Mekong citizens solving Mekong problems, especially through technological innovation. That’s just one motive behind the Mekong River Commission (MRC) conceiving a one-of-a-kind competition: to inspire the region’s university students to design a slew of cutting-edge, cost-effective and sustainable tools that will monitor Southeast Asia’s largest river.

Launched on 5 October 2022, the MRC River Monitoring Technology Competition aims to motivate the best and brightest Cambodian, Laotian, Thai and Vietnamese students – for both practical and symbolic reasons. On the one hand, we want alternatives to the river monitoring technology we already maintain, which relies on foreign equipment that is often expensive, sometimes outdated.

On the other hand, we hope this will be a source of inspiration for Mekong youth. This specific challenge is to develop telemetry sensor technology that measures water level, rainfall, soil moisture, and water quality. Yet, students should also embrace the broader competition at play, on a global scale.

Telemetry Sensor Categories

Requirements:

  • Sensors that monitor the Mekong’s parameters – such as flow, velocity, water level, rainfall, soil moisture and/or water quality – are normally installed within their own stations and placed outdoors on riverbanks, often in agricultural areas. Competing teams need to design a station that is appropriate for its terrain, location, weather, and functions.
  • The sensors should be able to collect and send telemetry data, from station to server, in real-time.
  • The sensors must be operable with solar power.
  • The water quality sensors should be able to monitor turbidity, pH and oxygen.
  • We encourage ideas of the Internet of Thing (IoT).

 

Each work will be judged using the following criteria, each of which has equal weight.

  1. Accuracy (25%):   The sensor shows evidence of consistent test results.
  2. Durability (25%): The sensors are designed in such a way that they can withstand harsh weather conditions.
  3. Cost Effectiveness (25%): The sensor can be manufactured locally at an affordable cost.
  4. Innovation (25%): The sensor is produced from a new and innovative concept, or further enhances existing sensor technologies.

  • Competitors need to build and ensure their equipment works. A real-world test must be conducted, and the results documented.
  • Off-the-shelf or ready-made commercial technology cannot be purchased and modified; only electronics parts are allowed for assembly and construction. Teams will need to identify the cost and source of all individual parts, as well as submit a total production costing.
  • Teams will need to submit a design document with the schematic design of the sensors.
  • Teams will be required to update the MRC on the progress of their prototype development with short videos.