The Challenge
When major weather events threaten Queensland's electricity network, Energy Queensland needs real-time visibility on flood conditions across wide geographic areas. Their field crews need to know which roads are passable. Network managers need to understand which substations are at risk. Emergency planners need data to coordinate responses. And they often need this capability deployed in days, not months, ahead of a forecast event.
What We Deployed
LiXiA has worked with Energy Queensland since 2022, providing rapid-deployment water level monitoring using our LinePUK sensors. The sensors are designed to be installed quickly at known risk points - low-lying road crossings, substation approaches, flood-prone access routes - and to transmit real-time water depth data through extreme conditions.
In early 2025, this capability was tested at scale across two major events:
North Queensland floods (January–February 2025)
6 devices rapidly deployed across the Townsville, Burdekin, and Ingham regions. The Ingham deployment was completed just hours before the Herbert River peaked - and the sensors operated throughout.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred (March 2025)
Building on the Ingham proof-of-concept, 19 devices were deployed across Southeast Queensland - Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Scenic Rim - ahead of the cyclone's arrival.
The Results
25 sensors deployed across two major events. Real-time data used to coordinate field crew movements, assess infrastructure risk, and support emergency planning. One device was completely submerged for over 30 hours and continued to transmit normally - including throughout the recession as water levels dropped.
Energy Queensland continues to reposition sensors across the state based on seasonal flood forecasts, with units currently deployed in Ingham and Rockhampton.
What Energy Queensland Said
Feedback from field crews, network management and emergency planners were highly positive, citing ease of use, simplicity of the installation, and the usefulness of the data for coordinating responses and maintaining the safety of the electrical network, personnel and the public.
Bradley Quantrill
Technology Innovation Engineer, Energy Queensland
"LinePUK devices were installed at known low-lying areas to provide live water depth data accessible through the LiXiA dashboard. One device was installed at a location near Ingham which became fully submerged, and continued to operate as expected, including during the water level recession."
- Energy Queensland endorsement letter, April 2025
Technology
Equipment
LinePUK water level sensors
Connectivity
NB-IoT
Data Access
Real-time LiXiA dashboard
Deployment Speed
Hours, not weeks
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