💧 Smart Water Level Monitoring System with ESP8266 and Android App

🌊 Introduction

This project implements a smart water level monitoring system using an ESP8266 microcontroller, an HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor, and an Android application. It accurately measures the water level in a tank, displays it on the app, and provides insights into water usage trends.

✨ Features

• Real-time Water Level Monitoring: Constantly measures and displays the water level in the tank as a percentage and approximate volume.
• Pump Status Detection: Intelligently determines if the water pump is filling, draining, or stable based on changes in water level.
• Estimated Time to Fill/Empty: Calculates and displays the estimated time remaining for the tank to fill or empty based on the current pump status and fill/drain rate.
• Historical Water Usage Data: Provides a basic bar chart visualization of water usage trends over the past 7 days (can be expanded for more detailed analysis).
• User-Friendly Android App: An intuitive Android app displays the water level, pump status, time remaining, and historical data in a clear and accessible format.
• Firebase Realtime Database Integration: Utilizes Firebase to store and retrieve sensor data, enabling remote monitoring and data logging.
• NTP Time Synchronization: Ensures accurate timestamps for data logging by synchronizing the ESP8266 with an NTP server.

🛠️ Technologies Used

Hardware:

• ESP8266 NodeMCU: A low-cost Wi-Fi microcontroller with built-in TCP/IP stack.
• HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Sensor: Measures distance using ultrasonic waves.
• Jumper Wires: For connecting the components.
• Breadboard (optional): For prototyping.

Software:

• Arduino IDE: For programming the ESP8266.
• Firebase: A cloud platform for data storage, user authentication, and more.
• Android Studio: The official IDE for Android app development.
• Java: The programming language used for the Android app.

⚙️ Circuit Diagram

📱 Android Application Interface

💻 Code Overview

1. ESP8266 Code (ino file)

• Initialization: Sets up Wi-Fi connection, connects to Firebase, and configures sensor pins.
• Distance Measurement: Reads the distance from the HC-SR04 sensor.
• Time Synchronization: Obtains the current time using NTP.
• Data Formatting: Formats the sensor data and timestamps.
• Firebase Update: Sends the sensor data (distance, timestamp) to Firebase Realtime Database.

2. Android App Code (MainActivity.java)

• UI Initialization: Initializes the UI elements (ProgressBar, TextViews).
• Firebase Data Retrieval: Fetches the latest sensor data from Firebase.
• Data Processing:
  • Calculates the water level percentage based on the sensor reading and tank dimensions.
  • Determines the pump status (filling, draining, stable) by comparing recent sensor readings.
  • Estimates the time remaining for the tank to fill or empty.
• UI Update: Updates the UI elements with the processed data.

🚀 Getting Started

1. Hardware Setup

1. Connect the HC-SR04 sensor to the ESP8266:
   • VCC: Connect to 5V on ESP8266.
   • GND: Connect to GND on ESP8266.
   • TRIG: Connect to D1 (GPIO5) on ESP8266.
   • ECHO: Connect to D2 (GPIO4) on ESP8266.
2. (Optional) Use a breadboard for easier connections.

2. Software Setup

1. Install Arduino IDE: Download and install the Arduino IDE from the official website.
2. Install ESP8266 Board Support: Follow instructions to add ESP8266 support to the Arduino IDE.
3. Install Firebase ESP8266 Library: Search for and install the "Firebase ESP8266 Client" library in the Arduino IDE Library Manager.
4. Configure Firebase Project:
   • Create a Firebase project in the Firebase console.
   • Enable Realtime Database for your project.
   • Go to Project settings > Service accounts > Firebase Admin SDK and generate a private key.
   • Copy the private key JSON data.
   • In your Arduino code, replace the FIREBASE_HOST and FIREBASE_AUTH placeholders with your Firebase project's details (host and private key).
5. Upload Code to ESP8266: Connect the ESP8266 to your computer and upload the ino file.
6. Build and Install Android App:
   • Open the Android project in Android Studio.
   • Connect your Android device or start an emulator.
   • Build and install the app on your device.
   • (Make sure to configure the Firebase details in the Android project as well if needed).

📊 Future Enhancements

• Advanced Data Visualization: Implement a more detailed chart or graph to visualize water usage trends over longer periods.
• Alerts and Notifications: Add the ability to send alerts (e.g., via SMS or email) when the water level reaches certain thresholds or if the pump malfunctions.
• User Authentication and Control: Implement user authentication and allow users to control the water pump remotely through the app.
• Integration with Smart Home Systems: Explore integration with other smart home systems for automated water management.

🤝 Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Feel free to submit pull requests to improve the project.

📞 Contact

• GitHub Profile
• LinkedIn Profile

©️ License

This project is licensed under the Apache 2.0 License.