Swarm logic is a concept that is inspired by the behavior of certain natural systems, such as ant colonies, bee hives, and flocks of birds. These systems exhibit a high level of coordination and cooperation among their members,...
The importance of river monitoring
What is river monitoring? River monitoring refers to the ongoing observation and measurement of physical, chemical, and biological parameters in rivers. The purpose of river monitoring is to gather data on the health of rivers and streams, identify...
Turbidity meters and drinking water
Turbidity meters Turbidity meters are instruments used to measure the turbidity of a liquid, which is a measure of the amount of suspended particles in the liquid. In the context of monitoring drinking water, turbidity meters are used to measure...
Reed beds to help treat sewage
Natural sewage works Reed beds are a type of nature-based solution that can be used to help with sewage treatment. They are constructed wetlands that use plants, such as reeds, to naturally filter and purify sewage and other types of waste water....
How do sewage works work?
Purpose A sewage treatment works, also known as a wastewater treatment plant, is a facility that is designed to remove pollutants from raw sewage before it is released into the environment. The core function of a sewage treatment works is to purify...
Why is sewage a pollutant?
What it provides Sewage is considered a pollutant because it contains a wide range of harmful substances that can have negative impacts on the environment when released. These substances include bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and nutrients that can...
Harmful algae blooms
Algal blooms Harmful algal blooms (HABs) are caused by the rapid growth of certain types of algae, which can release toxins that can harm aquatic life, wildlife and human health. Blue-green algae, also known as cyanobacteria (covered in our...
What are cyanobacteria?
Blue-green algae Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are a group of photosynthetic microorganisms that are found in a wide range of aquatic environments, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans. They are considered to be one of the oldest...
What is turbidity?
Turbidity Turbidity is a measure of the cloudiness or haziness of a liquid, typically water. It is caused by the presence of small particles suspended in the liquid, such as clay, silt, algae, or microscopic organisms. These particles can scatter...
How is hyperspectral imaging useful for monitoring water quality?
Intro As we now know from our previous post, hyperspectral imaging is a technology that captures a wide range of colors across the spectrum, from ultraviolet to infrared, and uses computer algorithms to analyze the data and identify the different...
What is hyperspectral imaging?
More colours than people can see Hyperspectral imaging is a technology that allows us to capture and analyze light in a way that is very different from traditional photography. Instead of just capturing the colors that we can see with our eyes,...
What tools help utilities maintain potable water networks?
An overview This post covers, at a very high level, the main approaches and technologies used by utilities to maintain their potable water networks. It is intended to be useful for those who want a background understanding rather than those who are...
How water ecology balances the earth’s climate
Aquatic ecology Water ecology, also known as aquatic ecology, is the study of the interactions between living organisms and their physical, chemical and biological environment in aquatic ecosystems. Water ecology plays a vital role in balancing the...
Why should people look after water ecology
What is water ecology Water ecology refers to the study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment, specifically in aquatic ecosystems. The importance of looking after water ecology can be seen in the multiple benefits it...