AquaWorks is a student-led engineering project developed by students at the University of British Columbia. It creates a reusable platform for location-linked water-quality observation in controlled still-water environments—and, when approved, low-risk sites on the Vancouver campus.
Make water-quality conditions easier to observe, understand, and communicate. Each phase builds on the last: adaptability, autonomy, data value, and research potential grow over time.
Primary remote operation with semi-autonomous support for low-speed route following and obstacle-distance awareness. Core sensors, CSV logs, route maps, and at least one spatial visualization. Current AMS SPF application focus.
Sep–Dec 2026 · report Jan 2027Move toward approved nearshore routes (for example near an outfall reference). Improve anti-grounding or semi-amphibious structure, GPS tracking, navigation stability, and communication range—subject to permission and safety review.
Grid or hotspot routes over selected nearshore areas, stronger amphibious capability, and targeted sampling support for later laboratory analysis of complex pollutants.
One integrated prototype with buoyancy, waterproofing, propulsion, payload capacity, and shore retrieval.
Temperature, pH, turbidity, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen with documented calibration or verification.
Reliable remote control, wireless or local storage, synchronized timestamps and spatial references, radar distance in the log.
CSV-compatible export, route maps, trend plots, and at least one spatial water-quality visualization.
Bench tests through controlled-water integration; campus water-body tests only with permission and safety approval.
CAD, wiring, software, calibration, safety, maintenance, and final report by January 31, 2027.
Mechanical floating platform, electrical and power, water-quality sensing, propulsion and control, and data logging with visualization.
Route planning → pre-deployment checks → deployment → remote or semi-autonomous operation → measurement → timestamp and location logging → storage or transmission → retrieval → validation → visualization.
Stable hull or multi-float structure, modular payload area, waterproof enclosure, sensor and propulsion mounts, retrieval features.
Rechargeable battery, regulation, motor drivers, microcontroller, protected wiring, battery monitoring, emergency isolation.
Interchangeable indicators for general conditions—not laboratory confirmation of specific contaminants.
Remote primary mode; radar assists distance awareness. Manual override always available.
Preserve raw files; process into maps and plots with clear assumptions and flagged gaps.
Design, build, integrate, and validate a small modular robot for controlled still-water operation from September 1 to December 31, 2026, with final reporting by January 31, 2027.
Sensors and major components should be replaceable without rebuilding the whole platform.
Inspect, maintain, replace, and troubleshoot with clear documentation.
Low-speed operation, visual supervision, manual override, and reliable retrieval over advanced autonomy.
Raw readings, calibration, processing steps, and test conditions stay documented.
Finalize requirements, CAD, electrical architecture, sensor plan, safety procedures, and component checks.
Fabricate platform; bench-test electronics; establish software modules for sensors, control, and logging.
Buoyancy, waterproofing, propulsion, calibration, and first synchronized datasets with visualization pipeline.
Controlled-water test event; optional approved campus still-water demo if permission and conditions allow.
Final report, technical archive, maintenance guide, and recommendations for future phases.
AquaWorks does not replace professional environmental assessment, regulatory monitoring, or certified laboratory testing. It is a student platform for spatial learning, preliminary observation, and reusable technical foundations.