Monitoring Run Off in Forest Catchment Areas

Customer Requirement

To monitor the effects of timber logging on water run off in remote areas. Local streams must be monitored and water samples taken whenever the stream level is rising.

Equipment

• DT50 data logger
• Removable Memory Cards

dataTaker Solution

The dataTaker DT50 records stream parameters such as stream height, pH, turbidity and water temperature. Whenever stream height rises rapidly following a rainfall event in the catchment area, the data logger activates water sampling equipment to collect stream samples for sediments, nutrient and chemical analysis.

Field staff visit the remote sites every three weeks to collect the water samples and data. The data is collected by simply removing a Memory Card from the data logger. The Memory Card stores all data collected during the period, which can be read directly into a computer back at headquarters.

On some sites the dataTaker DT50 also records various aerial environmental parameters such as wind speed, wind direction, RH, air temperature, solar radiation and rainfall.