Earth Sciences
Instrumentation for the Earth Sciences
Campbell Scientific stand-alone data acquisition systems are versatile, rugged, and powerful-factors that
make them ideal for earth science applications. Our systems can monitor tilt, temperature, pressure,
convergence, displacement, geographic position (GPS receivers), strain, load, vibration, level, flow,
creep, and force. The systems can also be configured with sufficient inputs to measure meteorological
and hydrological parameters in the same system, thus capturing data relevant to cause-and-effect
relationships.
System Benefits
- Systems measure most commercially available sensors-voltage output, resistive bridge, vibrating wire,
4-20 mA, SDI-12, frequency output, etc.
- Systems can be used in a variety of earth science applications including volcanology, subsidence,
glaciology, air and water quality, seismicity, ground and surface water studies, global warming, paleo
(climatology), and slope stability.
- Systems are rugged and field-capable. Extended operating temperature ranges are up to -55° to +85°C.
- Wireless and hardwire communication options allow real-time reporting, even from remote locations.
- Low unit costs and networking capability allow placement wherever measurements are needed.
- PC software supports data retrieval, data display, and datalogger programming capability.
- Low current drain allows operation from batteries and solar panels.
Data Acquisition
The versatility of our systems allows them to be customized for each application. We offer a range of
dataloggers from the most basic system with just a few channels,
to expandable systems that measure hundreds of channels. Scan rates can be programmed from a few hours
to 100,000 times per second, depending on the datalogger model. Measurement types, processing algorithms,
and recording intervals are also programmable.
Our systems have powerful on-board instruction sets-simply choose sensor type, scan rate, measurement
channel, etc. On-board mathematical and statistical processing allows data reduction in the field and
allows measurements to be viewed in the desired units, whether that be microstrain, centimeters per
second, revolutions per minute, meters, Amperes, or inches.
The system's versatility extends to control. Our systems can monitor and control external devices based
on time or measured conditions, allowing savings in time and equipment, and possibly preventing or warning
of dangerous conditions. The systems are rugged enough to be used in earth science studies worldwide.
Our systems are stand-alone. Once programmed and powered, no human or computer interaction is required,
although data are typically downloaded to a PC for further analysis. A telecommunications or hardwire
link allows data to be monitored and graphed in your office rather than in the field. Data from a number
of stations and from a number of applications can be monitored from a single laptop or desktop computer.
The low power drain typically allows our data acquisition systems to be powered by solar panels and batteries.
If 110/220 ac power, vehicle power, or external 12 Vdc batteries are available, you can use those as well.
Non-volatile data storage and a battery-backed clock ensure data capture and integrity.
Sensors
The versatility of our systems begins with sensor compatibility-they
can measure virtually every commercially available sensor allowing them to be used in a variety of ways
for a variety of measurements. For example, a single CR10X could be used sequentially in slope stability,
water quality, and equipment performance applications. Typical sensors that can be used include:
- time-domain reflectometers for measurement of mass wasting, subsidence, or soil moisture
- Carlson strain meters
- meteorological sensors including anemometers, vanes, temperature and relative humidity probes, precipitation
gaues, barometric pressure sensors, etc.
- vibrating wire strain gauges
- foil strain gauges (in quarter, half, or full bridge strain configurations)
- crack and joint sensors
- tilt sensors and inclinometers
- GPS receivers
- piezoresistive, piezoelectric, borehole, and servo force balance accelerometers
- hydrologic sensors such as current meters, specific ion probes, turbidity meters, multi-parameter water
quality sensors, samplers, and a variety of submersible pressure transducers
Because our dataloggers have many channel types and programmable inputs, all of these sensor types can be measured
by one datalogger. Channel types include analog (single-ended and differential), pulse counters, switched excitation,
continuous analog output, digital I/O, and anti-aliasing filter. Using switched or continuous excitation channels, our
dataloggers provide excitation for ratiometric bridge measurements.
Communications
The availability of multiple communications options for retrieving, storing,
and displaying data also allows systems to be customized to meet exact needs. On-site communication options
include direct connection to a PC or laptop, PC cards, storage modules, and datalogger keyboard/display.
Telecommunication options include short-haul, telephone (including voice-synthesized and cellular), radio
frequency, multidrop, and satellite.
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Phone: (780) 454 2505