Texas researchers build off-grid flood-warning prototype

University of Texas at San Antonio researchers have built a field-ready prototype that detects local flood risk using water-level and weather sensors. A small onboard computer evaluates the readings, while solar power and a battery let the station operate without grid electricity. It sends warnings by long-range radio to a local hub, where software can combine readings from multiple stations into risk maps. The team reports 98.82% validation accuracy in initial assessments and estimates parts for one station at roughly $150 to $220. It is pursuing patent protection and aims to turn the prototype into a weatherized commercial product; the reported accuracy is from initial assessments, not a deployed warning network.