KISTERS Launches All-in-One Sensor to Overhaul Water Monitoring

AACHEN, Germany – May 06, 2026 – Environmental data and IT specialist KISTERS today announced a significant advancement in water monitoring with the launch of HyQuant Edge. The new device represents what the company is calling a new category in quantitative hydrology: a fully integrated, all-in-one monitoring station that combines a radar sensor, data logger, edge processing, and cloud communications into a single compact unit.

This launch aims to solve a long-standing structural challenge in a field that has traditionally relied on complex, multi-component systems. For decades, setting up a hydrological monitoring station has involved sourcing and assembling separate sensors, loggers, modems, and power systems on-site—a process that is often costly, time-consuming, and impractical for remote locations. HyQuant Edge, powered by the company's proprietary KIPTEC (KISTERS Intelligence Platform Technology for Embedded Connectivity), seeks to replace this cumbersome architecture with a plug-and-play solution that can be deployed in minutes.

A New Category in Hydrological Monitoring

For years, the field of hydrology has watched other industries adopt smaller, smarter, and more autonomous technologies, while its own core methods for data collection remained largely unchanged. Traditional monitoring stations were designed primarily for data collection and transfer, without an integrated intelligence layer to manage the process.

"Traditional monitoring stations have always been about collection and transfer," said Klaas Schulze Dieckhoff, Global Head of R&D at KISTERS, in the company's announcement. "That required multiple components, assembled on site, with no intelligence layer in between. KISTERS designed HyQuant Edge to change that story."

The HyQuant Edge platform consolidates all essential functions into a device the size of a standard sensor. It utilizes non-contact radar technology to measure water level, surface velocity, or both simultaneously. This data is processed directly on the device, logged to onboard memory, and transmitted to the cloud via integrated cellular technology (LTE-Cat-M1/NB-IoT). This self-contained system eliminates the need for external cabinets, complex wiring, and on-site integration, drastically simplifying the entire deployment process.

Overcoming Decades of Deployment Hurdles

The challenges associated with traditional multi-component stations extend far beyond initial setup. These systems often have high power demands, requiring large solar panels and battery banks that add to the cost and complexity, particularly in off-grid locations. Furthermore, having multiple separate components increases the potential points of failure, leading to more frequent and costly maintenance visits.

HyQuant Edge is engineered to address these operational pain points directly. Its integrated design and use of KIPTEC's "radar-on-chip" technology result in significantly lower power consumption. The system employs event-driven adaptive logging, which intelligently adjusts measurement and transmission intervals based on changing site conditions. For example, during a potential flood event, the device can automatically increase its reporting frequency to provide critical real-time data, then revert to a power-saving mode when conditions stabilize.

To ensure data integrity, especially in areas with intermittent connectivity, the device features a robust store-and-forward capability. With 4 GB of onboard memory, it can securely store measurements during communication outages and automatically transmit the backlogged data once a connection is re-established. This feature is critical for maintaining a complete and unbroken data record, which is essential for accurate hydrological modeling and analysis.

Expanding the Reach of Water Data

The logistical and financial barriers of traditional monitoring have historically limited the scope and density of hydrological networks. There have always been more streams, rivers, and channels worth measuring than there were practical and affordable systems to do so. HyQuant Edge is positioned to close this gap.

Its compact size, rapid deployment, and lower cost-per-site make it an ideal solution for a wide range of applications. It is particularly well-suited for temporary monitoring campaigns, emergency deployments during floods or droughts, and the densification of existing networks in both urban and rural settings. By making advanced monitoring more accessible, the technology empowers communities and agencies to gather data from previously unmonitored or underserved locations.

"There have always been more places worth measuring than systems capable of reaching them due to deployment constraints," noted Dr. Anton Felder, Global Director HydroMet at KISTERS. "HyQuant Edge is the choice that can fit within existing infrastructure and budget constraints – especially valued in network densification."

This ability to expand monitoring networks at a lower cost has profound implications. Denser data grids can dramatically improve the accuracy of flood forecasting models, optimize water resource allocation for agriculture and industry, and provide a clearer understanding of how ecosystems are responding to environmental change.

Technology for a Climate-Resilient Future

The launch of HyQuant Edge arrives at a critical moment. As climate change intensifies the frequency and severity of extreme weather events, the need for high-quality, real-time water data has never been greater. Comprehensive hydrological monitoring is a cornerstone of building climate resilience, enabling proactive rather than reactive water management.

HyQuant Edge stations are available in four versions: Level (L), Surface Velocity (V), a combined Level and Velocity (L+V) model, and a Discharge (Q) model. A key innovation is that the L, V, and L+V versions can be upgraded to calculate discharge through a simple software update, preserving a customer's initial hardware investment and providing a flexible upgrade path as monitoring needs evolve.

The L+V and Q models use advanced 60 GHz V-band FMCW radar, which provides highly accurate and stable measurements of both water level and velocity, unaffected by temperature fluctuations or sensor aging. While competitors like OTT HydroMet and Xylem offer integrated monitoring systems, KISTERS' approach of embedding all functionality into a single sensor device represents a significant step forward in integration and simplicity.

Designed with security at its core, the system incorporates encryption and secure cloud connectivity compliant with modern IT standards. It also supports open protocols like MQTTS and HTTPS, ensuring it can be integrated with existing data management platforms, including KISTERS' own WISKI and datasphere software or third-party systems. This combination of advanced sensing, embedded intelligence, and secure connectivity provides a powerful new tool for scientists, engineers, and policymakers working to safeguard communities and ecosystems in a changing world.