Design, construction and evaluation of an arduino-based flood monitoring prototype for flood prone communities Butaleja district, Uganda.
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Date
2026
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Busitema University
Abstract
Flooding is one of the most destructive natural hazards in Uganda and continues to threaten lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure in flood-prone communities of Butaleja District. Although several Flood Monitoring Systems have been developed, many depend on Internet or cellular communication infrastructure, making them unsuitable for rural areas where communication services may be unreliable during flood events. This study aimed to design, construct, and evaluate an Arduino-based Flood Monitoring System prototype capable of providing localized real-time fl ood monitoring and early warning for flood-prone communities in Butaleja District, Uganda.
The prototype consisted of two integrated subsystems: a Remote Sensing and Transmission Unit and a Central Processing and Alert Unit. Water level was measured using an HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor, while rainfall occurrence was detected using an LM393 rain sensor module. Sensor data were transmitted wirelessly through 433 MHz RF communication modules to the receiver unit, where predefined threshold logic generated visual and audible flood alerts using a 20 × 4 I2C LCD, RGB LED module, and active buzzer.
The prototype was evaluated under controlled laboratory conditions by assessing sensor calibration, wireless communication performance, alert response time, and operational reliability. The HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor achieved an average percentage error of 0.71%, corresponding to an overall measurement accuracy of 99.29%. RF communication testing demonstrated reliable short-range wireless transmission suitable for localized monitoring applications. The average end-to-end alert delay was 1.424 s, indicating that warning messages were generated rapidly following changes in water level. Reliability testing involving 220 simulated operating-state transitions produced 218 successful detections, corresponding to an overall operational reliability of 99.1%.
The results demonstrate that the developed prototype provides accurate water level sensing, dependable wireless communication, rapid warning generation, and reliable integrated operation under laboratory conditions. Owing to its low cost, ease of implementation, and independence from Internet and cellular communication infrastructure, the prototype developed in the present study offers a practical solution for localized flood early warning in resource-constrained communities. Future work should focus on field deployment, long-term environmental testing, and integration of additional environmental sensors to enhance operational performance.
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Akol, D. (2026). Design, construction and evaluation of an arduino-based flood monitoring prototype for flood prone communities Butaleja district, Uganda. [Unpublished dissertation]. Busitema University.