Unram student develops water quality monitoring device
Mataram (ANTARA) – A student on the Marine Science programme at the University of Mataram (Unram), West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), has developed an Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring device to help gather real-time data on water conditions.
The student, Effi Mujahidah Saniyyah, said the device is Sonora Marine, an IoT-based prototype for monitoring water quality.
“Sonora Marine stands for Smart Ocean Network and Observation for Research and Analysis. It brings together marine science and technology,” said Sani, as she is commonly known, in Mataram on Wednesday.
Sani explained that Sonora Marine is not intended to solve every marine-monitoring problem immediately. Rather, it is a prototype being developed to make monitoring water conditions more practical and integrated.
The device’s development grew out of her experience taking part in activities at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), particularly those related to aquatic environments and the cultivation of sea grapes, or Caulerpa.
That experience led her to combine the knowledge she had gained in marine science with technology to develop a system for monitoring water conditions.
During development, Sani faced challenges because she had no background in programming or electronics. She graduated from senior high school with a language specialisation before going on to study Marine Science.
She then learnt programming from the basics, including how to use ESP32 and sensors, before undertaking wiring, calibration, device testing and debugging.
“Because I learnt to code from scratch, debugging was also a challenge in itself,” Sani said.
After developing the prototype and its software, Sani applied for intellectual property protection in the form of copyright for the computer programme that forms part of the Sonora Marine system.
She said the protection applies to the programme or code within the system, not the physical device as an object. Documentation of the work, from the development process and programme code to the creator’s details, is important when applying for intellectual property rights.
Sani hopes Sonora Marine will continue to be developed, particularly through field testing and improvements to the system based on real-world needs.
“Intellectual property protection is not the end point; it can be one of the first steps towards further development,” she said.