The Limnological Observatory of the Pyrenees

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DIY Project 1

A low-cost field platform for monitoring real-time hydrological and biogeochemical dynamics across land-stream interfaces

Project Leads

Antoine Wiedmer and Lluís Gómez

Project Collaborators

Lluís Camarero (CEAB-CSIC)

Hardware: 

Antoine Wiedmer

Software: 

Antoine Wiedmer

Introduction

The recognition of global change impacts on catchments and the waters they drain emphasizes the need to better understand hydrological and biogeochemical dynamics across terrestrial-aquatic interfaces. To achieve this great endeavor, a key priority is to substantially increase the number of multi-annual time series, covering larger environmental gradients and filling existing geographical gaps. However, commercial environmental sensors solutions are not affordable to everyone.

The goal of this project was to design, build and optimize a DIY multi-sensor platform for monitoring real-time hydrological and biogeochemical dynamics across land-stream interfaces.

Hardware

The hardware section contains sensor design, build instructions, explanation of deployment scenarios and essential information regarding the sensor operation.

Platform breakdown

The platform It is composed of distinct modules, which are described below:

  • The control board module consists of a STM32 micro-controller board combined with a data logger module. It is responsible for asking the sensors to take readings and for saving the data to a memory card. 
  • The energy supply module consists of a solar panel, a battery, and a solar charge regulator.
  • The communication module is equipped with a wireless communication capability using LoRa network technologies and is responsible for sending real-time data to our server.
  • The multi-sensor module consists of a set of sensors to measure hydro-chemical properties both at different depths in soils (adjacent to the streams) as well as within streams: temperature, water level, soil moisture, electrical conductivity, turbidity, dissolved O2 and CO2.

Platform schematics

Figure 1. Example of wireless multi-sensor platform field set up in the Central Pyrenees (Spain).  Circles zoom in (and provide more details) of the main modules of the multi-sensor platform. The path that data follows from acquisition to either storage or live visualization is detailed in the upper right part. High frequency parameters measured at each platform (including the streams and soils sub-stations) are indicated above the central diagram lines.

Components and supplies

A complete list of components and suppliers is provided below (in construction).

Build instructions

Under construction

Software

https://github.com/toniw12/Multisensor_platform

Deployment

This section contains pictures of different field deployment scenarios (and associated platform modules) at the Contraix and Molières in the Central Pyrenees (Spain).

Figure 2. Example of the sensor platforms currently operating in four different land-stream transects within the Aigüestortes and Estany de Sant Maurici National Park (Central Pyrenees, Spain). a) AT51, b) M01 at the Molières Valley; c) AT44 and, d) AT50 at the Contraix Valley.
Figure 3. During the installation of a communication antenna at the Contraix Valley.
Figure 4. During the deployment of a control board module at the Contraix Valley.
Figure 5. A zoom-in of the soil (background) and stream (front) multi-sensor module at the Contraix Valley.

Apps and platforms 

Figure 6. Screenshot of the web application designed to in-situ control and visualize the multi-sensor platforms.

Calibration and maintenance

Under construction

Outcomes

Future developments

Coming soon

Resource List

Coming soon

References

Coming soon

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