Date: September 30, 1997
Contact:
Brenda Maas
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 218-720-4300
Water quality monitoring is taking on a new look. RUSS, a Remote Underwater Water Sampling Station, will soon appear in lakes, rivers and reservoirs in the stead of scientists, technicians, boats and lab equipment. This unique, ìYî shaped monitoring device will completely automate water quality testing and monitoring across the world. In a general sense, RUSS will remotely gather, measure, analyze, chart, store and report water quality data.
More specifically, RUSS will allow environmental managers to request immediate water quality information at any time, from any place. Powered by solar energy and using cellular transmission with specially-designed software, RUSS does its job from an anchored location. Users download information about the waterÃs temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity and salinity. These key parameters affect drinking water, surface water, fish habitat and algae growth. In addition, because surface data often varies from deep-water samples, RUSS tests at various levels throughout the water column.
Before RUSSÃs conception, gathering the same comprehensive data would have involved numerous scientists and technicians in many hours of labor-intensive work, both in the field and in the lab. RUSS does the work of several scientists within a matter of minutes and has the capability to operate continuously--24 hours a day, seven days a week--without interference from weather or humans. Each RUSS unit may also support several users while securing each individualÃs data. This type of continual, on-demand monitoring and long-term data storage within the same unit provides a way to efficiently and effectively gather customized data.
RUSS stems from a nontraditional family tree. It was developed by the University of Minnesota DuluthÃs (UMDÃs) Chemistry Professor Robert Carlson and industrial partner Alan Cibuzar of A.W. Research Laboratories in Brainerd along with Chris Owen of UMDÃs Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI).
The University of Minnesota, NRRI and the SOTA TEC Fund, a technology funder in rural Minnesota, have joined forces to launch RUSSÃs parent company. In addition to RUSS, Apprise Technologies, Inc. is developing and manufacturing innovative analytical sensor systems for the environmental monitoring and process control instrumentation markets.
Although RUSS is AppriseÃs first product, it is certainly not its last. Currently the company is working with Owen, Carlson and Ukrainian scientist Eugene Tokhtuev to develop miniature scanning sensors that will identify contaminants by measuring light absorption or emission. The flexibility of these sensors will not only enhance RUSSÃs capabilities, but also allow for individual marketing. AppriseÃs sensor research focuses on parameters affecting environmental water quality as well as human health concerns. In early August, Apprise was awarded a phase-one Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This grant supports research and development of sensors to detect red tide events in coastal areas around the world.
ìMonitoring and controlling factors that contribute to detrimental environmental and human health impacts is a difficult problem to address, often requiring expensive equipment and labor within a dangerous situation,î said NRRIÃs Chris Owen. ìInnovative products like RUSS and AppriseÃs optical sensor technology provides tools that will allow industry, regulators and individuals to assess, control and limit impacts on the environment as well as on human health.î
Apprise is the first economic development venture between the University of Minnesota and the SOTA TEC Fund. Established by the Blandin Foundation, SOTA TEC funds research projects at the University of Minnesota with the intent of commercializing the technology within the state. This research falls within SOTA TECÃs mission of enhancing quality of life by transferring technology from the University to create better-paying jobs in rural Minnesota.
NRRI was founded by the Minnesota Legislature in 1983 to foster economic development of MinnesotaÃs natural resources in an environmentally sound manner to promote private sector employment. The InstituteÃs research programs focus on land resources, water resources and environmental chemistry plus applied research in forestry, forest products, peat, aquaculture and minerals.
Apprise joins a 1.8 billion dollar domestic market and a three billion dollar international market for process control and environmental monitoring devices. The company has no known direct competition for the RUSS unit while the sensors under development are unique and have no known competitors. Apprise has already sold four RUSS units.
By using RUSSÃs data collection with a proactive stance, managers can anticipate, and possibly prevent, permit violations before they occur. In addition, large reservoirs such as those along the Colorado River which supply drinking water to large communities (Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Diego) are intensely managed for water quality as well as environmental impacts. Continuous monitoring of these waters could provide better drinking water along with a healthier environment.
-- NRRI --
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