the Aquality App
the
Aquality
App
the Aquality App
Empowering farmers with accessible tools to monitor nitrate levels and protect water quality for a sustainable future
Empowering farmers with accessible tools to monitor nitrate levels and protect water quality for a sustainable future
Role
UX DESIGNER
Client
DELTARES
Studio
IBM iX
Area
UX/UI DESIGN
OVERVIEW
Farmers often rely on fertilizers and livestock manure to grow crops, which can result in nitrate leaching into the water—a significant threat to biodiversity. To combat this issue, Deltares developed the Aquality App (formerly known as the Nitrate App) to help farmers monitor nitrate levels and gain insights into nutrient losses and local water quality for the fraction of the price that is currently availble.
Through IBM’s Sustainability Accelerator program, we’re collaborating with Deltares to enhance the app’s user experience & functionality and boost its adoption by making it even more valuable and accessible to farmers.
Farmers often rely on fertilizers and livestock manure to grow crops, which can result in nitrate leaching into the water—a significant threat to biodiversity. To combat this issue, Deltares developed the Aquality App (formerly known as the Nitrate App) to help farmers monitor nitrate levels and gain insights into nutrient losses and local water quality for the fraction of the price that is currently availble.
Through IBM’s Sustainability Accelerator program, we’re collaborating with Deltares to enhance the app’s user experience & functionality and boost its adoption by making it even more valuable and accessible to farmers.
HIGHLIGHTS
Developed user-centered UI based on user insights and feedback which is now available worldwide
Established a comprehensive design system for consistency and scalability
Created detailed user journeys to address diverse user needs
Represented the project at the AIM for Climate Summit in Washington, DC
Presented at the Think Conference in Brussels
Designed graphics for flyers, instructional materials, and measurement tools
Developed user-centered UI based on user insights and feedback which is now available worldwide
Established a comprehensive design system for consistency and scalability
Created detailed user journeys to address diverse user needs
Represented the project at the AIM for Climate Summit in Washington, DC
Presented at the Think Conference in Brussels
Designed graphics for flyers, instructional materials, and measurement tools
THE PROBLEM
The use of nitrates in farming and agriculture can have serious consequences for both wildlife and crop health. Nitrates from fertilizers and manure often leach into soil and waterways, polluting water sources and promoting excessive algae growth. This process, known as eutrophication, depletes oxygen in the water, causing significant harm to aquatic life and overall biodiversity.
To mitigate these risks, nitrate levels must be carefully managed. However, traditional testing methods are often costly and time-consuming, placing a burden on farmers. To address this, Deltares and IBM partnered to create an accessible, cost-effective app that enables farmers to monitor nitrate, phosphate, ammonium, and salinity levels in their surface water directly from their farms.
The use of nitrates in farming and agriculture can have serious consequences for both wildlife and crop health. Nitrates from fertilizers and manure often leach into soil and waterways, polluting water sources and promoting excessive algae growth. This process, known as eutrophication, depletes oxygen in the water, causing significant harm to aquatic life and overall biodiversity.
To mitigate these risks, nitrate levels must be carefully managed. However, traditional testing methods are often costly and time-consuming, placing a burden on farmers. To address this, Deltares and IBM partnered to create an accessible, cost-effective app that enables farmers to monitor nitrate, phosphate, ammonium, and salinity levels in their surface water directly from their farms.
KEY FEATURES
Key features of the Aquality app include:
At-home measurement of nitrate, salinity, phosphate, and ammonium in water
Viewing both private and public measurements on an interactive map
Creating and joining groups to share and view group-specific measurements
Saving favourite locations directly to your profile
Ordering supplies through the in-app web-shop
Key features of the Aquality app include:
At-home measurement of nitrate, salinity, phosphate, and ammonium in water
Viewing both private and public measurements on an interactive map
Creating and joining groups to share and view group-specific measurements
Saving favourite locations directly to your profile
Ordering supplies through the in-app web-shop
THE INTERFACE
My primary role in this project was to translate user insights and stories into intuitive, valuable interfaces designed for easy use by farmers worldwide.
My primary role in this project was to translate user insights and stories into intuitive, valuable interfaces designed for easy use by farmers worldwide.
With apps like this, you can not only learn something more, but you can also learn to do the right things at the right times.
With apps like this, you can not only learn something more, but you can also learn to do the right things at the right times.
With apps like this, you can not only learn something more, but you can also learn to do the right things at the right times.
A happy farmer
BLOG
To learn more about the project, you can read the IBM blog post published internally and externally—or feel free to contact me for further information!
To learn more about the project, you can read the IBM blog post published internally and externally—or feel free to contact me for further information!
