June 30, 2025
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Low-cost IoT environmental sensors can transform how we monitor the impact of nature-based solutions (NbS) like constructed wetlands, vegetated swales and urban green spaces.
Locally-owned environmental monitoring helps improve data availability, supports smart decision making and fosters strong partnerships, which in turn can enhance climate resilience, environmental management and public health.
RUCaS team members from WSCA and ICEM and researchers from Queensland University of Technology are working with local stakeholders in Lao PDR (Souphanouvong University, GRET and local communities) and Viet Nam (Hanoi University of Civil Engineering and Can Tho University) to build their capacity to:
- Install, calibrate and maintain sensors that can monitor the environmental effects of NbS on water quality, temperature and air quality
- Interpret and analyse the data to support decisions on urban water environmental management
So far, we have delivered workshops in Luang Prabang in the Lao PDR (in January 2025), and Hanoi and Can Tho in Viet Nam (in May 2025).
As well as building local capacity, these workshops foster collaboration between local institutions and international partners for sustainable environmental monitoring practices. By inviting participants from Cambodia and Thailand, these workshops also foster sharing of regional experiences.
Miao Wang from the BoSL team at Queensland University of Technology demonstrates how to install, power, monitor, and control smart IoT sensors for environmental monitoring
Next steps in Lao PDR include identifying additional monitoring requirements to better understand the role of Luang Prabang’s World Heritage Ponds in flood and water quality mitigation, as well as air quality improvement. We are also in the process of co-designing NbS options for Luang Prabang, and once implemented the sensors will play a role in determining their effectiveness in improving greywater.
Next steps in Viet Nam include identifying opportunities to link the monitoring program into existing programs at HUCE and CTU, and using the monitoring program to support research and curricula.
You can read more about these workshops:
Jun / 2025
Transforming Thailand’s Western Lower Chao Phraya River basin with multifunctional blue–green corridors
Jun / 2025
Water Sensitive Cities Australia at OzWater2025
Jun / 2025
Monitoring nature-based solutions using low-cost IoT sensors
Jun / 2025
Shaping inclusive climate policy through real stories
