Smart Panels is a research project developed at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), aimed at creating a prototype of modules capable of generating the climatic conditions necessary for fog harvesting in both urban and rural environments. While similar panels already exist that capture atmospheric moisture and convert it into water, their use is typically limited to locations with optimal climatic conditions.

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The innovation of Smart Panels lies in its ability to condense atmospheric humidity through conductive cooling: the module lowers the surrounding temperature until the dew point is reached. Cooling is achieved via an internal network, primarily using water, which is itself cooled through a low-enthalpy geothermal system.

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The project considered four cities with different climates and environmental characteristics. By analyzing psychrometric charts and evaluating climatic data on relative humidity and dew point temperature, it was possible to estimate the temperature differences required (approximately 2.5 °C in the case of Lima) to bring the panel to optimal moisture-harvesting conditions, producing up to 12 g/kg of specific humidity from dry air.

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This innovative approach opens new possibilities for sustainable water management in both urban and rural contexts, demonstrating how technology can adapt to diverse climates and environments.