Water and flow monitoring · SynaptiX® Flow
Open Channel Flow Monitoring
Continuous flow measurement from above the water
Know what flowed past, without the civil works
Measuring flow in an open channel usually means building a weir or a flume in it, which brings civil construction, approvals, and a structure that collects sediment from the day it goes in. SynaptiX® Flow, Novecom’s open channel flow monitoring system, measures flow from above the water surface instead. A radar sensor mounted on an existing bridge, culvert or headwall measures the distance to the water and the speed of the water beneath it. Combined with the channel profile recorded at installation, the system calculates flow rate and accumulated volume without anything entering the water.
We assess the site, survey the channel, install and commission the equipment, and deliver validated data structured for your reporting requirements. Deployment takes days rather than a construction program, and the system can be relocated when your monitoring needs change.
Data is transmitted over Cat M1 cellular or SynaptiX ConnectMESH, our carrier-independent mesh network, to the SynaptiX platform, where your team can view real-time dashboards, review historical trends, and export records.
Recorded data points
✓Instantaneous flow rate (L/s or ML/day)
✓Water level
✓Surface velocity
✓Average flow
✓Total accumulated volume
✓Date and time
✓Location
✓Sensor status and diagnostics
Benefits of open channel flow monitoring
By combining non-contact sensing, on-board flow calculation and remote telemetry, our open channel monitoring removes the civil works from flow measurement and keeps the data coming.
01
No flow restriction required
Nothing is built in the channel and nothing obstructs the water, so hydraulic performance is unchanged and sediment moves through as it always has.
02
Non-contact sensing
The sensor sits above the water. There is no submerged equipment to foul, corrode or be damaged by debris during high flow.
03
Rapid deployment and relocation
Mounts to existing structures with minimal site disruption and moves to a new location when your monitoring priorities change.
04
Remote diagnostics and telemetry
System health is monitored remotely, so problems are identified before they leave a gap in your records.
SynaptiX Flow hardware
Designed and manufactured at our facility in Mayfield West, Newcastle NSW, and built for Australian heat, dust and remote conditions. SynaptiX Flow pairs a radar level and surface velocity sensor with a SynaptiX Collector field unit.
SynaptiX Collector, solar panel and radar sensor installed over an irrigation channel.
Radar level and surface velocity sensor
A single unit mounted above the water measures both the distance to the water surface and the speed at which the surface is moving. Level is measured from a continuous radar signal reflected off the water surface. Velocity is measured from the frequency shift in the signal reflected by the moving surface. Neither measurement requires contact with the water.
On-board flow computation
The channel cross-section is surveyed at installation, either by our team or by your own team using Novecom’s survey guide. The system combines that profile with live level and velocity readings to calculate instantaneous flow rate, average flow and total accumulated volume at the point of measurement. The flow calculation can be calibrated to suit the hydraulic characteristics of each site.
SynaptiX Collector
The radar sensor connects to a SynaptiX Collector, the field unit that powers the system and sends the data home. It manages solar charging and the 12.8 V LiFePO4 battery, logs data on site, and transmits over Cat M1 cellular or SynaptiX ConnectMESH to the SynaptiX platform. Because it runs independently of mains power, the system can be deployed on a remote culvert or floodway.
Weatherproof enclosure and mounting
A sealed, IP65-rated enclosure and mounting bracket suit permanent or temporary installation on bridges, gantries, culverts and channel structures.
Key specifications
Water level
How far the water surface is from the sensor
Range0.10 m to 20 m
Accuracy±5 mm across the range
Surface velocity
How fast the water surface is moving
Range0.3 m/s to 15 m/s, depending on surface and flow conditions
Accuracy1% of the measured value up to 4.5 m/s, and 2% from 4.5 m/s to 15 m/s
Measurement update: approximately every 5 seconds.
What is included in your open channel flow monitoring program
Novecom’s open channel flow monitoring is a managed monitoring program, not a hardware purchase. Your program covers everything from the first site visit through to validated data you can rely on.
✓Site assessment and sensor placement. We can assess the site and identify the measurement location that will give you a stable, defensible reading.
✓Channel profile survey. The channel cross-section and dimensions are surveyed at installation, by our team or by your own team using Novecom’s survey guide. This survey is the basis of every flow calculation the system makes.
✓Hardware supply, installation and commissioning. Equipment designed and manufactured in Newcastle, installed and commissioned by our field team.
✓Continuous capture and near real-time upload. Level, velocity and calculated flow are recorded continuously and delivered to the SynaptiX platform automatically.
✓Alerts and threshold notifications. SMS and email alerts when flow rises, falls or crosses a threshold you have set.
✓Validated records, ready when you need them. Time-stamped, structured flow data retrievable immediately when a regulator, auditor or customer raises a query.
✓Remote system health monitoring. We are able to monitor your equipment remotely and act before a fault becomes a gap in your record.
Our quality management systems are independently certified under AS/NZS ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 by SAI Global, with annual third-party review.
Open channel flow monitoring for every industry
Every waterway carries a different obligation. Here is what our open channel monitoring measures in different environments.
Related water monitoring solutions
Open channel flow is one part of a complete water monitoring program. Novecom designs and maintains water level, storage, quality and flow monitoring across mining, agriculture and infrastructure.
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Common questions about open channel flow monitoring
What is open channel flow monitoring?
Open channel flow monitoring measures the rate and volume of water moving through a channel, drain, creek, canal or floodway. Unlike a closed pipe, an open channel is driven by gravity, so flow is calculated from the depth of water, the speed it is travelling and the shape of the channel it is travelling through.
Can the system monitor flow at our LDPs?
Yes. Licensed discharge points, or LDPs, are the locations named in your environment protection licence where water is permitted to leave your site. Queensland environmental authorities use release points, or RPs, for the same purpose. The system measures flow rate and accumulated volume at these locations continuously, giving you a time-stamped record of what was released and when. It mounts to the existing headwall, culvert or channel structure, so the discharge point itself does not need to be modified. Sites with several discharge points can be monitored together under one account. Flow and volume are what the system measures. Any water quality sampling required under your licence conditions is separate.
How does the system measure flow without a weir or flume?
A weir or flume forces water through a known shape so that depth alone can tell you the flow rate. Radar measurement does the same job differently. The sensor measures the water level and the surface velocity directly, then combines both with the surveyed channel profile to calculate flow. No structure is needed because the channel does not have to be reshaped.
Do I need to build anything in the channel?
No. The sensor mounts to an existing structure above the water, such as a bridge, gantry, culvert or channel headwall. Where no suitable structure exists, a pole or bracket can be installed on the bank.
How does my team access the data?
Data is available through the SynaptiX platform, with real-time dashboards, historical trends, exports for reporting and user access control.
Reach out to the team to discuss your operations
Contact our team to talk through what you need to measure and where. No obligations, just insights.
