Development of a Decentralized Water Management Software System for OffGrid Infrastructure

Limited infrastructure in developing regions hampers reliable access to safe drinking water. Cost-effective hardware like microcomputers such as Raspberry Pi presents operational constraints, including limited memory and power, which impact system functionality. Ensuring continuous monitoring, remote management, and sensor integration in off-grid environments with unreliable internet connectivity remains a significant challenge.

A non-profit or social enterprise focused on deploying off-grid water solutions in developing regions, utilizing cost-effective hardware and remote management capabilities.

• Design a software platform capable of managing and monitoring decentralized water systems deployed in remote or off-grid locations.
• Implement offline-capable functionality by transforming hardware into autonomous servers localized at deployment sites.
• Ensure comprehensive management of water quality metrics, sensor data collection, and infrastructure control.
• Enable remote data transmission via various communication channels such as cable Internet, WiFi, or satellite connections.
• Facilitate easy transfer of system configurations and settings through portable media like USB drives.
• Support integration with a variety of digital and analog sensors used in diverse environmental conditions.
• Incorporate real-time prototyping tools for infrastructure design and customization.

• Self-sufficient offline mode with embedded services on microcomputers acting as local servers.
• Support for sensor data collection from digital and analog sources, with adaptable data formats.
• Remote data transmission over multiple channels to central management systems.
• Configuration export and import via USB drives for deploying updates or transferring settings.
• Real-time infrastructure prototyping and customization through an internal modeler tool.
• Comprehensiveness across water, solar power, and fuel management modules.
• Optimized utilization of limited system resources (e.g., 2GB RAM) to maximize operational capacity.

• Sensor data acquisition protocols (Modbus, IO Link)
• Various sensor hardware used for water quality, solar, and fuel systems
• Communication channels including cable internet, WiFi, and satellite links
• External configuration transfer via USB drives
• Potential third-party mapping or infrastructure planning tools for prototyping

• System must operate reliably on low-power hardware with minimal memory (e.g., 2GB RAM).
• Support deployment across up to 1000 square feet of water infrastructure with dozens of sensors.
• Ensure offline operation capabilities, transforming the hardware into a standalone server.
• Data transmission latency should be minimized to support real-time monitoring.
• Secure remote data transfer and configuration management to prevent unauthorized access.

The developed software is anticipated to enable reliable, cost-effective management of decentralized water systems, increasing safe water access for populations in remote areas. By supporting offline operation and sensor integration, the system could manage up to 1000 square feet of infrastructure, improving water quality monitoring and infrastructure prototyping. This project aims to contribute to public health improvements and infrastructure scalability, with deployment timeframes of approximately 6 to 12 months.