Sensor Technology, Robotics, Environment Analytics, and Modelling for Data-Driven River Health

STREAMline tackles gaps in UK river pollution monitoring by using advanced tech to collect high-resolution data, focusing on submerged plant biomass as a key health indicator.

This project pioneers a new approach to river pollution monitoring by integrating autonomous underwater vehicles (UUVs), fixed-point sensors, and citizen science data to create a high-resolution, real-time picture of river health. Responding to growing public concern over sewage overflows and ecological degradation, the project addresses the limitations of current monitoring methods—such as poor spatial coverage and delayed reporting—by deploying sensor-equipped UUVs to collect continuous ecological data, with a focus on submerged plant biomass as a key indicator.

The data will feed into a spatially explicit river health index and support the development of a digital twin of the river, visualised through immersive virtual reality. This innovative tool will enable policymakers, communities, and environmental managers to interact with river data in intuitive ways, enhancing engagement and decision-making.

By combining cutting-edge robotics, environmental science, and public engagement, the project sets a new standard for ecological monitoring and governance, with the potential to inform infrastructure policy and conservation strategies across the UK.