Water Flow in Peat Bogs
The Requirement: Within the Smart Bog Project which seeks to understand global carbon stocks and their effect on global carbon emission levels, a need to understand water flow within a peat bog was identified. Water flow data needed to be imported into a model to help determine the driver environmental variables which shape the carbon cycle of a peatland ecosphere and model the effect on the surrounding environment.
Solution: The deployment of RBC flumes with high accuracy water level sensors connected to a vanwaltDATAHUB. For the automatic monitoring of water flow the flume works with a datalogger when you add a sensor in a stilling well. Different size flumes are available dependant on your expected flow, these range from 0.1 - 8.7 litre/sec to 2-145 litre/sec. We recommended a vented system which consists of a high accuracy Keller sensor, this is a small range sensor which barometrically self-compensates for improved accuracy.
Monitoring in the Mountains
The Requirement: To report on a range of meteo and environmental parameters including water level; water quality and water flow to ensure compliance with the regional regulator when it comes to water extraction and the impact of site activities (a ski resort) further down the mountain and along the natural river courses.
Solution: The deployment of a powerful and extensive telemetry system comprising of different sensors for different environmental parameters, attached to a variety of vanwaltDATASLAVEs, each talking to strategically placed vanwaltDATAHUBs to ensure complete coverage of a large geographical area, in a cost effective and efficient way. The system needed to be robust to deal with extremes of weather and deal with mountainous conditions which sometimes meant poor lines of site. Data needed to be uploaded regularly and is used to monitor the switching of additional equipment at the site, artificial snow machines, as well as ensuring compliance with the regulator.
Using Radio Telemetry to connect a Water Monitoring Network
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Using Radio Telemetry to connect a Water Monitoring Network
The Requirement: To monitor the groundwater level and temperature over a large area in the most cost-effective way, with data collected every 15 minutes and uploaded hourly for a 24/7 analysis of changes over time.
Solution: Deployment of a telemetry network comprising of accurate water level & temperature sensors attached to vanwaltDataSlaves, some with their antennae raised to ensure a good radio signal. Each DataSlave talks to a single, strategically placed vanwaltDataHub which collates the data from each monitoring point and reports the results from each sensor for analysis, so the findings can be compared across the entire site.
Growing Conditions & Plant Welfare for optimum fruit production
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Growing Conditions & Plant Welfare for optimum fruit production
The Requirement: A commercial nursery and fruit growing facility looking to optimize plant performance and yield by intimately understanding the impact of changes in the physical growing conditions. These include the metrological conditions, soil temperature, soil pH and EC as well as the soil moisture content, sap flow, leaf temperature and the EC of the irrigation run-off water.
Solution: A fully telemetered system connecting a vanwaltDATAHUB to six soil moisture probes monitoring water content of the soil, soil temperature and the soil EC; four sediment pH probe sensors, an Ambient temperature and humidity sensor; one Keller sensor to monitor EC in the irrigation run-off and one each of the ecoTech Sap sensor and Leaf temperature sensors. The data from all these sensors is fed into a control room every 15 to 30 minutes for analysis.
Climate Change Observatory on a small Spanish island in the Atlantic
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Climate Change Observatory on a small Spanish island in the Atlantic
The Requirement: On a small Spanish island in the Atlantic a research project is underway to monitor the impact of climate change on the plants of the island. Local flora, cultivated in different conditions, needed monitoring to see the impact of soil moisture and weather conditions on the plant’s health and growth. The problem is the island is very remote and access is only by boat so it is very expensive and sometimes impractical to access the site.
Solution: The deployment of multiple, buried Soil Moisture probes connected to a single vanwaltDATAHUB. The batteries in the DataHub topped up with a solar panel and the entire installation protected with a perimeter fence. Data is collected hourly and uploaded once a day for analysis. All the soil moisture and soil temperature data, along with other research project results, will be used to develop a model of climate change impacts.
Water Level Monitoring
The Requirement: To monitor the groundwater and water level in and around a landfill site.
Solution: Deployment of a vanwaltDataHub connected to Keller sensors to provide information every 15 minutes which is then uploaded hourly and alarm notifications sent directly to the site managers for immediate action to ensure the facility is running effectively.
