Climate change is transforming our oceans – with serious consequences.

More CO₂ in the atmosphere causes the pH level in water to drop, oxygen levels to decrease, and temperatures to rise. For many marine animals and plants, this presents a serious problem. Invasive algae species also pose a threat to marine biodiversity.

But the researchers at FHV – University of Applied Sciences are not standing idly by: they are measuring, understanding, and taking action!

In the project DEEP11, the Research Center for Microtechnology and the Smart Engineering Technologies (SET) research group are currently developing an innovative sensor system to monitor these three environmental parameters. It can be used at various water depths!

It’s essential to regularly measure water quality.

Only by doing so can we understand what is changing – and how we can better protect our oceans.

PROJECT DETAILS

Monitoring water quality is crucial for understanding and protecting marine ecosystems. In marine biology, continuous monitoring significantly contributes to a better understanding of how climate change affects biological processes in aquatic environments.

Collaboration at FHV and the question of why

The goal of the FFG COIN project DEEP11 is to develop and manufacture a sensor specifically designed for environmental monitoring and measuring the impacts of global warming. It is a collaborative project between the Research Center for Microtechnology and the Smart Engineering Technologies (SET) group at FHV.

The innovative sensor system is designed to monitor three environmental parameters: O₂ concentration, pH level, and temperature. Rising temperatures and climate change are driven by greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The most significant human-made GHG is carbon dioxide. High CO₂ emissions into the atmosphere lead to increased CO₂ concentrations in the oceans, which in turn causes the pH level to drop. Aquatic organisms are adapted to specific pH ranges; sustained deviations can negatively impact their survival. In particular, invasive algae types can disrupt or prevent the formation of native ecosystems. However, it’s not just pH that plays a crucial role – dissolved oxygen is also important, as it provides insight into photosynthesis activity. Only the development of a miniaturized sensor system makes it possible to monitor critical environmental parameters at different depths using a sensor network.

What is the sensor system made of? – Innovation at FHV

The sensors being developed are based on electrochemical measurement methods. Electrochemical sensors detect electrical signals that correlate with the parameters being measured. All three parameters – O₂ concentration, pH level, and temperature – are recorded on a single chip, forming one integrated sensor system. The Research Center for Microtechnology is responsible for the design, production, and characterization of the sensor chip. The sensor system is operated using electronics developed by the SET research group.

How and where will the finished sensor system be used?

The aim is to deploy the newly developed, autonomous miniaturized sensor system in natural ecosystems. Specifically, the system will be placed near coastlines to monitor the growth of newly established kelp fields. The sensor, along with its power supply electronics, will be submerged in a waterproof casing near the coast. The three parameters will be recorded over an extended period. The collected data will provide insights into photosynthesis activity at different water depths. The final project phase – testing the sensor system under natural conditions – will take place in Portugal on the Atlantic coast. This will continue the collaboration between the Research Center for Microtechnology and the Polytechnic University of Leiria, which began as part of the RUN EU Consortium. The results already achieved will be presented at the “Biosensors 2025” conference.

You can find more about the exciting DEEP11 research project on the project website (in German only).