There are several important reasons to monitor soil and water quality in Lusatia. The main reason for this is the many years of lignite mining in the region, which has led to acidification of the water and contamination by pollutants. Until now, environmental parameters such as pH value or pollutant concentrations have often only been recorded selectively and at long intervals. “We are developing a system that measures continuously, collects data in real time and analyzes and evaluates it with the help of AI,” explains Dr. Sebastian Meyer, Head of Cognitive Systems at Fraunhofer IPMS. The system uses solid-state sensors that deliver reliable results regardless of turbidity in soil and water. The sensor technology is supplemented by AI-supported evaluations that detect anomalies, such as the discharge of toxic substances, at an early stage, link them with historical and meteorological data and derive forecasts and recommendations for action on this basis. The aim is to safeguard the quality of groundwater in the long term and enable a rapid response to environmental pollution.
A second focus is on the development of a new type of safety monitoring system for the hydrogen economy. As hydrogen is becoming increasingly important as an energy source, risks such as leaks must be reliably detected. The ultrasonic sensors developed in the project enable fast, continuous and precise detection in a comprehensive concentration range from 1% to 100%. Dr. Sebastian Meyer describes the advantages of the sensors as follows: “They are characterized by high temperature stability as well as low maintenance requirements, as they work reliably without regular calibration. They also achieve a measuring accuracy of less than two percent. In addition to reliable monitoring of explosion limits, the spatial distribution of hydrogen in the sensor’s detection range is detected. This allows conclusions to be drawn about the spatial origin of a hydrogen leak. The AI-supported evaluation used increases the measurement accuracy, robustness and long-term stability. Thanks to the high degree of integration and CMOS-compatible manufacturing processes, electronic components can also be integrated directly with the sensor.”
Cooperation and local support
In the AIS-EN project, Fraunhofer IPMS is supported by the regional partners LKT Lausitzer Klärtechnik GmbH, UP Umweltanalytische Produkte GmbH, PRIGNITZ Mikrosystemtechnik GmbH, Actemium BEA GmbH and GST Gesellschaft fĂĽr System- und Tankanlagentechnik mbH. In addition, more than ten other companies and associations have confirmed their support in the form of Letters of Intent (LOIs). These collaborations are crucial to ensuring the transfer of technology to the region and sustainably strengthening Lusatia’s innovative strength and competitiveness.
The project will run for five years and is being funded with around 7 million euros from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).
Dr. Sebastian Meyer summarizes: “With the AIS-EN project, we are taking an important step towards a sustainable future for Lusatia. Our innovative solutions help to combine environmental protection and the hydrogen economy and support the region on the path to green transformation.”
About Fraunhofer IPMS
Fraunhofer IPMS is a leading international research and development service provider for electronic and photonic microsystems in the application fields of intelligent industrial solutions, medical technology and health, mobility as well as green and sustainable microelectronics. Research focuses on customer-specific miniaturized sensors and actuators, MEMS systems, microdisplays and integrated circuits as well as wireless and wired data communication. The range of services extends from consulting and conception to process development and pilot series production.
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Further links
👉 www.ipms.fraunhofer.de
Photo: Fraunhofer IPMS/ Lausitzer Klärtechnik GmbH
