The Basingstoke Canal has contracted with Aquamatix, pioneer of the Internet of Things in water, to provide real-time monitoring and control of water resources, to allow the public to access information about the canal, and to reduce energy consumed by canal operations.
The Basingstoke Canal was built in 1792-8, and is now a leisure facility serving the community from the River Wey Navigation near Woking, over 32 miles to Odiham in Hampshire. In order to use a limited water supply as efficiently as possible, while reducing the energy consumed in managing the canal operations, leading-edge technologies from the Internet of Things will be supplied by Aquamatix.
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The system will provide a variety of tools for canal rangers to monitor water levels and flows and pumping station activity. Information from the system will also be available to the public via a website, allowing canal users to better enjoy and understand the canal and its environment.
The project has been jointly developed by public agencies including Surrey and Hampshire County Councils, the volunteer sector in the Basingstoke Canal Society, and the private sector in Aquamatix, an SME based in Surrey.
James Taylor, Strategic Manager for the Basingstoke Canal said, “We are delighted that both owning county councils are investing in this leading technology so we can provide a better service to all users of the canal and neighbours. By monitoring and controlling the water in the canal we will improve our control of winter flood waters, whilst reducing canal energy use, and allow more boats to enjoy the beautiful canal environment through more efficient water use in dry summer months.”
Laurie Reynolds, Managing Director of Aquamatix noted, “We are delighted to be working with the Basingstoke Canal in this UK-first implementation of Internet of Things technologies to this unique environment.”
The system will be deployed over the winter, ready for the start of the season in April 2015.
