Abstract
HydroColor is a mobile application that utilizes a smartphone’s camera and auxiliary sensors to measure the remote sensing reflectance of natural water bodies. HydroColor uses the smartphone’s digital camera as a three-band radiometer. Users are directed by the application to collect a series of three images. These images are used to calculate the remote sensing reflectance in the red, green, and blue broad wavelength bands. As with satellite measurements, the reflectance can be inverted to estimate the concentration of absorbing and scattering substances in the water, which are predominately composed of suspended sediment, chlorophyll, and dissolved organic matter. This publication describes the measurement method and investigates the precision of HydroColor’s reflectance and turbidity estimates compared to commercial instruments. It is shown that HydroColor can measure the remote sensing reflectance to within 26% of a precision radiometer and turbidity within 24% of a portable turbidimeter. HydroColor distinguishes itself from other water quality camera methods in that its operation is based on radiometric measurements instead of image color. HydroColor is one of the few mobile applications to use a smartphone as a completely objective sensor, as opposed to subjective user observations or color matching using the human eye. This makes HydroColor a powerful tool for crowdsourcing of aquatic optical data.
Highlights
The prevalence of sensor rich smartphones and high-speed wireless data connections has opened the door for low cost, large-scale data collection
This study has demonstrated how a digital camera can be used as an aquatic remote sensing
This study has demonstrated how a digital camera can be used as an aquatic remote sensing device
Summary
The prevalence of sensor rich smartphones and high-speed wireless data connections has opened the door for low cost, large-scale data collection. In the oceanographic and limnological communities, the use of citizen science as a method of data collection is not well established. This is partially due to the lack of tools that are both robust and easy for citizen scientists to acquire and use. Many low cost tools for studying water quality require a significant initial time commitment (e.g., building a waterproof housing, constructing a Secchi disk, soldering electrical components, etc.). Our aim was to produce a simple yet robust mobile application that can be used for crowdsourcing water quality data. The application should require a low commitment, yet produce results comparable to traditional water quality methods. The result was the HydroColor water quality application (available for iOS and Android devices)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
