‘Dublin on Water’ is one of the Smart Docklands 2024 pilot projects jointly supported by Dublin City Council and Connect Research Ireland.
This project enabled Dublin-based UTS Technologies to devise and test an environmental monitoring system using sensors deployed at 14 locations along the Liffey from Heuston Station to the East Link Bridge. The state-of-the-art water sensors capture live data on river levels, flow rates, and water temperature, providing a clearer picture of how the river behaves in real time.
Developed to provide trustworthy data for all river users, the data has been visualised and is conveniently available via the River Liffey Water Data webpage.
Real-Time Data, Real-World Benefits
The sensor system will deliver practical benefits for:
- Recreational users who can assess river conditions in real time before heading out on the water;
- City teams who can monitor river behaviour to plan cleaning or respond to requests for debris removal;
- Emergency responders who can access critical flow data to inform operations; and
- Environmental planners who will now have baseline data to build upon for longer-term climate and water management goals.
Community involvement has been central to the pilot’s success. The project team has tapped into the experience and needs of local user groups – including water sports clubs, safety responders, and river maintenance teams – by hosting workshops and through direct engagement.
One standout event, the River Liffey Water Sensors Workshop (held May 15 at CHQ Dublin), brought together a diverse group of river users to preview the project’s new data dashboard and discuss how open access to river data can improve the shared use and stewardship of the Liffey.
This DCC smart cities’ project has demonstrated how real-time environmental data can empower local communities, support sustainability, and improve decision-making for everyone who interacts with the river.
This pilot project also raises public awareness about the Liffey as a living system, one that changes hourly and seasonally, and one that all users share responsibility for. By putting data into the hands of those who use the river daily, the project is strengthening both environmental stewardship and community connection to the water.
About the Smart Docklands Pilot Calls
In 2024, Smart Docklands launched a pilot call to inspire and support innovation for the city’s services. Continuing the Smart Docklands’ focus on the deployment of IoT solutions across multiple environments, this call focused on four key themes:
- Environmental monitoring
- Urban greening/Biodiversity
- Antisocial behaviour/Safety
- Community Development
The themes were selected from feedback gathered through the Smart Docklands Commonplace online surveys and other outreach activities with stakeholders, including residents, local communities, Dublin City Council, Connect Research Ireland, businesses located in the Docklands and their employees. The purpose of the engagement was to identify local challenges and launch an open call for pilots to find potential solutions to address these challenges.
View the River Liffey Real-Time Data
Discover more about the Dublin on Water Pilot Project