In response to the recurring threat of the Taquari River overflowing, the Municipality of Muçum, Brazil has adopted Hikvision’s advanced water-level detection solution. This technology enables the town to acquire precise and timely updates on water levels, enhancing emergency protocols and safeguarding the communities throughout the Taquari Valley.
The Municipality of Muçum, situated in Rio Grande do Sul—the southernmost state of Brazil—is part of a larger region developed along the Taquari River. This area witnessed severe flooding in 2023 and 2024, with the latter year marking the state's largest natural disaster, displacing over 600,000 individuals and causing widespread infrastructure damage as reported by Médecins Sans Frontières.
Extreme weather conditions
The residents of Muçum and adjacent areas have shifted their focus from merely reacting to floods to improving their preparedness. Previously, flood responses relied heavily on manual methods and physical gauges, which failed to provide real-time, integrated monitoring crucial during extreme weather conditions.
The municipality identified the need for a more dependable monitoring system to improve coordination in rainfall events and offer early risk communication to residents. The specific requirements of Muçum's council included accurate water-level readings, operational reliability during severe conditions, automatic alerts, and centralised data management.
Water-level monitoring solution
This precision enables emergency teams to detect minimal water level alterations
To meet these objectives, Muçum partnered with system integrator Infosat and distributor Tecline to deploy Hikvision’s sophisticated monitoring solution. Installed above the river on a bridge, Hikvision’s 4 MP Water-Level Detection Network Speed Dome combines video imaging with millimetre-wave radar technology. It provides real-time visual monitoring and precise water-level data.
Unlike traditional devices that require close proximity to water, the radar-based system measures levels from distances up to 40 meters. This ensures functionality even in major floods when conventional equipment might be compromised. This precision enables emergency teams to detect minimal water level alterations, receive alerts as thresholds are reached, and gain valuable time for risk assessment and community preparation.
Challenging lighting environments
With 4 MP imaging capabilities, the device allows operators to verify river conditions live. Its 120 dB WDR technology ensures clarity under challenging lighting conditions, while the IP67-rated housing guarantees weather-resistant performance. The inclusion of 4G connectivity and a low-power design facilitates deployment in essential areas.
To enhance public alerts, five Hikvision Network Horn Speakers have been implemented in high-risk neighbourhoods. Positioned strategically, these speakers deliver evacuation and emergency messages swiftly to residents, ensuring critical communication during potential flood events.
Real-time monitoring
Muçum has seen a significant improvement, with an 80% increase in water-level information accuracy
Managed centrally through HikCentral Professional, the system allows operators to monitor changes actively, manage alerts, and access historical flood data for analysis and future plan development. Muçum has seen a significant improvement, with an 80% increase in water-level information accuracy, aiding emergency teams in their proactive response and communication efforts.
Mateus Giovanoni Trojan, former Mayor of Muçum, highlighted the solution’s efficacy: “The Hikvision solution brings us more reliable information and enables us to respond faster. Automatic alerts help our emergency teams act earlier and improve safety for the population.”
Creating a smarter foundation
The benefits of this solution extend beyond Muçum, assisting neighbouring municipalities’ readiness efforts across the Taquari Valley, impacting approximately 100,000 residents. Luis Maya, Emergency Coordinator of Lajeado, acknowledged the advantages: “For nearby communities like ours, earlier information can make a huge difference. It helps emergency teams react faster and keep people safe.”
Muçum is emerging as a beacon of resilience, leveraging AI-powered IoT technologies to strengthen flood response across the Taquari Valley. Through this smart infrastructure, Muçum is illustrating how such technologies can empower communities to act swiftly, fostering confidence to tackle ongoing climate challenges.
When Brazil’s Taquari River threatens to overflow, the Municipality of Muçum no longer waits and watches—it knows. Using Hikvision’s water-level detection solution, the town gets faster, more accurate insights about the changing water levels in the river. This strengthens emergency responses and helps protect communities across the Taquari Valley.
