Low-Cost Flood Sensors: Innovation for Dam Safety Monitoring

The Kentucky Department of Water (KYDOW) authored this report of their findings while working in partnership with DHS S&T. The report outlines the process that KYDOW followed to test a series of low-cost flood sensors (LCS) at four pilot locations throughout the state of Kentucky. First, the report describes the site selection process and the factors that needed to be considered for successful installation of the LCS. Then, KYDOW describes the steps they took for data collection and the successes and challenges that they faced through the data collection process. Finally, KYDOW provides the results of their pilot with LCS along with their recommendations. This report should be used as a reference for similar Federal, State, local, tribal, or private entities that wish to use LCS to mitigate flood-associated hazards through real-time monitoring of water levels in at-risk areas.