Maryland-based tech startup offers flood monitoring and real-time data services

A new project is underway to help protect coastal communities from flooding in the Chesapeake Bay area of Maryland. Hohonu, Inc., a technology startup from the University of Hawaiʻi, is providing environmental water level monitoring through new water level sensors that are grant-funded by the University of Maryland. These sensors will be part of a larger resilience strategy in the region.

The University of Maryland, City of Annapolis, and Hohonu are working together on flooding concerns and storm preparedness as part of a broader program. The data collected by Hohonu’s low-cost sensors and software will be used to track and measure flooding, helping to inform emergency management, adaptation, and mitigation efforts.

Brian Glazer, CEO and co-founder of Hohonu and an associate professor at UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, shared project plans in Annapolis, Maryland. Hohonu is working on multiple projects on the east coast to address the growing demand for real-time data in flood monitoring due to the increased frequency and intensity of storms and flooding.

The initiative aims to combine land, air, and water science to build resilience and develop predictive models for more frequent and intense flooding events. UH, a partial equity owner in Hohonu, is involved in the mission to democratize access to ocean observing technologies and support the project.

Hohonu plans to deploy up to 20 sensors in various locations around the Chesapeake Bay to provide crucial information for Annapolis City Dock and other coastal communities. This will help these areas, including Maryland’s capital city, to plan for future flood protection projects. For more information, visit SOEST’s website.