Electrical Engineering Students at the University of Anbar Achieve First Place with an Innovative Water Quality Monitoring Project

Under the supervision of Professor Dr. Yousif Ismail Al-Mashhadani from the Biomedical Engineering Research Center and Dr. Mohammed Khalil Awsaj from the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Anbar, achieved a significant academic accomplishment by winning first place at the College of Engineering level. The project has subsequently been nominated to represent the college at the 14th Scientific Creative Student Forum, an annual university event dedicated to promoting innovation and supporting outstanding student research projects. The project, entitled “Design and Measurement Display Multi-Parameter Water Quality Based on an Optical Fiber System,” aims to design and develop an intelligent real-time water quality monitoring system capable of measuring multiple key parameters that reflect water condition and quality. The proposed system contributes to protecting public health and the environment while enhancing monitoring efficiency in industrial and environmental applications. The developed system utilizes the Arduino Uno platform as the main processing unit, enabling communication with a set of specialized sensors to measure temperature, pH level, turbidity, and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). Data transmission is implemented using optical fiber technology instead of conventional electrical wiring, providing strong immunity against electromagnetic interference (EMI) and ensuring complete galvanic isolation. This approach enhances system safety, reliability, and operational stability, particularly in sensitive industrial and laboratory environments. Experimental evaluations demonstrated high accuracy and stability of the proposed system during testing on various water samples. The system successfully recorded turbidity values across a wide range reaching 910 NTU, measured TDS levels between 31 and 494 ppm, and maintained stable readings with a pH value of 7.95 and a temperature of 20°C throughout the experiments. The achievement represents the outcome of effective academic collaboration and supervision. The project was co-supervised by Dr. Mohammed Khalil Awsaj from the Department of Electrical Engineering, College of Engineering. The research expertise and academic guidance—particularly in advanced medical and engineering technologies—played a vital role in directing the students and transforming the project concept into a practical and applicable prototype. The project was implemented by Electrical Engineering students Miqdad Saad, Yousif Ibrahim, and Ahmed Waddah, who demonstrated a high level of creativity and technical competence in applying modern technologies to address an important environmental challenge related to water quality monitoring. This accomplishment reflects the supportive research and innovation environment fostered by the University of Anbar, as well as the active role of specialized research centers—particularly the Biomedical Engineering Research Center—in mentoring student projects and guiding them toward practical, community-oriented technological applications. The project is expected to contribute to the development of intelligent and sustainable water quality monitoring systems that can be adopted in water treatment facilities and environmental and industrial sectors, enhancing the potential for future transformation into an applied solution that serves society and supports sustainable development initiatives across Iraq.