Michigan Deploys Drones for Water Quality Monitoring
The state is using drone technology to monitor water quality and predict harmful algal blooms in the Grand River.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy has selected Kohtari to pilot drone-enabled water quality monitoring on the Grand River. This initiative uses advanced technology to track environmental data and identify potential risks.
Why it matters
By automating the collection of location-tagged data, this project aims to provide faster and safer monitoring to predict harmful algal blooms. This proactive approach helps protect Michigan waterways by allowing for more informed environmental management.
The initiative is part of Michigan's Advanced Air Mobility Statewide Challenge, which awarded a combined $2 million to support five different technology demonstrations.
The players
Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy
This state agency is responsible for managing environmental protection and energy programs throughout Michigan.
Kohtari
This technology firm specializes in developing artificial intelligence platforms for environmental monitoring.
NextEnergy
Based in Detroit, this organization focuses on accelerating energy innovation and collaborating on advanced technology projects.
The details
Kohtari is implementing its WaterIQ platform, which utilizes custom AI and machine learning models to analyze live environmental data collected by drones. The operations are conducted in collaboration with Skyports Drone Services, Seabird, and Detroit-based partner NextEnergy.
Timeline
October 26, 2026: The project news was officially reported.
Roadmap
This project integrates advanced drone systems into public infrastructure as part of the state's broader investment in the Advanced Air Mobility Statewide Challenge. It marks a significant shift in environmental management by utilizing automated flight technology to replace traditional, manual water sampling methods.
Residents and local stakeholders may benefit from improved water safety warnings as the system helps predict potentially harmful algal blooms. While this specific project is currently testing on the Grand River, the technology could eventually be used to monitor water safety across other regions in the state.
The takeaway
Using drone-powered AI systems allows for real-time monitoring of natural resources that was previously difficult to track consistently. Implementing such technology can significantly enhance the speed and accuracy of environmental hazard responses in public waterways.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in Electric Vehicles.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Water Online.
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