Instructions for the construction and operation of a float-controlled self-contained laser gauge for monitoring river levels in tropical environments

The design files and code available in this dataset enable the construction and operation of the self-contained water level gauge presented in the article “A float-controlled self-contained laser gauge for monitoring river levels in tropical environments”. The dataset includes two pdf files, the source code for the MKR wifi 1010 card used to control the water level gauge, and four Arduino library files modified to meet the specific needs to theis application. SCWL gauge mechanical design April 2025.pdf includes a detailed description of the components of the self-contained gauge assembly, as well as mechanical drawings with dimensions to guide the constuction of the self-contained water level gauge. SCWL gauge electronic design April 2025.pdf includes the gauge's electronic circuit diagram, as well as an electronic schematic and an alternative circuit diagram to implement an ultra-low-power version of the device. LoggerMKR0lp8d.ino is the source code to be uploaded to the MKR wifi 1010 card using the Arduino IDE software in order to operate the water level gauge. The authors acknowledge the financial support of the French National Research Agency (DinBuam Projet-ANR-22-CE03-0006) and the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), including support to the Multiscale TROPIcal CatchmentS (SNO M-TROPICS; https://mtropics.obs-mip.fr/) critical zone observatory (previously MSEC). The field data used to carry out the field testing of the water level gauge were collected thanks to the long-term partnership between IRD and the Department of Agricultural Land Management (DALaM), Lao PDR, which granted permission for field access, and the scientific, technical and/or logistical support of the Multiscale TROPIcal CatchmentS critical zone observatory.