207 JWrada®-21 Radar Level Meters Ensure Safe and Smart Waterway Monitoring

With the increasing importance of water transport in modern logistics and regional economies, accurate and reliable water level monitoring has become essential for efficient waterway management. Recently, Jiwei Automations successfully completed a large-scale government waterway measurement project in Jiangsu Province, installing a total of 207 JWrada®-21 radar level meters across major rivers and canals. This deployment ensures safe navigation, improves waterway management efficiency, and demonstrates the application value of domestically produced smart radar level meters in large-scale government infrastructure projects.

Project Background

Jiangsu Province, located in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, has a dense network of rivers and canals. With the increase in vessel tonnage and shipping frequency, traditional manual water level observation methods no longer meet the requirements for safe and precise navigation. To reduce operational risks, the government implemented a digital water level monitoring system at key river and canal nodes, enabling 24/7 real-time water level monitoring and centralized data management.

The government set strict requirements for suppliers: devices must be highly reliable, maintain accurate measurements under complex environmental conditions, allow convenient installation and maintenance, and be compatible with existing hydrological monitoring systems. Leveraging years of research and development in radar level meters and comprehensive customer service capabilities, Jiwei Automations became a key supplier for this critical project.

JWrada®-21 Radar Level Meters Features

Jiwei’s JWrada®-21 radar level meters integrate stable Bluetooth connectivity, an intuitive app interface, an LCD display, and physical control buttons. The meters can be preconfigured at the factory or manually adjusted on-site. Each device requires only 2–5 minutes for parameter setup, even with existing water levels. Through Bluetooth, engineers can remotely configure devices via the app and replicate settings across multiple units simultaneously. The manual panel displays real-time levels, while the app provides advanced functions, including software upgrades, parameter adjustments, and remote diagnostics.

These innovative features make the JWrada® series radar level meters highly flexible, efficient, and reliable. They have repeatedly replaced imported brands like VEGA, becoming the most representative and competitive domestic radar level meters in China.

Project Conditions and Technical Challenges

Monitoring points spanned main rivers, tributaries, critical canal nodes, and port facilities, presenting multiple challenges:

• Significant water level fluctuations: Seasonal changes, rainfall, and tidal influence demand devices with rapid dynamic response.
• Complex weather conditions: Fog, rain, wind, dust, and freezing conditions require robust anti-interference capabilities.
• Diverse installation environments: Bridges, embankments, dams, and port facilities create varying installation heights and radar signal propagation distances.
• Centralized data management: Integration with the government hydrological monitoring system requires digital interfaces for real-time data collection and remote supervision.

Installation Solutions

To address these challenges, Jiwei provided:

• Device selection: JWrada®-21 radar level meters with non-contact measurement, long-range capability, strong interference resistance, and ease of installation.
• Optimized installation locations: Bridge piers, river embankments, and port docks ensured unobstructed radar signals, covering all critical monitoring areas.
• Data integration: All devices connected to the government hydrological information system for centralized, real-time water level management.
• Protective measures: Corrosion-resistant housings with IP68 waterproof and dustproof ratings ensured reliable operation under long-term water exposure and harsh weather conditions.

Technical Advantages and Innovations

• Non-contact measurement technology: JWrada®-21 uses advanced radar non-contact measurement, eliminating physical contact with water surfaces to prevent contamination, corrosion, and mechanical wear. This reduces maintenance requirements while maintaining long-term measurement stability.
• High precision and reliability: Digital signal processing algorithms accurately identify water surface echoes, filtering noise and interference. Devices maintain high precision under fog, rain, wind, steam, and strong sunlight, meeting strict safety and reliability standards.
• Remote monitoring and smart management: Bluetooth and digital interfaces allow remote parameter configuration, status diagnostics, and real-time data upload, reducing inspection costs and improving operational efficiency. Batch management and one-click parameter replication enable rapid project response.
• Adaptability to complex environments: Devices suppress interference from steam, foam, debris, waves, and floating objects, ensuring stable and reliable measurements in rivers, canals, or industrial tanks.
• Domestic alternative to imported products: Fully self-developed, JWrada®-21 matches the performance of imported brands like VEGA, supporting government localization, cost efficiency, and long-term maintenance strategies.

Customer Value and Project Outcomes

The Jiangsu waterway project delivered significant benefits:

• Enhanced navigation safety: Real-time water level data enables safer, more efficient vessel scheduling.
• Refined waterway management: Centralized monitoring provides immediate insights into water level dynamics and optimized canal usage.
• Reduced operational costs: Non-contact measurement decreases the frequency of manual inspections.
• Advanced technological adoption: Transition from traditional observation to smart, digital waterway management sets the foundation for future smart water infrastructure projects.

By project completion, all 207 JWrada®-21 radar level meters were installed and commissioned successfully, receiving high recognition from government authorities. The project demonstrates Jiwei’s technical expertise in large-scale government water projects and provides a replicable model for nationwide intelligent waterway monitoring.

Conclusion

The Jiangsu waterway monitoring project highlights the reliability, accuracy, and technological advantages of JWrada®-21 radar level meters under complex conditions. Through non-contact measurement, high-precision data acquisition, and remote monitoring, Jiwei Automations enables safer navigation, refined management, and digital upgrades. Jiwei will continue to expand the adoption of intelligent radar level measurement solutions in water conservancy, shipping, and industrial sectors, delivering reliable support for large-scale projects.