Science & Technology
River and Estuary Observatory Network (REON)
The River and Estuary Observatory Network (REON) is a joint effort between Beacon Institute, Clarkson University and IBM. REON is a first-of-its-kind real-time monitoring network for rivers and estuaries, and allows for continuous monitoring of physical, chemical and biological data from points in New York's Hudson, Mohawk and St. Lawrence Rivers via an integrated network of sensors, robotics, mobile monitoring and computational technology deployed in the rivers.
A networked array of sensors in the river provides the data necessary to locally observe spatial variations in such variables as temperature, pressure, salinity, turbidity (water "cloudiness"), dissolved oxygen and other basic water chemistry parameters.
The REON research team is developing new methods of monitoring and modeling the movement of suspended particles in the river. Fixed and floating sensor arrays plus mobile monitoring via research vessel are providing scientists with new information and insights into the dynamics of particle flow, among other critical ecosystem health indicators.
B1, the first REON sensor array, is located in the Hudson River, off Denning's Point. View additional deployments and real-time streaming REON data here.
Future applications of REON data could include the ability to visualize the movement of chemical contaminants, protect fish species as they migrate, and provide a better scientific understanding of river and estuary ecosystems. End-users of REON data include researchers, teachers and schoolchildren, as well as policy makers and the general public.
