Adding Additional Instruments
Guides for adding optional sensors for water level, snow, soil, air quality, and radiant heat monitoring.
In addition to the core weather instruments, 3D-PAWS stations can be configured with additional sensors to monitor a wider range of environmental conditions.
These optional instruments allow stations to be adapted for specific research goals, environmental monitoring needs, or educational deployments.
Examples include monitoring water levels, snow accumulation, soil conditions, and air quality.
Each additional instrument uses the same general design principles as the core station:
3D-printed structural components
Low-cost environmental sensors
Standardized wiring and connectors
Integration with the 3D-PAWS data logger and data system
Additional instruments can typically be added during the station build or integrated later depending on the deployment requirements.
Available Additional Instruments
Stream / Storm Surge Gauge
The stream or storm surge gauge measures water level changes using an ultrasonic or distance sensor mounted above the water surface.
This configuration can be used for:
Flood monitoring
Stream stage measurements
Storm surge monitoring in coastal environments
→ Stream / Storm Surge Gauge
Snow Gauge
The snow gauge measures snow depth using a distance sensor mounted above the snow surface.
By measuring the distance between the sensor and the ground, the system can estimate accumulated snow depth.
→ Snow Gauge
Soil Moisture and Temperature
Soil sensors measure soil moisture content and soil temperature, providing valuable information for agricultural monitoring, hydrology studies, and ecosystem research.
These sensors are typically installed near the station and connected to the data logger through the standard wiring system.
→ Soil Moisture and Temperature
Air Quality
Air quality sensors measure atmospheric conditions such as particulate matter (PM) and other pollutants.
These sensors can be used to monitor:
Urban air quality
Smoke from wildfires
Dust and particulate pollution
→ Air Quality
Black Globe
The black globe sensor measures radiant heat exposure, which can be used to estimate thermal stress in outdoor environments.
Black globe measurements are often used in studies related to:
Human heat exposure
Urban heat environments
Microclimate monitoring
→ Black Globe
Light Sensor
The SI1145 light sensor measures visible, infrared, and ultraviolet light levels at the station. These measurements help characterize solar exposure and environmental conditions at the site. Light measurements can support studies of vegetation, atmospheric conditions, and solar energy availability.
The SI1145 provides three primary measurements:
Visible light — approximates the amount of visible sunlight reaching the sensor
Infrared light — measures infrared radiation, useful for detecting changes in cloud cover or atmospheric conditions
UV index — provides an estimate of ultraviolet radiation intensity
Integrating Additional Instruments
When adding additional instruments to a station, consider:
available mounting locations on the station frame
power requirements
data logger input capacity
environmental exposure and siting considerations
After installing new instruments, verify that sensors are functioning correctly and reporting data through the data logger.
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