Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
4759093 | Computers and Electronics in Agriculture | 2017 | 15 Pages |
Abstract
We describe the design and implementation of a low-cost electronic modular data-acquisition (DAQ) system in the context of the eddy-covariance technique. The system was fully tested under laboratory conditions and later installed on two eddy-covariance towers (ECTs) sited in natural terrestrial and marine environments, respectively. The system was divided in four parts: signal conditioning, data-acquisition, data-transfer and data-processing. A data-acquisition module (DAM) based on the ADuC848 microcontroller was designed in order to acquire these data. This DAM could transfer data directly to a computer or embedded system. By configuring a RS-485 network, a DAQ system could be expanded up to 8 DAMs working simultaneously. Due to its modular design, different parts of the equipment could be easily replaced without affecting the operation of the ECT. The system registered high-frequency (20 Hz) measurements of CO2, water vapor and wind velocity in the free atmosphere as well as additional ancillary biometeorological variables (1/60 Hz) such as air temperature, solar radiation, soil heat flux, precipitation, and others. Both towers were installed in remote sites using solar cells providing a continuous and autonomous source of energy. This DAQ system proved to be reliable and useful for long-term deployments (> 1 year). Due to its modularity and flexibility the system can be used for any other application involving data recording.
Keywords
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Computer Science
Computer Science Applications
Authors
Angel Castro, Juan F. MartÃnez-Osuna, Raúl Michel, MartÃn Escoto-RodrÃguez, Stephen H. Bullock, Alejandro Cueva, Eulogio López-Reyes, Janet Reimer, Mario Salazar, Samuel Villarreal, Rodrigo Vargas,