12. Mapping Water Salinity in Coastal Areas Affected by Rising Sea Level

Global climate change is leading to rising and accelerating sea level that threatens communities in low-lying coastal areas. One particular vulnerability is the intrusion of seawater into coastal aquifers. The resulting salinization of groundwater and surface water resources exposes coastal communities to multiple hazards, including health risks associated with elevated salt intake through drinking water from these resources. This chapter discusses two technology development projects that spanned China and Bangladesh to measure and map out the salinity of underground water, which is the dominant source of drinking water in coastal Bangladesh. The projects were led by two groups of Year-Four university engineering students and entailed first the design of a low-cost salinity data logger, then followed by the development of geographical information system-based mobile app with capabilities for real-time salinity and weather data updates and spatial data visualization. The projects improved student awareness of the impacts of engineering designs on the global challenges of climate change and public health and inculcated in them an interest in technology for sustainable development.