Worldsensing is proud to announce that David Mir has successfully completed his master’s final project as part of the University of Barcelona (UB) and Worldsensing Chair on Industrial IoT. This marks the second master’s project completed within the Chair, following the research of Oumaima Zghouda on the environmental impact of Worldsensing’s operations.
David Mir’s research focused on the design and development of a water quality monitoring system for the detection of Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical compound known for its harmful effects on human health and the environment. His project demonstrates the potential of combining chemical sensors and IoT solutions to address environmental challenges.
Applied research for water quality solutions
Through his work, David Mir designed, assembled, and tested a portable electrochemical sensor capable of detecting different concentrations of Bisphenol A (BPA) in water. The system was then integrated with a Worldsensing IoT node, enabling autonomous, real-time transmission of data over long distances through low-power wireless communication.
BPA is an endocrine-disrupting compound commonly found in plastics and industrial products that can leach into water sources. Detecting and tracking such contaminants is crucial to protecting both ecosystems and public health.
Mir’s project lays the groundwork for autonomous environmental monitoring, significantly reducing the need for manual sampling and allowing continuous, real-time oversight of water resources. The custom-built sensor has proven in laboratory tests that it can reliably detect BPA levels, showing its readiness for real-world applications where this innovative system would make water quality monitoring more efficient and sustainable.
Partnering with the Jožef Stefan Institute
This project was carried out in cooperation with the Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI), Slovenia’s leading scientific research center. Regarding water contamination, the research team of Assistant Professor Kristina Žagar Soderžnik at the institute had initially designed a prototype electrochemical sensor to measure Bisphenol S (BPS) concentrations in water. Evaluating BPS levels can be achieved using electrochemical analytical methods, allowing in situ and real-time measurements. Hence, the development of an electrochemical sensor for detection using screen-printed carbon working electrodes (SPE-C).
The prototype consists of a small printed circuit board (PCB) acting as a potentiostat, including a connector for the electrochemical cell, an instrumentation amplifier, the current sensor, and a PID regulator. A microcontroller digitizes the data, which can be visualized via a computer program showing current evolution versus applied voltage, all regulated by the same circuit.
Building on this project, JSI aimed to design a similar sensor to detect BPA, but without relying on cabling to read data in real time, as the sensor ultimately needs to operate outdoors autonomously. They then partnered with Worldsensing for using its wireless monitoring systems. This collaboration led to the current project, which was developed by David Mir during his internship at Worldsensing.
Contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals
Mir’s project supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:
- Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), by detecting contaminants harmful to humans.
- Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), through improved water monitoring.
- Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9), by fostering technological advancement.
- Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12), by promoting sustainable practices.
- Life Below Water (SDG 14), by helping protect aquatic ecosystems.
Connecting academia and industry with the UB-Worldsensing Chair
The developed system represents a first functional implementation for the electrochemical detection of contaminants like BPA, demonstrating potential as an environmental monitoring tool, while still requiring optimizations to ensure robustness, reliability, and applicability under real-world conditions.
The UB-Worldsensing Chair on Industrial IoT, established in 2023, continues to strengthen the bridge between academic research and industrial innovation. It provides students with opportunities to gain hands-on experience, develop practical solutions, and contribute to addressing environmental and societal challenges.
“David’s project is another great example of how academic collaboration can lead to impactful innovation,” said Ignasi Vilajosana, CEO of Worldsensing.“ His work showcases the potential of IoT technologies and also reflects the spirit of the Chair: fostering new talent to tackle the challenges of our time.”
As the Chair enters its second year, projects like Mir’s continue to illustrate Worldsensing’s and the University of Barcelona’s shared commitment to sustainable technologies, innovation, and education.
“Worldsensing technology for data collection is not limited to geotechnical monitoring. This research project demonstrates that, with minimal adaptations, it can also capture chemical information, integrate with optical measurements, and more. It is an exciting time, our technology is expanding its scope.”
Dr. Francisco Hernández-Ramírez, Worldsensing’s VP of Innovation
As part of a commitment to transparency, David Mir master’s final report is publicly available. If you wish to access it, please contact us at [email protected]