Real-time spatial water quality data and targeted samples from lakes, rivers, ponds and coastal environments — collected autonomously, delivered with precision.
Understanding what is happening in a water body requires more than a single sample from a jetty. Water quality varies spatially — algae concentrations, oxygen levels and turbidity can differ significantly from one end of a lake to the other, or between the surface and deeper water.
MĀKI deploys compact autonomous surface vessels (USVs) fitted with multi-parameter sensors and sampling equipment. The vessel autonomously traverses the water body, collecting continuous georeferenced measurements that reveal the full spatial picture — not just a snapshot from one location.
The result: accurate, repeatable data that supports confident decision-making for councils, researchers and environmental managers.
MĀKI's standard water quality payload covers the key indicators for freshwater and coastal health. Additional sensors can be integrated for specific project requirements.
Optional additions: conductivity/salinity, fDOM (fluorescent dissolved organic matter), nitrate, specific algae pigments, underwater camera.
A USV covers the entire water body in a single deployment — revealing hotspots, gradients and spatial patterns that point sampling misses entirely.
An integrated 15 m winch collects discrete-depth water samples up to 3 litres — enabling lab analysis for nutrients, metals, and biological parameters at precise GPS-logged locations.
Cyanobacteria bloom events create health risks for staff. The autonomous USV collects data without requiring anyone in the water — or on it.
The same programmed survey route can be repeated across seasons or years, producing comparable datasets that reveal genuine trends over time.
All measurements are georeferenced to centimetre precision via RTK GPS — so every data point maps exactly where it was collected.
The vessel is fully waterproof and follows a rapid decontamination process between sites to meet biosecurity requirements for multi-lake deployments.
MĀKI has been deployed across a range of freshwater and coastal environments. Common monitoring scenarios include:
1. Survey planning. We discuss your objectives, parameters of interest and site access. We design the survey transects to suit the water body shape and depth, typically bookable 1–2 weeks out.
2. Deployment. A MĀKI operator launches the USV from the bank or a small vessel. The boat follows its programmed route autonomously, continuously logging sensor data and GPS position. Most lake surveys take 2–4 hours on the water.
3. Sampling (if required). At programmed waypoints, the integrated winch deploys to collect discrete water samples at specified depths. Samples are labelled, chilled and dispatched to an accredited laboratory.
4. Data processing and reporting. Sensor data is cleaned, georeferenced and processed into spatial maps. You receive a report, GIS data and visualisations. Lab results are incorporated when available. Turnaround is typically 5–10 business days.
MĀKI has been contracted by the Waikato Regional Council to conduct water quality monitoring during algae bloom events, deploying the autonomous USV to safely collect data when cyanobacteria concentrations made manual sampling hazardous.
Read more in our project updates: Autonomous Water Monitoring and Sampling During Algae Bloom Events and MĀKI's Breakthrough in Autonomous Water Quality Monitoring.
Manual grab sampling captures a handful of point locations — typically near the shore or at a single midlake position. An autonomous USV covers the entire water body with hundreds of measurements, revealing spatial variation that manual sampling cannot detect. This is critical for understanding bloom distribution, identifying pollution entry points, or characterising thermal stratification across a lake.
Yes. MĀKI's phycocyanin sensor measures cyanobacteria concentration in real time. During bloom events, the USV can map the spatial extent and intensity of the bloom across the full lake, helping councils and lake managers understand where concentrations are highest and how the bloom is moving or evolving over time.
The standard sampling winch reaches 15 m depth, sufficient for most New Zealand lakes and ponds. For deeper profiling requirements, we can discuss alternative configurations including a tethered profiling sensor package.
The MĀKI USV is rated for moderate field conditions. Surveys are not conducted in conditions that would compromise data quality or operator safety. We work with clients to reschedule around weather when required.
Yes. Data is delivered in standard GIS-compatible formats (CSV with georeferenced coordinates, shapefiles, or KML) suitable for use in ArcGIS, QGIS or similar platforms. Reports can be formatted to match council reporting templates on request.
MĀKI is based in the Waikato and operates nationally across New Zealand. We have conducted water quality monitoring for regional councils and research organisations across the North Island and are available for projects throughout the country.
Autonomous Water Monitoring During Algae Bloom Events — how MĀKI supported Waikato Regional Council during summer cyanobacteria events.
MĀKI's Breakthrough in Autonomous Water Quality Monitoring — the March 2024 deployment during a hazardous algae bloom.
Stormwater & Treatment Pond Surveys — bathymetric mapping of stormwater ponds and detention basins.
All MĀKI Services — full list of environmental monitoring, mapping and survey services.
Get in touch to discuss your monitoring objectives, water body, and timeline — we'll recommend the right approach and provide a quote.
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