AES specializes in providing equipment for field and data services for hydrometrics and water quality disciplines including audits, installation, testing, consulting, equipment repair and certification and training of advanced water quality monitoring techniques. We have provided Hydrology and Water Quality technical support to clients in the United States of America, China, Europe and Australia. We also speak to audiences on a regular basis and have given talks to government agencies both in Canada and the US, at private seminars and large conferences. We write and maintain training manuals, such as the Advanced Water Quality Instrumentation Maintenance Workshop Manual used by provincial, state and federal government agencies in Canada, the US and around the world.
Current and past clients include: OTT Hydromet, Campbell Scientific, Golder Associates, Alberta Environment and Parks, BC Ministry of Environment, Diavik Diamond Mine Inc., Worley Parsons, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Credit Valley Conservation, Environment Canada, Nova Scotia Environment, Government of the Northwest Territories, Axys Technologies, Dalhousie University, Suncor Energy and Forest Technology Systems.
Current and past clients include: OTT Hydromet, Campbell Scientific, Golder Associates, Alberta Environment and Parks, BC Ministry of Environment, Diavik Diamond Mine Inc., Worley Parsons, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Credit Valley Conservation, Environment Canada, Nova Scotia Environment, Government of the Northwest Territories, Axys Technologies, Dalhousie University, Suncor Energy and Forest Technology Systems.
Our Products
Past Projects
Alberta Environment and Parks Wapti River Monitoring
Municipal and pulp mill effluent discharges lead to nutrient enrichment in many bodies of water and monitoring that discharge is important to maintain the health and safety of those downstream. The cumulative effect studies that were intended to document impacts of those discharges and health of the aquatic environment of the Wapiti had not been carried out for the past 10 years, leading to a severe lack of data available on the river. The Alberta Environment and Parks (Northern Region) proposed to conduct a water quality, periphyton and dissolved oxygen survey to document current conditions and impacts on the river, contracting AES to undertake the endeavor.
The project was designed to enhance the government's ability to report on the status and health of aquatic ecosystems in a scientifically defensible manner. The study was intended to complement future studies for the Wapiti River and the development of place-based indicators of aquatic environmental health, and ultimately support the requirements of setting targets and triggers.
The AES study supported the ongoing need to sample water quality, benthic algae and dissolved oxygen which may be critical at certain times of the year due to inputs to the Wapiti River from pulp mill and municipal plants. It showed that there is a considerable and consistent response of nutrient enrichment in water quality and periphyton in the river downstream of the effluent discharges.
The project was designed to enhance the government's ability to report on the status and health of aquatic ecosystems in a scientifically defensible manner. The study was intended to complement future studies for the Wapiti River and the development of place-based indicators of aquatic environmental health, and ultimately support the requirements of setting targets and triggers.
The AES study supported the ongoing need to sample water quality, benthic algae and dissolved oxygen which may be critical at certain times of the year due to inputs to the Wapiti River from pulp mill and municipal plants. It showed that there is a considerable and consistent response of nutrient enrichment in water quality and periphyton in the river downstream of the effluent discharges.
Forest Technology Services GOESHopper Beta Testing
In September of 2013 FTS and AES undertook a pilot project to determine the feasibility of introducing a low cost, standalone Geostationary Orbital Environmental Satellite (GOES) transmitter into the Canadian Datalogger market. This transmitter would later become known as the GOES Hopper.
A survey was conducted amongst both known and potential clients that may be interested in this configuration. The assumption at the time was that this equipment would be of greatest interest to the Groundwater market but survey results indicated it would also be of interest to the Water Quality and Water Level or Hydrometric markets. During the survey clients that had an immediate need for and showed interest in the GOES Hopper were short listed to participate in the pilot program. Of the approximately 30 clients that responded to the survey, eight were interested in and met the criteria to be good candidates for a pilot program. Of the eight, two later dropped out because either their staff were over committed or cancellation of the project where the equipment would have been used. Site visits were conducted with 5 of the 6 pilot candidates to determine their commitment level, visit each proposed site and determine the GOES Hopper configuration best suited to each.
Installations started in mid-December 2013, were completed by January 29, 2014 and in all cases conducted by FTS. Part of the criteria for choosing the pilots were to get as varied as possible the type of sensors that were to be used. Of the six pilots three are Groundwater sites using two makes of water level sensor, two are Water Quality sites both using Hydrolab Datasondes and one is a water level site using a radar water level sensor without logging capability. All of the clients have commented they like the equipment, like the low cost, like the concept of not needing a full Datalogger.
