Articles | Volume 14, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/jsss-14-203-2025
https://doi.org/10.5194/jsss-14-203-2025
Regular research article
 | 
07 Oct 2025
Regular research article |  | 07 Oct 2025

EyeOnWater Raspberry Pi: a do-it-yourself maker sensor system project to measure and classify natural water colour based on the Forel–Ule scale

Nick Rüssmeier, Frederic Stahl, and Felix Becker

Cited articles

Ceccaroni, L., Piera, J., Wernand, M. R., Zielinski, O., Busch, J. A., Van Der Woerd, H. J., Bardaji, R., Friedrichs, A., Novoa, S., Thijsse, P., Velickovski, F., Blaas, M., and Dubsky, K.: Citclops: A next-generation sensor system for the monitoring of natural waters and a citizens' observatory for the assessment of ecosystems' status, PLOS One, 15, e0230084, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0230084, 2020. 
Garaba, S. P., Schulz, J., Wernand, M. R., and Zielinski, O.: Sunglint detection for unmanned and automated platforms, Sensors, 12, 12545–12561, https://doi.org/10.3390/s120912545, 2012. 
Goddijn-Murphy, L., Dailloux, D., White, M., and Bowers, D.: Fundamentals of in situ digital camera methodology for water quality monitoring of coast and ocean, Sensors, 9, 5825–5843, https://doi.org/10.3390/s90705825, 2009. 
Ibrahim, A., Franz, B., Bailey, S., Werdell, J., Ahmad, Z., and Mobley, C.: Remote sensing reflectance, Goddard Space Flight Center, https://doi.org/10.5067/FQBB0C1K43OJ, 2024. 
Kirk, J. T. (Ed.): Light and photosynthesis in aquatic ecosystems, 3rd edn., Cambridge University Press, https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139168212, 2010. 
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Short summary
The paper outlines a do-it-yourself optical sensor system for measuring water colour that can be used in citizen science projects to engage laypersons in science. The automated optical sensor system uses a camera with a Raspberry Pi computer to determine water colour according to the Forel–Ule colour scale. The collected data can be shared to the EyeOnWater database and used to provide insight and knowledge for further research in the fields of limnology and oceanology.
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