With the rapid development of modern logistics systems and the increasing reliance of regional economies on waterway transportation, the accuracy, real-time performance, and long-term reliability of water level monitoring have become critical factors in navigation management. In regions with dense river networks and high shipping traffic, fluctuations in water levels directly affect vessel scheduling, navigation safety, and overall waterway efficiency.

To address the limitations of traditional manual water level observation methods—such as data delay, measurement inaccuracies, and low operational efficiency under high-frequency navigation conditions—the Jiangsu Provincial Government launched a smart waterway monitoring project aimed at building a fully digital hydrological monitoring network.

Recently, Jiwei Automations successfully completed the deployment, installation, and commissioning of 207 JWrada®-21 radar level meters across major rivers, canals, and port facilities in Jiangsu Province. The system enables 24/7 non-contact, intelligent water level monitoring, significantly improving navigation safety while optimizing waterway management efficiency. This large-scale deployment provides strong technical support for Jiangsu’s smart water conservancy and digital navigation infrastructure.

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Digital Upgrade Driving Smart Waterway Construction

Traditional manual water level measurement methods can no longer meet the demands of high-frequency navigation and refined waterway management. Issues such as delayed data acquisition, measurement deviation, and inefficient supervision have become increasingly prominent.

To solve these challenges, Jiangsu Province implemented a digital water level monitoring system covering key rivers, tributaries, and critical canal nodes, aiming to achieve:

• Continuous 24/7 real-time water level monitoring
• Automated data acquisition and transmission
• Centralized data management and analysis

This system provides a reliable foundation for navigation safety control and scientific vessel scheduling.

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Strict Technical Requirements for Smart Monitoring Equipment

At the early stage of the project, the government established stringent technical requirements for monitoring equipment:

• Measurement accuracy: up to ±1 mm long-term stability
• Strong anti-interference capability: stable performance under fog, rain, wind, steam, dust, foam, and water turbulence
• Protection level: IP68-rated corrosion-resistant and waterproof housing for long-term operation in harsh aquatic environments
• Remote monitoring capability: full support for real-time data upload, remote diagnostics, and centralized management
• System compatibility: seamless integration with existing hydrological monitoring platforms for unmanned intelligent operation

With years of experience in radar level measurement technology development and manufacturing, as well as a mature customer service system, Jiwei Automations was selected as the core supplier for this large-scale smart waterway monitoring project.

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Intelligent Radar Level Meter: JWrada®-21

The JWrada®-21 radar level meter integrates advanced non-contact radar measurement technology, Bluetooth remote commissioning, and high-reliability industrial design, making it ideal for complex waterway environments.

Key features include:

• APP-based remote configuration and diagnostics
• LCD display with manual control interface
• Fast on-site commissioning within 2–5 minutes
• Factory pre-configuration with adjustable field parameters
• One-click parameter replication across multiple devices via Bluetooth

These features significantly reduce commissioning time and operational workload while improving deployment efficiency across large-scale projects.

The JWrada®-21 has repeatedly demonstrated strong performance in replacing imported radar level meter brands, achieving domestic technological substitution and independent controllability, and providing a cost-effective and reliable solution for government and industrial applications.

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Complex Environmental Challenges and Engineering Solutions

The monitoring network covers main river channels, tributaries, canal junctions, and port infrastructures across Jiangsu Province. Each site presents significantly different environmental conditions, including strong water level fluctuations, tidal effects, wind-driven waves, and floating debris interference.

To ensure stable and accurate monitoring performance, Jiwei Automations implemented a multi-layer engineering strategy:

1. Scientific Installation Design

Installation height, angle, and positioning were precisely calculated based on hydrological conditions, flow velocity, and structural constraints of bridges, embankments, and port facilities. Radar alignment simulations ensured unobstructed signal transmission and optimal echo reflection, covering full water level variation ranges.

2. Multi-level Protection Design

The JWrada®-21 housing is made of corrosion-resistant engineering materials with IP68 protection, and is resistant to UV exposure, humidity, freezing, and high-temperature fluctuations. Internal electronic components are equipped with anti-condensation and moisture-proof protection to ensure long-term operational stability.

3. Advanced Signal Processing and Anti-Interference

Built-in digital signal processing algorithms automatically identify and filter false echoes caused by waves, foam, floating objects, or surface turbulence. This ensures stable and accurate measurement data even under extreme environmental conditions.

4. System Integration and Remote Management

All devices are connected to the government hydrological monitoring platform through standardized digital interfaces, enabling:

• Real-time data acquisition and upload
• Centralized cloud-based data management
• Remote parameter adjustment and batch configuration
• Fault alarm and redundant data storage mechanisms

5. Dynamic Adaptation Capability

The JWrada®-21 dynamically adjusts radar frequency and transmission power based on environmental conditions and installation geometry, ensuring optimized signal performance even in cases of ice coverage, debris obstruction, or turbulent water surfaces.

Through these engineering strategies, the system ensures high-precision, continuous, and reliable water level data acquisition across all monitoring points.

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Project Value and Social Impact

The implementation of this project has delivered significant benefits:

• Improved navigation safety: Real-time water level data enables scientific vessel scheduling and reduces navigation risks
• Optimized waterway management: Centralized monitoring allows rapid response to hydrological changes
• Reduced operational costs: Non-contact radar measurement reduces manual inspection requirements
• Accelerated smart water infrastructure development: Establishes a foundation for digital hydrological systems in Jiangsu Province

Upon completion, all 207 JWrada®-21 radar level meters were successfully deployed, commissioned, and accepted by government authorities, setting a benchmark for large-scale intelligent waterway monitoring projects nationwide.

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Future Outlook

Jiwei Automations will continue to promote the application of radar level measurement technology in water conservancy, navigation, and industrial sectors, providing stable, reliable, and intelligent digital solutions for large-scale infrastructure projects.

Leveraging non-contact radar technology, high-precision data acquisition, and remote monitoring capabilities, the JWrada®-21 enables continuous, real-time water level monitoring without frequent manual inspection, significantly improving operational efficiency and management safety.

In the future, Jiwei plans to expand the application of JWrada®-21 technology to rivers, lakes, ports, canals, and industrial storage systems across China, achieving deep integration between hydrological monitoring and industrial liquid level management.

Through intelligent remote data management and centralized dispatch systems, governments and enterprises can achieve scientific decision-making, refined management, and risk early warning, effectively reducing operational costs while enhancing water transport safety.

Guided by innovation and quality-first principles, Jiwei Automations will continue to optimize radar level meter performance and application solutions, promote the replacement of imported instruments in critical infrastructure sectors, and contribute to the development of smart water conservancy, smart navigation, and modern industrial automation systems.