Rainwater Monitoring and Management System

Project Overview

The Rainwater Monitoring and Management System is an advanced IoT-based solution designed to provide comprehensive, real-time insights into rainfall patterns and water collection processes. By integrating sophisticated sensors, a powerful ESP32 microcontroller, and an intuitive web interface, the system offers precise tracking and analysis of rainwater harvesting parameters.

System Architecture and Components

Hardware Components

1. ESP32 Microcontroller

   • Dual-core processor (240MHz)
   • Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities
   • I2C communication support
   • GPIO pins for sensor interfacing

2. Sensors

   • Tipping Bucket Rainfall Sensor (SKU: SEN0575)

     • Measurement Range: 0-9999mm
     • Resolution: 0.28mm per tip
     • Communication: I2C and UART
     • Operating Temperature: -40°C to 85°C
     • Features: Automatic drainage, high platform compatibility

   • YFS-201 Water Flow Sensor

     • Measurement Method: Hall effect sensor
     • Output: Pulse signals proportional to water flow
     • Flow Rate Range: 1–30 L/min
     • Working Voltage: 5–24V

3. Auxiliary Components

   • Gravity I2C Communication Module
   • Type-B USB Cable
   • 5V Adapter

Software Components

Key Functionalities

• Real-time data acquisition
• Data processing and calculation
• Web server hosting
• User interface for data visualization

Technical Implementation

Sensor Data Acquisition

• Rainfall Sensor: Measures rainfall through a tipping bucket mechanism

  • Each sensor tip represents 0.28mm of rainfall
  • Transmits data via I2C communication

• Water Flow Sensor: Tracks water flow rate

  • Generates pulses proportional to flow volume
  • Calculates flow rate and total water volume

Data Processing

The system processes raw sensor data to compute:

• Cumulative rainfall
• Hourly rainfall intensity
• Total water collected
• Instantaneous flow rate

Web Interface

• Hosted on ESP32 microcontroller
• Accessible via Wi-Fi network
• Real-time metrics display
• Features:
  • Current rainfall information
  • Hourly rainfall trends
  • Total water volume
  • Flow rate visualization
  • Data reset functionality

Network Configuration

• SSID: RainfallMonitor
• Access Point IP: 192.168.4.1:8080

Setup and Deployment

Hardware Setup

1. Connect sensors to ESP32 using specified GPIO pins
2. Ensure proper power supply using 5v adapter and a Type-B USB Cable
3. Mount sensors in appropriate outdoor locations

Software Setup

1. Flash ESP32 with MicroPython firmware
2. Install required libraries
3. Upload main.py script
4. It's ready and visit the IP Address 190.168.4.1:8080 for the webpage.

Calibration and Accuracy

Rainfall Sensor

• Preset resolution: 0.28mm per tip
• Manual calibration support through software configuration

Water Flow Sensor

• Configurable calibration factor
• Default: 7.5 pulses per liter

Possible Enhancements

1. Cloud Integration

   • Remote data access
   • Trend analysis using platforms like AWS or Google Cloud

2. Advanced Analytics

   • Machine learning for rainfall prediction
   • Water usage trend analysis

3. Mobile Application

   • Real-time monitoring
   • Push notifications
   • Comprehensive data visualization

4. Power Optimization

   • Solar power integration

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

• No sensor data
• Web interface not loading
• Inaccurate readings

Recommended Solutions

• Verify physical connections
• Check power supply
• Recalibrate sensors
• Confirm network settings

Technical Specifications

• Microcontroller: ESP32 (Dual-core, 240MHz)
• Communication: Wi-Fi, I2C
• Data Storage: Temporary in-memory logging
• Update Frequency: 5-second intervals
• Maximum Logged Readings: 10

Design

Block Diagram

Schematic Diagram