Tidal Sensor
by MakerLAB · Solar One, Stuyvesant Cove Park · 2026-09-28
Tidal Sensor is a low-cost, open-source tidal monitoring system built with Solar One for Stuyvesant Cove Park, where large waves and high tides regularly "splash over" the seawall and flood the park. It came out of CRAFT@Large, MakerLAB's community engagement initiative, and gave undergraduate interns the chance to design and deploy hardware with a community partner.
The sensor is housed in a vertical length of white PVC pipe. A MaxSonar ultrasonic distance sensor points down out of the bottom to measure the distance to the water surface, and a 5 W / 5 V solar panel angled off the side keeps it powered. The electronics are likely sealed inside the tube, with the cable exiting through a gland at the top, and the whole unit is strapped to its mount with zip ties.
The photo shows it being bench-tested at MakerLAB, clamped to a wooden block at the edge of a table, a quick way to rehearse the field mounting before going to the waterfront.
Tips: point the ultrasonic sensor straight down with a clear cone beneath it; waves and spray make noisy readings, so average several samples per reading. Seal every cable entry, since salt air finds any gap.
Partner: Solar One, Stuyvesant Cove Park