RickShory.com

"Greenness Index" recorder

Type: Hardware project, data acquisition

Status: In development. Presently seeking researchers who would like to borrow prototypes for field evaluation.

Description: A ground-based data recorder for NDVI. NDVI is a "greenness" index, a spectral surrogate of plant phenology. (This device is a miniaturized version of the Mantis.)

• Irradiance logging in a fist-sized package.
• Solar cells allow running indefinitely.
• Years-long data storage capacity on micro-SD card.
• Automatic worldwide time setting by GPS.
• Wireless data transfer does not compromise weather seal.
• Estimated cost will be a few hundred dollars, maximum.

Timeline:

• Hardware design: Complete as of summer 2012, except for minor tweaks
• Field testing, summer 2012 at stations in Alaska, Wyoming, Colorado. Electronics were all functional. Some damage by animals to mounting hardware; mounts redesigned.
• Ongoing field testing through coastal Oregon winter (2013), sufficient solar energy harvesting during short, dark days.
• Field testing summer of 2013, Alaska and Wyoming
• Unit manufacturing cost determination: In process..
• Software: https://github.com/rickshory/AVRGreenlogger
• Slated improvements:
  • Bootloader, to allow field reprogramming
  • Accelerometer routines for instrument leveling
  • Improve time acquistion from GPS
  • User-settable darkness threshold
  • Wireless file server in place of Bluetooth
• Documents:
  • User manual (draft)
  • Memorandum of Understanding, for evaluators
  • Eagle files (latest version)