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Clemson undergrads take high-tech look
at CU-ICAR site stream
Clemson University undergraduates received real world experience
when they designed, developed, and deployed survey sensors to test
stream sediment and water levels at the CU-ICAR construction site.
“We wanted to develop an infrastructure to collect information
about environmental factors at this site,” said Christopher
Post, assistant professor of environmental science in the forestry
department. “Pollution in water systems is a major problem
worldwide. This helps us monitor the impact of development around
the stream and to maintain a balance. The end result will be real
data that we can publish.”
Thirty-five senior electrical and computer-engineering students
are taking part in the research as their final senior design project.
Richard Brooks, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering,
oversees the distributed sensor network.
“We have a real world client here. These are real issues that
students get excited about. They are in charge of creating hardware,
software, and the computer network system. They’ll come away
with a better understanding of societal issues that have a global
impact,” said Brooks.
Up to 15 sensors work three to four minutes a day transmitting data
through motes. The motes are tiny, low power computers that transmit
environmental information, including water turbidity levels, through
cell phones to a computer at Clemson. The computer displays a map
with aerial views of the site, it verifies that the network is working,
and it uploads and processes real time data. The Changing Land Use
and Environment Project, a Clemson University Public Service Activity,
sponsored the initiative to develop the sensor technology.
Thirty-five senior electrical and
computer-engineering students received real-world experience when
they designed and built a survey system to test stream sediment
and water levels at the CU-ICAR construction site.
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