By Emily Vidovich. Emily has a background in environmental journalism and sustainability and is a member of the George Washington University Class of 2019.
Divirod is a water risk infrastructure and analytics company that is building a comprehensive and scalable water data network. The company uses a network of data sensors to fill gaps in current water monitoring systems, which they describe on their website as “outdated models” operating within “sparse and disparate monitoring networks.” Divirod’s innovation enables better measurement of environmental risks and water challenges fueled by climate change.
Divirod’s technology circumvents limitations of traditional measurement models by deploying small sensors that are installed outside of water, preferably on high-ground features such as poles or rooftops. In a video on the company’s website, Divirod founder Dr. Javier Marti explains that the key difference between Divirod’s model and traditional monitoring is that traditional monitors collect data at one fixed point, whereas Divirod’s sensors cover an entire area. Divirod claims that just one of their units, “provides an information map equivalent to over 300 traditional sensors.” Their sensors operate nonstop and can cover a range of up to 10 acres.
These sensors partially work by gathering data from the pre-existing satellites that orbit Earth and bounce signals off the planet. Divirod’s sensors collect previously unused data by measuring how the resonance of satellite signals changes when the signals hit water. The company’s proprietary machine-learning algorithm decodes these signals to create accurate data. By collecting water data from government and local sources and supplementing it with their own data, Divirod can precisely map and measure water-affected factors such as water level, snowfall, vegetation, and soil moisture percentage.
Once sensors are installed in an area, users can access the data on any smartphone or computer. Divirod says that their sensors can forecast and measure virtually anything related to water, enabling them to be utilized for remote monitoring of environmental risks related to property management, tidal management, and resource management.
In regards to property management data services, Divirod envisions a highly personalized approach for commercial building owners and facility managers to understand and mitigate potential water damage to roofs. Divirod’s modular system, box-shaped sensors that can be incorporated into existing infrastructure, enables such tailored data.
When it comes to measuring tides, Divirod claims that its technology is significantly less expensive than pre-existing government monitoring stations and can provide information that is more localized, improving accuracy. Accurate tide information is crucial for coastal communities seeking to protect property and improve climate resiliency in the face of sea level rise.
Water supply challenges are projected to be a key feature of the climate change-altered world of the coming decades, particularly in areas like California where changing weather patterns are already exacerbating droughts. Divirod asserts that real-time, precise analysis of measurements such as water level and soil moisture will be critical to optimizing water usage, understanding risks, and preparing for shortages. No matter the application, Divirod hopes to empower its users with accurate, abundant information, so that they are prepared to anticipate, adapt to, and protect against impending water risks.