A survey was conducted amongst both known and potential clients that may be interested in this configuration. The assumption at the time was that this equipment would be of greatest interest to the Groundwater market but survey results indicated it would also be of interest to the Water Quality and Water Level or Hydrometric markets. During the survey clients that had an immediate need for and showed interest in the GOES Hopper were short listed to participate in the pilot program. Of the approximately 30 clients that responded to the survey, eight were interested in and met the criteria to be good candidates for a pilot program. Of the eight, two later dropped out because either their staff were over committed or cancellation of the project where the equipment would have been used. Site visits were conducted with 5 of the 6 pilot candidates to determine their commitment level, visit each proposed site and determine the GOES Hopper configuration best suited to each.
Installations started in mid-December 2013, were completed by January 29, 2014 and in all cases conducted by FTS. Part of the criteria for choosing the pilots were to get as varied as possible the type of sensors that were to be used. Of the six pilots three are Groundwater sites using two makes of water level sensor, two are Water Quality sites both using Hydrolab Datasondes and one is a water level site using a radar water level sensor without logging capability. All of the clients have commented they like the equipment, like the low cost, like the concept of not needing a full Datalogger.
Lake Ainslie Water Quality Image Interpretation for Nova Scotia Environment
Nova Scotia Environment (NSE) undertook surveys of water quality in 10 lakes in the Carleton River watershed area of Yarmouth and Digby Counties to determine the source of water quality issues in that area. Sampling results and reports confirmed impacted waters as well as compromised drinking water and recreational water uses. Water quality issues in this county centered around nutrients and algal blooms occurring intermittent over time and in certain lakes and not others. To date nutrient sources and causes of the blooms have not been fully identified and sampling / monitoring programs have not been able to provide a full picture of water quality trends over time or space.
The overall intent of this work was to use historical satellite imagery (dating back to 1986) to assess the points in time and space where nutrients and algal production has peaked in the target lakes. By determining water quality trends, and
subsequently relating them to coincidental changes in watershed development or meteorological conditions, the sources and causes of bloom conditions can be better identified. The purpose of the project was to provide a comprehensive series of scans of satellite imagery for the target area involving key water quality parameters, providing the basis for a rough, preliminary assessment of trends in water quality.
Cyanobacteria (commonly called blue green algae) are increasingly prevalent in the world’s lakes, streams, rivers, ponds, and reservoirs. It can produce toxins that, left unchecked, can be harmful to human and animal health. AES continues our partnership with Blue Water to offer algal monitoring and analysis to our clients.
Using the U. S. government’s Landsat satellite system integrated with our patented algorithmic imaging technology, Blue Water Satellite can detect the presence, location, and concentration (down to parts per billion) of Cyanobacteria blooms. This early detection provides regulating agencies the valuable information needed to isolate trouble spots, significantly lower chemical treatment costs and greatly reduce potential damage to affected water bodies.
Available Parameters
• Total Phosphorus (Water or on Land)
• Cyanobacteria
• Chlorophyll a
• Total Vegetation Coverage
• Septic Leakage (Spring only)
• E-coli Bacteria
Other parameters that will be available soon include Ice Cover and Oil on water (presence/absence).
The overall intent of this work was to use historical satellite imagery (dating back to 1986) to assess the points in time and space where nutrients and algal production has peaked in the target lakes. By determining water quality trends, and
subsequently relating them to coincidental changes in watershed development or meteorological conditions, the sources and causes of bloom conditions can be better identified. The purpose of the project was to provide a comprehensive series of scans of satellite imagery for the target area involving key water quality parameters, providing the basis for a rough, preliminary assessment of trends in water quality.
Cyanobacteria (commonly called blue green algae) are increasingly prevalent in the world’s lakes, streams, rivers, ponds, and reservoirs. It can produce toxins that, left unchecked, can be harmful to human and animal health. AES continues our partnership with Blue Water to offer algal monitoring and analysis to our clients.
Using the U. S. government’s Landsat satellite system integrated with our patented algorithmic imaging technology, Blue Water Satellite can detect the presence, location, and concentration (down to parts per billion) of Cyanobacteria blooms. This early detection provides regulating agencies the valuable information needed to isolate trouble spots, significantly lower chemical treatment costs and greatly reduce potential damage to affected water bodies.
Available Parameters
• Total Phosphorus (Water or on Land)
• Cyanobacteria
• Chlorophyll a
• Total Vegetation Coverage
• Septic Leakage (Spring only)
• E-coli Bacteria
Other parameters that will be available soon include Ice Cover and Oil on water (presence/absence).