[David BresslerParticipant]

Purpose:  planning workshops to support capacity development of the sensor station network

[David BresslerParticipant]

As a start, I think it would be good for us to have quarterly user group workshops that are hosted in different regions of the Delaware Basin.

Is anyone interested in partnering with Stroud in hosting/facilitating the next user group gathering in the spring?  Our recent user group gathering was at The Watershed Institute in Pennington, NJ so possibly the next one could be in the northern, western, or southern region of the Delaware basin.

Also, we could think about a general format for the user group meetings.  The recent one was a basic format of: 1) Stroud (Bressler) intro and overview of current hot topics (Monitor My Watershed, Quality Control) , 2) Stroud (Hicks) overview of current technical issues and planning, and 3) small group work, networking, facilitator assistance to small groups.

Possibly having a particular theme or themes for each user group workshop would be useful as well – possibly the theme being the topic that is addressed at the beginning of each workshop by one or several speakers who are particularly informed on that subject.  Thoughts?

[Jim MooreParticipant]

Great Marsh Institute would be interested in Hosting a workshop at “Marshlands” which is in East Nantmeal Township, Northern Chester County.  This venue could include field visits to some of the water quality sensors on the property which is located in Great Marsh.  The Great Marsh is a periglacial marsh and the largest marsh in Southeastern Pennsylvania, about 700 acres.

[David BresslerParticipant]

Jim,

Great to hear this.  Possibly you would be interested in hosting the next quarterly user group meeting?   Since you’ve done some customization of your station, as well as built some stations on your own, possibly the theme for this quarterly gathering could be focused on in-field customization, on-site station and sensor adjustments, etc.  Possibly an opportunity to move toward developing a comprehensive workshop that would teach the whole process of building a station from scratch.

Jim, how many people could you host?  Depending on this number we could do a quarterly meeting at Marshlands or if it needs to be a smaller group maybe a more technically oriented smaller group gathering.

Curious to get the core group’s thoughts on this…

[Jim MooreParticipant]

Dave-

We could probably host 25 or so in a presentation format but 12-15 if we sat around the conference table.  I’ll let you judge since you have been to the Marshlands Nature Center.

Some possible topics that come to mind:

• GMI’s efforts to gather data on the effects of Pa Turnpike storm water runoff on the marsh
• Technical discussion of using Atlas Scientific sensors on the Mayfly platform.
• Field trip to check out the EC sensors that have been deployed.  This may be a bit rugged and not worth the effort – see attached photo and note the yellow rope to rappel out of the site!.
• Alternatively bring the EC sensor station to the meeting and rely on pictures of current deployment location. A detailed map showing water courses in Great Marsh would be helpful in siting these stations for most effective data collection of storm water runoff impacts.

-jim

Attachments:

1. 

   IMG_4826.jpg
   

[David BresslerParticipant]

Jim,

We have an internal Stroud meeting this Monday about all things Envirodiy.  I will discuss this with the group.  Possibly this workshop at GMI would be a good opportunity to go another step with teaching skills for programming Mayfly boards with the Meter Hydros 21 CTD sensor (formerly Decagon CTD-10) and the Campbell OBS3+:  using github to access the code, adding code to mayfly board, testing function of CTD sensor instream, setting up test sites on Monitor My Watershed and then uploading data to Monitor My Watershed.

This workshop could serve as a pilot of sorts for developing a more comprehensive workshop that would go through the whole process of building/programming, installing, and managing an EnviroDIY sensor station.

[Sara DamianoParticipant]

Jim,

Question for you:  How are you communicating with the Atlas sensors?

[Jim MooreParticipant]

Sara-

I am using the Atlas EZO board with serial comm to the Mayfly board.  I have on my todo list a complete write up of that but I can send you my code if your interested.  I am using the the EZO board for EC but would work for any of the sensors they make. However, the EZO board is specific to the type of sensor.  No reason one couldn’t have multiple sensors and MUX the Rx/Tx.  You also need a temperature measurement to correct the reading to 25C.

Here is a link to a report on the EC sensor station deployed at Great Marsh.

 

[David BresslerParticipant]

Please see doodle pool below

We are planning a workshop at the Stroud Center that addresses in detail the basics of sensor station maintenance and quality control. This workshop should be ideal for people who are planning to do general maintenance or QC; or those who are doing it but need further help on all the steps – e.g., QC, data entry, data download, and timing of these activities. We’ll also be introducing some check-sheets and calendars that should help with managing the whole process, so it should be a useful time for some of the experienced folks as well.

Since there may be substantial volunteer attendance we wanted to make Saturday an option.  The doodle poll here has two options – Wednesday March 13 or Saturday March 16. If you or any volunteers would like to attend please complete the poll by the end of this week (2/1/19): https://doodle.com/poll/fumrnbtcuc4rm5h8

Thanks very much and please let me know if you have any questions.

[David BresslerParticipant]

Based on doodle poll results we’ve decided to host the Sensor Station Management Workshop on Wednesday March 13, 2019, 9a-4:30p, at the Stroud Center (970 Spencer Rd, Avondale, PA 19311).

If you plan to attend please complete this official registration and one-question survey:
DRWISensorStationManagement_3/13/19_signup_survey.  Even if you participated in the doodle poll please complete this final registration. 

Please pass the signup sheet on to others who may be interested in attending (we had a few doodle poll participants that aren’t on this email list).  Also, if you have individuals that should be included on this email list please let me know.

General topics in the workshop will include:

• Maintenance – maintenance equipment/supply list and activities checksheet, field demonstrations
• Quality Control – QC equipment/supply list and activities checksheet, field demonstrations
• Review of Field Visit Data sheet
• Review Field Visit Data entry process
• SD card data management
• Tracking and understanding the data
• Small group discussions

As a reminder, various resources:

• Sensor station operations manual, DRWI context:  EnviroDIY SensorStation OperationManual
• Comprehensive manual: https://www.envirodiy.org/mayfly-sensor-station-manual/
• EnviroDIY.org website has useful information, blog, and forum.
• Field Visit Data sheet is attached – this is where the field activities we’ll discuss in the workshop are recorded.

And finally, to those of you who completed the doodle poll and were only available on Saturday, we will have more of these types of workshops and can also do informal trainings, so please feel free to be in touch about this.

I’ll send out a final agenda closer to the workshop date.  Please feel free to be in touch if you have questions.

Thanks!

-Dave

Attachments:

1. 

   Field_Visit_Data_Sheet_13.pdf
   

[Author]

Posts