Abstract

1. Integrating LabVIEW and Real-Time Monitoring into Watershed Assessment Parhum Delgoshaei John Kenny Vinod K. Lohani Tamim Younos Virginia Tech University of Kansas Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Abstract System Overview Results During May-July ’08 VirginiaTech hosted National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (NSF-REU) in the interdisciplinary area of watershed sciences and engineering. This work was performed by one of the NSF-REU fellows (second author) under mentorship of the first author and the direction of the program Co-directors (third and fourth authors). Water quality data is sent from a multi-probe sonde to LabVIEW which is loaded on the server computer and shared with remote client via Wireless LAN. Client can control the server VI remotely and receive measurement data. This poster will detail how LabVIEW was incorporated in establishing communication between the measurement instrument and the client computer and how the system can be expanded. Blacksburg, VA http://maps.google.com Duck Pond, (VT Campus) Introduction • Water resources are increasingly stressed and reliable data on water quality is needed. • Conventional methodologies are labor- and time-intensive , result in poor temporal and spatial resolution. • Remote sensing is chosen as a feasible alternative • Stroubles Creek is chosen on Virginia Tech’s campus • Water quality fluctuations will be studied • The health of the impaired stream can be monitored • Best Management Practices (BMP) efficacy can be monitored • A remote client requires a programmable, scalable server • Server runs LabVIEW, LabVIEW RT (future extension) Method • Objective • To develop a VI that enables the server computer to extract water • quality parameters from the MiniSonde RS-232 interface • To enable remote client(s) access measurement data in real time • Implementation • VI reads RS-232 serial data and extracts water quality parameters • The server VI is published , clients can request and receive • control of the VI • LabVIEW is chosen for processing the data over Hydras 3LT, • the software that ships with the MiniSonde, mainly for three • reasons: scalability(multiple remote users), potential to run on a headless system ( NI compactRIO) and ease of development. Client (left) displaying front panel of server VI Equipment Setup • RS-232 to USB Converter • HydroLabMiniSonde 4a water quality sonde • Measures Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen, Conductivity, and pH • Provides RS-232 and SDI-12 computer interface • LabVIEW8.5 • VI developed to extract ASCII characters related to water parameters • Enables user to store the parameters in files and/or plot them • Client and Server computers • Server computer running Windows XP with wireless LAN • Client computer can be any platform running LabVIEW Run-Time Engine with a web browser and Internet connection Future Directions • Complete headless operation by replacing the server computer with NI compactRIO equipped non-volatile memory, WLAN and RS-232 C series I/O modules • Powering the unit with solar cells connected to rechargeable batteries • Controlling the MiniSonde through SDI-12 commands • The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support of the National Science Foundation (grant number 0649070, REU). • National Science Foundation (grant number 0431779 , DLR). Server Computer and Sonde: Presented at NIWeek; August 4 - 7, 2008; Austin. TX • The authors would like to thank Frank Gronwald, NSF-REU fellow, for his assistance with testing the remote VI control. • Contact: pd1352@vt.edu