Final Testing Completed: Integrated Marine IoT Monitoring System

Today marks the completion of final testing for one of our latest in-house IoT developments — a fully integrated marine monitoring system designed for real-world environmental deployment.

This device brings together multiple water-quality sensors, an underwater camera, and onboard lighting into a single, robust platform suitable for long-term use in marine and freshwater environments.

What the System Measures

The system is capable of simultaneously capturing both quantitative sensor data and visual context, providing a much more complete understanding of underwater conditions.

The current configuration includes:

• Chlorophyll-a measurement

• Phycocyanin measurement (Cyanobacteria)

• Turbidity

• Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

• Water temperature

• Underwater camera footage, supported by integrated LED lighting

This combination allows users to correlate sensor readings directly with visual observations — for example, algal blooms, sediment disturbance, or biofouling.

Designed for Marine Environments

The system has been purpose-built for harsh marine conditions. This includes:

• Waterproof and pressure-resistant housing

• Corrosion-resistant materials

• Stable mounting and cable management

• Low-power electronics suitable for extended deployments

Final testing focused on system reliability, sensor performance, data integrity, and camera operation under realistic conditions.

End-to-End Development Capability

As shown in the setup, this project was delivered entirely in-house.

MAKI handled:

• Mechanical and enclosure design

• Electronics design and integration

• Sensor interfacing and power management

• Firmware and software development

• Data handling and system validation

Having full control over hardware, electronics, and software allows rapid iteration, tighter integration, and solutions that are tailored to the specific needs of each project — rather than relying on off-the-shelf compromises.

Built for Customisation and Deployment

This platform is modular by design. Sensors, cameras, communications, and power systems can be adapted depending on deployment requirements, whether for:

• Environmental monitoring

• Scientific research

• Compliance and consent monitoring

• Infrastructure inspection

• Long-term autonomous deployments

Moving Forward

With final testing completed, this system is now ready for field deployment and project-specific customisation. It represents another step forward in MAKI’s focus on delivering practical, reliable, and locally engineered monitoring solutions for New Zealand’s water environments.