Located in Rio Grande do Sul, the southernmost state of Brazil, the Municipality of Muçum is part of a wider region that has grown up along the Taquari River which runs through this mountainous region. Following relentless rainfall in both 2023 and 2024, the region experienced flooding of historic proportions. The 2024 disaster became the largest natural calamity in the state's recorded history. More than 600,000 people were displaced and infrastructure was damaged across nearly every municipality in the region, according to a report by Médecins Sans Frontières.
Extreme weather conditions
For the people of Muçum and its neighbouring cities, the focus quickly shifted from reacting to floods to preparing for them more effectively. Previous approaches had relied on manual observation and physical gauges. But such solutions, as they knew only too well, are unable to provide the kind of continuous, integrated, and real-time visibility that is so vital during extreme weather conditions.
Instead, they needed to find a more reliable way to monitor river conditions, improve coordination during heavy rainfall, and communicate risks to residents earlier. Specifically, the municipal council of Muçum sought a technology solution that would:
- Deliver accurate, real-time water-level measurements
- Maintain operation during severe floods
- Support automatic alerts and emergency communication
- Centralise monitoring and historical data analysis
Water-level monitoring solution
To support these goals, the council worked with system integrator Infosat and distributor Tecline to deploy Hikvision’s intelligent water-level monitoring solution.
Hikvision’s 4 MP Water-Level Detection Network Speed Dome (DS-2DF3C400SCG-D/4G/WL40(F1)(LA)) has been installed on a bridge above the river. Combining video imaging and millimetre-wave radar technology in a single device, the solution allows operators to visually monitor river conditions while simultaneously receiving highly accurate water-level measurements in real time.
Preparing nearby communities
Unlike traditional gauges positioned close to the water, the radar-based system can measure water levels from distances of up to 40 meters. This elevated installation approach helps ensure continuous operation even during major floods, when conventional equipment may become submerged or damaged.
The solution’s millimetre-level precision allows emergency teams to detect even small changes in water levels and receive alerts when predefined thresholds are reached. With earlier visibility into changing conditions, emergency teams gain valuable time to evaluate risks, coordinate response actions, and prepare nearby communities.
Challenging lighting environments
The device delivers 4 MP high-quality imaging, allowing operators to visually confirm river conditions in real time. Its 120 dB WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) technology helps maintain clear images in challenging lighting environments, while the IP67-rated housing supports reliable outdoor performance during harsh weather. The integrated 4G connectivity and low-power design also simplify deployment in critical monitoring locations.
To strengthen public communication, the municipality also deployed five Hikvision Network Horn Speakers (DS-QAZ1325G1T) in higher-risk neighbourhoods. Installed in areas where floodwaters can rise quickly, the speakers broadcast evacuation warnings and emergency notifications when necessary, enabling them to reach residents rapidly and directly.
Real-time monitoring
The entire solution is centrally managed on HikCentral Professional. Through the platform, operators can:
- Monitor water-level changes in real time
- Manage alarms and emergency alerts
- Review live video feeds remotely
- Access historical statistics for flood analysis and planning
Since the deployment, the Municipality of Muçum has reported an 80% increase in the accuracy of water-level information compared with previous manual readings. Real-time monitoring and automated alerts now help emergency teams respond more proactively while improving communication with residents during critical situations.
Mateus Giovanoni Trojan, the former Mayor of Muçum, said: “The Hikvision solution brings us more reliable information and enables us to respond faster. Automatic alerts help our emergency teams act earlier and improve safety for the population.”
Creating a smarter foundation
The benefits also extend beyond Muçum itself. Data collected from the monitoring system helps support neighbouring municipalities across the Taquari Valley, contributing to regional preparedness efforts that affect around 100,000 residents. “For nearby communities like ours, earlier information can make a huge difference,” said Luis Maya, Emergency Coordinator for the Municipality of Lajeado. “It helps emergency teams react faster and keep people safe.”
Today, Muçum’s story is no longer only about overcoming floods; it is about building resilience through technology, coordination, and preparedness. By deploying Hikvision’s AIoT (AI-powered Internet of Things) technologies, the municipality has created a smarter foundation for flood response across the Taquari Valley. As climate challenges continue to evolve, Muçum is showing how AIoT technologies can help communities respond earlier, act faster, and face the future with greater confidence.
