Stakeholder-based specifications for portable water quality sensing - Metro Cebu, Philippines

Details

Supervisors

Raskin, Jean-Pierre ; Hauwaert, Margo

Faculty

Ecole polytechnique de Louvain

Degree label

Master [120] : ingénieur civil électricien, à finalité spécialisée

Abstract

Despite the UN Sustainable Development Goal to ensure universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for everyone by 2030, water quality remains a significant global challenge. The Philippines is an example of a vulnerable country regarding water resources as it experiences heavy water stress. Regular monitoring is critical to mitigating the risks associated with consuming unsafe water. Portable sensors offer significant benefits, enhancing rapid intervention and access to essential diagnostics. They empower diverse stakeholders to participate in water quality monitoring by making it accessible under non-laboratory conditions. However, traditional water quality monitoring systems are often inadequate for in-situ measurements due to lengthy result times, high costs, and require specialised expertise. Additionally, commercial portable sensors are limited to a certain number of analytes, too expensive, lack user-friendliness and need professional training. This limits monitoring in resource-limited areas. Therefore, current research focuses on developing compact, user-friendly, cost-effective point-of-use devices that allow rapid on-site detection. Despite technical progress, there is a significant gap in the availability of commercial low-cost portable sensors that meet users’ needs. One reason for the lack of commercialisation of proof-of-concept sensors, despite their potential, is the absence of research adapted to end-user requirements and integrating cost considerations and consumer needs during the early design stages of the prototypes. This master’s thesis addresses these shortcomings by exploring a method for identifying the requirements of portable water quality sensors that align with the needs of stakeholders in Metro Cebu, Philippines. By mapping local water expertise and identifying relevant stakeholders, the study aims to understand the regional challenges in water quality measurement and control. It will determine the specifications and design priorities for sensors through on-site testing and interviews with stakeholders, such as water suppliers and local governments. Additionally, by assessing the effectiveness of existing devices, this work evaluates the potential for adaptations and innovations in portable sensor technology to meet identified needs. Insights gathered from interactions identify precision, affordability, and user-friendliness as critical requirements for sensor design. Commercially available portable sensors do not respond to those three needs simultaneously. There is a necessity for further research in point-of-use sensor development to overcome roadblocks to market integration of innovations. The focus should not only be on solving technological challenges, but stakeholders and end-users must be engaged early in the design process by using similar methods to identify requirements. Prototypes must be validated in local field conditions to ensure that new designs effectively address real-world needs and enhance user engagement and satisfaction is crucial. This work is part of a broader research initiative on biosensors and is conducted in collaboration with the Water Resource Center of the University of San Carlos.