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Water Level Monitoring with Pegellogger in Venice

Written by STS | Jun 23, 2025 1:22:38 PM

Flood Protection for Venice: STS-Pegellogger reliably measures the groundwater level around Piazza San Marco — even during floods caused by salty water. Modern measurement technology supports the protection of historic buildings.

The Piazza San Marco doesn't flood: To continuously measure the groundwater level at Piazza San Marco, data loggers from STS are used. These are particularly robust and suitable for various applications.

Long-term measurement in salty environments

Already in 2003, the company S.P.G. installed multiple groundwater data loggers at Piazza San Marco in Venice. The loggers had to withstand the specific requirements of an area regularly flooded with saline water. The technology was used within a project by the water authority to protect the lagoon and the city of Venice from flooding.

The contracted consortium Venezia Nuova oversaw the construction of a quay directly opposite Piazza San Marco. The goal was to document the impact of the construction project on the surrounding buildings. Continuous monitoring of the groundwater was necessary as water levels shifted during the construction. STS data loggers provided precise and continuous measurement data.

Reliable technology for tough conditions

The installed Pegellogger allows measurement of:

  • Water level (0…50 cmWS to 0…250 mWS)
  • Temperature (-5 to 50 °C)
  • Conductivity (0.020…20 mS/cm)

An optional data transmission unit can be retrofitted at any time. Thanks to a large memory (up to 1.5 million measurements) and a compact probe diameter (24 mm or 10 mm), the loggers are also suitable for tight measurement locations.

User-friendly and versatile

Additional advantages include:

  • Connectable cable options for flexible extensions
  • Software updates without returns
  • Replaceable lithium battery on-site
  • Data export in ASCII or XML format for Excel & Co.
  • Variable storage intervals (time- or pressure-based)

Using various materials such as stainless steel, titanium, and PUR, PE, or Teflon cables, the loggers are highly media-resistant. They are suitable not only for flood protection but also for landfills, remediation of contaminated sites, pump tests, or rainwater overflow basins.

Conclusion

The successful long-term monitoring at Piazza San Marco demonstrates how modern pressure and level measurement technology works reliably even under challenging conditions. Thanks to their versatility and robustness, STS data loggers provide a reliable solution for environmental and water resource management applications.

Original publication: Konstruktion magazine