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National Science Foundation Award #0833440

Snapshot v. Continuous Data http://www.coolclassroom.org/cool_projects/lessons/miniunits/lesson1.html

The Sensor Revolution
In the 1980s, the personal computer revolution placed computing at the average citizen’s fingertips.
In the 1990s, the internet revolution provided connections with an information web that spans the planet.
This decade has ushered in the next revolution, one that is connecting the internet to the physical world; in effect, the sensor revolution is giving the world its first electronic nervous system.
National Science Foundation, 2005
"Telegeography Maps" at http://www.telegeography.com/resources

What is a sensor?
Definition:
A sensor is a device which detects or measures a physical quantity and converts the measurement into a signal which can be read by an observer or by another device.

What are the components of a sensor?
Sensor - sensors sense or measure physical data of the area to be monitored (e.g. temperature)
Signal – the continual analog signal sensed by the sensors is digitized by an analog-to-digital converter
Controller – further processes the signal

Important Characteristics of a Sensor
• Accuracy
• Repeatability/Precision
• Sensitivity
• Range
Often choice of sensor is a tradeoff between several of the above characteristics. For example, moderate accuracy over a large range may be preferable to great accuracy over a very small range.

Why are sensors used? (discrete v. continuous data)
Discrete or “snapshot” sampling
• Limited in amount and when collected
• Still very valuable as many sensors are not fully developed and for comparing against sensor data for
“groundtruthing”
Continuous sampling
• Many sensors in development – better sensors coming
• Can sample continuously, night, day, summer, winter, sunny, raining, windy
• Can use data to make decisions in real time

Rivers and Estuaries Observing Network (REON)

The Sensor Revolution
REON is just one example of a sensor network. With thousands of these networks connected together and
“talking and sharing” data, a greater ability to understand and predict large systems like the Hudson River will emerge.
The sensor revolution is underway and through the
SENSE IT project, you will be joining in the revolution.

SENSE IT Description of Activities
You will be challenged to:
• Design
• Assemble
• Test
• Deploy
• Troubleshoot; and
• Communicate with
Temperature, turbidity, and depth sensors.

SENSE IT – Module 1
Designing and constructing sensors to test water quality parameters .
Students will use various mechanisms of data gathering
(e.g. voltmeters) to measure sensor output and will devise experiments to estimate the accuracy, repeatability and sensitivity of their devices.

SENSE IT – Module 1
Temperature
The first water quality parameter measured is temperature.
Temperature is one of the most easily measured water quality parameters, but is also one of the most crucial factors in the workings of an aquatic ecosystem.
As water temperature rises, biological, chemical and physical activity will occur.

SENSE IT – Module 1
Temperature
Temperature is not generally constant from the water surface to the bottom. An aquatic ecosystems’ water temperature is a function of:
• Depth
• Season
• Mixing due to wind, storms and tides
• Degree of stratification in the system
• Temperature of water flowing from the tributaries
• Human influences such as release of warm water from power plants.

SENSE IT – Module 1
Temperature
Why is it important to measure water temperature? Temperature can influence several water quality parameters and affects including:
• Dissolved Oxygen (DO)
• Phytoplankton blooms
• Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV)
• Bacteria
• pH
• Thermal Pollution

SENSE IT – Module 2
Integrate sensors with microprocessors (LEGO NXT), and write simple programs to enable gathering, analysis and transmission of sensed environmental data.
Students will then deploy their sensor system and use it to make measurements of their local environment which they will then plot and analyze.

SENSE IT
S tudent E nabled N etwork of S ensors for the E nvironment using I nnovative T echnology ( SENSE IT )
SENSE IT will teach high school students how to design, build, test, deploy and interpret their own environmental sensors.
SENSE IT will span three distinct residential regions in New
York’s Hudson and St. Lawrence river valleys.
SENSE IT will reach at least 60 teachers and approximately
3,000 high school students in New York.

SENSE IT
Your participation and feedback will help to improve the project for use with students all over the country.

The Sensor Revolution
Expectations
By the end of the project, you will:
• Design
• Assemble
• Test
• Deploy
• Troubleshoot; and
• Communicate with
Temperature, turbidity, and depth sensors.