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Instrumentation
We offer a variety of products that can be used to create systems for Ecology. Many of the major components used to create these systems are listed below. Please let us know if we can help you configure a system.
More Details about Our Ecology Systems
Our systems are used in a variety of ecology and natural resources applications including:
- Micro-, meso-scale climate monitoring
- Global warming/ecoindicators
- Reclamation/reforestation
- Soils research
- Animal behavior monitoring
- Carbon budget
- Pest and disease control
- Canopy research/sap flow
- Surface flux research
- Below ground/duff layer monitoring
- Habitat characterization
- Pollution monitoring
For example, our systems can help characterize and monitor aquatic systems by providing data on water level, flow, temperature, and a variety of water quality parameters. In animal behavior applications, our equipment has monitored the behavior and habitat of mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, amphibians, and even invertebrates such as insects and marine crustaceans. Parameters such as animal temperature, animal weight, movement patterns within confined spaces, food consumption, and gas exchange have been monitored. With large species, projects have included GPS and radiotelemetry devices to monitor animal movements.
Battery and solar power allow our systems to provide remote, unattended data collection over long periods of time. Our instrumentation has been proven in some of the harshest environments in the world.
Data Loggers
At the core of our systems is a programmable data logger that measures the sensors, then processes, stores, and transmits the data. These data loggers have programmable execution intervals, wide operating temperature ranges, and on-board instructions for commonly used sensors. If needed, channel capacity can be expanded using multiplexers.
Data are typically displayed and stored in the units of your choice (e.g., wind speed in mph, m/s, knots). Measurement processing and data storage are programmable, but measurements are typically made every minute then processed and stored at hourly and daily intervals (e.g., maximum, minimum, average). Data can be measured and stored more or less frequently (depending on the application and conditional sampling) based on events such as increased wind speeds, torrential rainfall, or diurnal cycle.
Battery power and solar power allow our data loggers to provide remote, unattended data collection over long periods of time. Our instrumentation has been proven in some of the harshest environments in the world.
PC-based software is customized to simplify data logger programming, data retrieval, and report generation. The data logger program can be modified at any time to accommodate different sensor configurations or data processing requirements.
Sensors
Almost any sensor can be measured by our data loggers, allowing monitoring systems to be customized for each site. Typical sensors used on our stations include, but are not limited to: wind speed, wind direction, solar radiation of various types, air temperature, water temperature, soil temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, snow depth, barometric pressure, soil moisture, soil electrical conductivity, and soil heat flux. Our systems interface to a variety of sensors that measure water level and water flow, as well as water quality parameters such as pH, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen. Our data loggers can interface directly to most air flow sensors, opacity meters, particle samplers, and gas analyzers.
Communications
We offer multiple communications options for data retrieval, allowing monitoring systems to meet specific application requirements. On-site data retrieval options include storage module, laptop computer, PDA, and data logger keyboard/display. Telecommunication options include short-haul, voice synthesized telephone, cellular telephone, radio frequency, multidrop, and satellite. Options can be mixed within the same network. Robust error-checking and low power-use ensure your data arrives uncorrupted and as scheduled. You can even automate the process of putting your data on the Internet.
Case Studies
Réunion is home to the only French tropical island ecocity located overseas. The purpose of......read more
The Warra long-term ecological research (LTER) site located in Southwestern Tasmania was founded in 1995......read more
The Warra long-term ecological research (LTER) site located in Southwestern Tasmania was founded in 1995......read more
The Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF), located in the White Mountain National Forest of central......read more
A long-term scientific study to monitor trends in the biodiversity and structure of ecosystems of......read more
The Delaware Environmental Observing System (DEOS) is a real-time system dedicated to monitoring environmental conditions......read more
The Solar Decathlon takes place every other year on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.......read more
The Pocono Comparative Lakes Program (PCLP) is part of the Aquatic Ecosystems Program at Lehigh......read more
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Customise a System
In addition to our standard systems available, many of the systems we provide are customised. Tell us what you need, and we’ll help you configure a system that meets your exact needs.