31 May 1996 Monitoring the environment course at Lincoln on latest instruments and procedures

You're an environmental scientist … imagine sitting in your office in Christchurch and being able to "dial up" immediate, on site water, quality data for a river in Marlborough. You’re a whitewater rafting operator at company headquarters in Queenstown ... imagine being able to get up-to-the-minute data on river flow conditions on the Shotover without leaving your seat.

Yes, it's all possible. With advances in the technology of remote sensors and instrumentation a whole new world of environmental monitoring and the logging of data is opening up.

To introduce some of the possibilities to potential users both scientific and commercial, Lincoln University in association with Scott Technical Instruments of Christchurch is running a course over 10-12 June for owners or potential purchasers of data logging systems, staff responsible for environmental and resource monitoring and control, and environmental and agricultural consultants.

The two-and-a-half day programme will cover everything from an overview of the equipment available for recording and data logging to an introduction to a specific datalogger/controller – the CR10 developed by Campbell Scientific Inc., Utah, USA.

Hands-on practical work will involve use of Campbell Scientific's CR10 datalogger and Lincoln University's computer network.

In an "advanced applications" session, staff of Scott Technical Instruments will give a presentation on Campbell Scientific's equipment, and the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Nelson, will do a presentation on alternative data logging systems (UNIDATA equipment). These two groups will demonstrate data extraction by telemetry (i.e. via cell phone etc.) "live" from sites in the South Island, including meteorological, hydrological and water quality stations.

Lincoln University staff involved in the course are Dr Graeme Buchan (co-ordinator), Neil Smith, Alan Wise and Bruce Main all of the Department of Soil Science and Julian Hawes and Richard Nicholson of Scott Technical Instruments, Christchurch.

Lincoln University uses Campbell Scientific CR10 loggers extensively, both in teaching and research and the instruments were chosen for their ease of use, versatility and cost.

Dr Buchan says the CR10 serves as an excellent teaching tool, enabling the demonstration of numerous physics phenomena, as well as equipping students with highly marketable skills.

Over 500 CR10s are now in use throughout the South Island by Crown Research Institutes, regional councils (for their hydrological networks etc.), industry and universities.

With 21 participants advance booked, the course is already full but indications of interest are now being accepted for a second course. Contact Betty Shore or Jan Latham, Centre for Continuing Education, Lincoln University, telephone (03) 3252-811.

The Community Diary. Produced by The Community Relations Centre, Lincoln University, New Zealand.