The past month has seen some of the most devastating floodings in recent American history. With Houston and the Gulf Coast devastated by Hurricane Harvey and numerous Caribbean islands, Florida, and even southern portions of Alabama and Georgia flooded in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, flooding is at the forefront of many Americans’ minds.
Flooding can be particularly harmful in urban areas and cities. This is not only because of their population density but also because of physical infrastructure that makes natural water runoff difficult or impossible.
That’s why flood detection systems are so important. Without early warnings, residents of cities and towns may not be able to evacuate and preserve property. So how can cities implement flood detection systems?
How Flood Detectors Work
Flood detectors can work in a number of different ways, but in general, they are strategically placed in high-risk areas like levies, dams, embankments, sewer systems, and others.
Special liquid level sensors monitor water levels—when water gets high enough that flooding is known to be imminent or in progress, authorities and residents can be alerted.
Liquid Level Sensors for Urban Flood Detection Systems
What kinds of liquid level sensors should be used in flood detection systems?
The ideal unit should have a few characteristics:
Reliability
Continuous level measurement capabilities
The capability of integration into existing systems
Others as may be needed with specific systems, environments, or applications
Ultrasonic Level Sensors
Ultrasonic level sensors are accurate, reliable, and are capable of continuous level measurement. SMD’s ultrasonic liquid level sensors come in a variety of configurations, with plastic and stainless steel casings.
Hydrostatic Pressure Sensors
Hydrostatic pressure level sensors, or submersible level sensors, work by measuring the pressure exerted by a body of water. These sensors are also capable of continuous level sensing, although may not be as ideal as ultrasonic sensors for flood detection.