Yes. The LX-80 measures the distance to the water surface rather than relying on physical contact, making it suitable for water-level measurements in rivers and channels.

Yes. JBUAS can advise on the Geolux LX-80-AB, compatible UAV platforms, SkyHub integration and the best approach for river, reservoir, flood-monitoring or water-surface elevation surveys. Looking for a contactless way to survey water levels?
Contact JBUAS to discuss the Geolux LX-80-AB airborne radar water-level measurement system and how it could be integrated into your UAV survey workflow.

Yes. JBUAS can supply the Geolux LX-80-AB together with UAV integration, SkyHub and associated mounting and data-logging equipment, allowing the system to be configured for specific hydrological survey requirements.

Yes. Its high-frequency FMCW radar, narrow beam, rapid sampling and integration with UAV positioning make it suitable for professional water-level and hydrological survey applications. As with any survey technology, the required positioning accuracy, flight methodology and environmental conditions should be considered when defining the survey specification.

Conventional water-level monitoring may require fixed gauges, staff gauges, pressure sensors or other equipment installed at the waterbody. The LX-80-AB provides a contactless, airborne measurement, allowing water-surface elevation to be surveyed remotely without installing equipment in the water.

The sensor has an IP68-rated providing a high level of protection against water and dust ingress.

Yes, but survey planning is important. The LX-80 has a relatively narrow 5° beam, helping reduce interference from nearby structures compared with wider-beam sensors. The drone should still be operated so that the radar footprint has a clear view of the water surface.

Yes. Water-surface elevation profiles collected along rivers and channels can provide useful data for flood modelling, hydraulic assessments and flood-risk studies. The resulting dataset should be combined with appropriate terrain, channel and flow information where required.

A drone-mounted radar sensor can collect measurements across areas where installing fixed water-level monitoring equipment may be difficult, costly or impractical. It can also survey long stretches of river in a single operation, providing spatial information rather than a measurement from only one fixed monitoring point.

Yes. A key advantage of the LX-80-AB is that it can be flown in autonomous mode along rivers and channels. This enables systematic collection of water-surface elevation data over longer distances.

The LX-80-AB specification gives a sampling frequency of up to 10 measurements per second (10 Hz). This allows frequent measurements to be collected while the UAV is moving along a river or survey route.

The airborne payload is approximately 0.6 kg according to the LX-80-AB technical specification. The final installed payload weight will depend on the complete UAV integration and mounting configuration.

The kit includes: Geolux LX-80-AB radar level sensor Cable for connection to SkyHub Gimbal and mounting components Sensor data-logging software A compatible SkyHub onboard computer is required for data logging.

Yes. UgCS SkyHub is required to log the sensor data as part of the integrated UAV system. SkyHub provides the onboard computing and interface between the radar sensor and UAV.

The LX-80-AB can be integrated with UAVs using UgCS SkyHub, including the DJI Matrice 300 RTK and Matrice 350 RTK, as well as Pixhawk-based platforms.

The LX-80-AB provides water-level/elevation information, rather than directly measuring river discharge. For discharge measurements, water level can be combined with surface-velocity measurements and river-channel geometry. Geolux’s wider product range includes radar surface-velocity sensors that can be combined with LX-80 water-level measurements for discharge monitoring.

The LX-80-AB is an airborne radar altimeter for measuring water level from a UAV. It is based on the Geolux LX-80 radar technology but is configured specifically for drone deployment, including a gimbal, mounting system, SkyHub connection and data-logging software.

The radar is designed to detect the water surface, but the measurement location should ideally provide a clear view of the water surface. Vegetation, rocks, structures or other objects within the radar footprint can affect measurements.

Radar water-level measurement is less dependent on atmospheric conditions than some alternative measurement technologies. The LX-80 user manual specifically notes that the radar measurement is not dependent on air temperature or humidity in the same way as some other measurement methods.

Radar technology can operate in a wide range of environmental conditions. The underlying LX-80 sensor is specified for an operating temperature range of approximately -40°C to +85°C. However, UAV operations remain subject to the aircraft’s operational limitations, including wind, precipitation and other flight conditions.

No. One of the main advantages of radar water-level measurement is that the sensor remains above the water surface.

The underlying LX-80 technology is suitable for industrial, wastewater and chemical applications where non-contact liquid-level measurement is required. The airborne LX-80-AB, however, is specifically configured for UAV-based measurements.

Yes. The LX-80 technology is designed for water-level monitoring in rivers, channels, lakes and reservoirs, as well as irrigation applications.

Yes. The system is useful for hydrology and flood monitoring, providing remotely collected water-level measurements without requiring personnel to access the riverbank or install equipment directly in the water.

Yes. By combining radar measurements with UAV positioning, the sensor can produce a water-surface elevation profile along a river or channel.

Yes. River water-level monitoring and water-surface elevation profiling are key applications for the sensor. The UAV can follow a river or channel autonomously while collecting measurements along its route.

The measurement footprint increases with altitude. At 30 m, for example, the beam footprint is approximately 2.62 m in diameter according to the LX-80 beam geometry. This makes flight altitude and survey planning important considerations when collecting water-level data.

The radar has a narrow 5° beam angle. This provides a focused measurement footprint on the water surface.

The LX-80-AB airborne configuration has a specified maximum detection distance of approximately 40 m. It has a 0.2 m blind zone.

JBUAS and SPH Engineering specify autonomous operation at approximately 30–40 metres above the water surface for river water-level profiling.

The airborne system is designed to produce water-surface elevation profiles with centimetre accuracy when flown at the recommended survey altitude and integrated with appropriate positioning and UAV systems. The underlying LX-80 radar has a measurement resolution of 0.5 mm and, depending on the model/configuration, a specified accuracy of approximately ±2 mm.

The LX-80-AB operates in the 77–81 GHz W-band, using FMCW radar technology.