The STARDUST project, coordinated by SINTEF, is developing optical sensors capable of identifying several pesticides in water and delivering results on site. At present, samples have to be sent to laboratories, which makes it hard to detect rapid changes after heavy rain, floods or droughts.
The team combines spectroscopy, microfluidics and artificial intelligence in a miniaturised system. The researchers have already measured different pesticides in laboratory tests and hope eventually to build a portable device to monitor rivers, lakes and groundwater in real time.
