Learn about low-cost sensor networks designed to alert cities of flash floods caused by extreme rainfall in the November 20 seminar "Low-Cost Sensor Networks for Pluvial Flash Flood Detection and Early Warning in Urban Areas."
This presentation is part of the Minnesota Stormwater Seminar Series, hosted by the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center, and will focus on how Internet of Things (IoT) sentinel networks are providing real-time situational awareness. IoT refers to a network of physical objects embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies that connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the internet.
The Minnesota Stormwater Seminar Series provides an opportunity to learn about the most recent research, discoveries, and case studies around urban stormwater management, specifically for an audience of stormwater practitioners, professionals, and researchers. Seminars include a presentation, panel discussion, and Q&A with participants.
When
Thursday, November 20, 2025
10:00 a.m. to noon
In-Person Location
St. Anthony Falls Laboratory
2 S.E. 3rd Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Zoom Link
The seminar is also offered virtually via Zoom.
Registration
Registration is required for in-person or virtual attendance.
Speakers
- William (Bill) R. Selbig, research hydrologist, U.S. Geological Survey Upper Midwest Water Science Center
- Rachel Pichelmann, hydraulic resiliency engineer, Minnesota Department of Transportation
- Brian Beck, research & monitoring program manager, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District
- Erick Francis, water resource manager, city of St. Louis Park, Minnesota
- Brian Jastram, owner, Hydrometrix
Abstract
Flooding in urban areas is a serious weather-related threat to life and property. Floods from overbanked rivers or ocean storm surges can cause catastrophic damage to populated areas, but they often develop over hours or days, giving conventional monitoring and warning systems enough time to respond. Alternatively, pluvial floods, often referred to as flash floods, can develop quickly from extreme rainfall events, sometimes leaving just minutes to react. The mounting risk of these pluvial floods became clear in 2025, when the National Weather Service issued a record number of flash flood warnings, the highest in nearly four decades. As more communities experience an increasing frequency of severe rainfall events, urban flash flood detection systems, or “smart utilities”, are becoming ever more important to provide advance warning of impending floods at vulnerable locations.
In 2018, the USGS, in cooperation with Intel Corporation, Isle Utilities, and Intera Incorporated, initiated a review of smart sensor technologies used by utilities across the globe. The resulting devices selected for this study use a hybrid communication system that combines long-range wide area network (LoRa) radio technology with Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) messaging, both of which are lightweight communication protocols used in many scientific and industrial applications. The Internet of Things (IoT) devices that leverage these technologies are compact, low-cost, extremely energy efficient, and can transmit data at high frequencies and over long distances.
The ability to deploy these devices on a city-wide scale can effectively create a sentinel IoT network to help reduce delays in emergency response by providing real-time measurement of water levels in stormwater pipes, streets, or other urban infrastructure. Data are translated into actionable information by integrating into tailored cloud-based web applications that can clearly communicate flood status in real time. For example, when sensor data from the IoT network are populated into a custom GIS dashboard, it can help visualize areas immediately impacted by localized heavy rainfall with maps of flood extents at the neighborhood scale. Integrating these innovative technologies into a cost-effective, scalable monitoring network that improves situational awareness of urban flash flooding in real time can help cities adapt to the increasing potential of pluvial flash floods.
Event Hosts
The Minnesota Stormwater Seminar and Research Spotlight Series is hosted by the St. Anthony Falls Lab and the Water Resources Center.
Contact
John Bilotta, water resource management and policy extension educator, Minnesota Sea Grant and Water Resources Center. [email protected].