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New navsat sensor improves water monitoring

23 April 2010

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The start-up company Star2Earth, reared in the ESA Business Incubation Centre in the Netherlands, has developed the Oceanpal sensor based on ESA technology that uses navigation satellite signals reflected from a water surface to measure water levels and wave heights. Oceanpal is already operational in Barcelona’s harbour, on Scheveningen pier in the Netherlands and at the LaBaells water reservoir in the Pyrenees. Latest installation is on Lake Laja in Chile where Oceanpal will be used by the Energy company Endesa to plan its electricity production better.

Credits: ESA / Starlab / Star2Earth / Google Earth

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Ana Maiques, Director of Star2Earth, presenting her company at ESA’s Investment Forum 2009 in La Hulpe, Belgium, 7 April 2009

Credits: ESA

Satellites make smart water-level measurements possible

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Oceanpal® measures sea and lake surface height and surface state

Star2Earth’s Oceanpal sensor installed on water front for measuring of water levels and wave heights.

Credits: Star2Earth

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Oceanpal measures direct and indirect GNSS signals

Oceanpal is Star2Earth response to sea and lake surface monitoring. It is a passive system using any available signals from navigation satellites such as GPS, EGNOS and future Galileo to deliver information about surface height and surface state. The above figure illustrates the Oceanpal principle of measuring direct and indirect navigation satellite signals.

Credits: Star2Earth

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Oceanpal on the shore of Lake Laja in Chile

Mounted on the shore of Lake Laja in Chile, Star2Earth’s Oceanpal sensor will accurately monitor the water level. It does not touch the water so it is almost maintenance-free, an important feature in the remote Andes Mountains. The data from Oceanpal will be used by energy company Endesa to plan electricity production.

Credits: Starlab / Star2Earth

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Galileo final constellation of 30 satellites

The final constellation of Europe's Galileo satellite navigation system will consist of 30 satellites

Credits: ESA-J. Huart

More information

Oceanpal Star2Earth Technology Transfer Programme Office

Business Incubation

Galileo