An Automated Cost-effective System for Real-time Slope Mapping in Commercial Wild Blueberry Fields

The development of site-specific agriculture has increased the need for knowledge regarding within-field variability in factors such as soil/plant characteristics and topography that influence wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) production. Surface soil properties are the first type of information most frequently used by blueberry producers in developing management plans. Topographic features are not yet routinely used to guide within-field management. The majority of blueberry fields in eastern Canada have gentle to severe topography. An automated slope measurement and mapping system (SMMS) consisting of low-cost accelerometers used as tilt sensors, differential global positioning system (DGPS), and laptop and custom software was developed. The SMMS was mounted on an all-terrain vehicle for real-time slope measurement and mapping. Six commercial wild blueberry fields were surveyed in central Nova Scotia to evaluate the performance of SMMS. The automatically sensed slopes (SS) were also compared with manually measured slopes (MS) at 20 randomly selected points in each field to examine the accuracy of SMMS. The SMMS measured slope reliably in the selected fields with root mean square error ranging from 0.12 to 0.56 degrees and correlations of SS with MS of R2 = 0.95 to 0.99. The selected fields had substantial variation in slope (ranging from 0.8 to 31.0 degrees). Therefore, the use of low-cost and reliable accelerometers with a DGPS is a better option than expensive real-time kinematic DGPS for developing cost-effective SMMS to quantify and map slopes (real-time) for planning site-specific management practices in commercial fields. The SS maps or real-time SMMS could also be used to adjust vehicle speed at particularly steep slopes.

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Real-time structural health monitoring for concrete beams: a cost-effective ‘Industry 4.0’ solution using piezo sensors

International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation ◽

10.1108/ijbpa-12-2019-0111 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Arka Ghosh ◽

David John Edwards ◽

M. Reza Hosseini ◽

Riyadh Al-Ameri ◽

Jemal Abawajy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Structural Health Monitoring ◽

Real Time ◽

Health Monitoring ◽

Industry 4.0 ◽

Concrete Beams ◽

Low Cost ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Content Type ◽

Structural Health ◽

Non Destructive

PurposeThis research paper adopts the fundamental tenets of advanced technologies in industry 4.0 to monitor the structural health of concrete beam members using cost-effective non-destructive technologies. In so doing, the work illustrates how a coalescence of low-cost digital technologies can seamlessly integrate to solve practical construction problems.Design/methodology/approachA mixed philosophies epistemological design is adopted to implement the empirical quantitative analysis of “real-time” data collected via sensor-based technologies streamed through a Raspberry Pi and uploaded onto a cloud-based system. Data was analysed using a hybrid approach that combined both vibration-characteristic-based method and linear variable differential transducers (LVDT).FindingsThe research utilises a novel digital research approach for accurately detecting and recording the localisation of structural cracks in concrete beams. This non-destructive low-cost approach was shown to perform with a high degree of accuracy and precision, as verified by the LVDT measurements. This research is testament to the fact that as technological advancements progress at an exponential rate, the cost of implementation continues to reduce to produce higher-accuracy “mass-market” solutions for industry practitioners.Originality/valueAccurate structural health monitoring of concrete structures necessitates expensive equipment, complex signal processing and skilled operator. The concrete industry is in dire need of a simple but reliable technique that can reduce the testing time, cost and complexity of maintenance of structures. This was the first experiment of its kind that seeks to develop an unconventional approach to solve the maintenance problem associated with concrete structures. This study merges industry 4.0 digital technologies with a novel low-cost and automated hybrid analysis for real-time structural health monitoring of concrete beams by fusing several multidisciplinary approaches into one integral technological configuration.

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LZER0: GNSS cost-effective real-time positioning applied to landslide monitoring

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-9506 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Lavinia Tunini ◽

David Zuliani ◽

Paolo Fabris ◽

Marco Severin

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Monitoring System ◽

Low Cost ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Single Frequency ◽

Landslide Monitoring ◽

Natural Risk ◽

Near Surface ◽

Landslide Event ◽

Wide Range

The Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) provide a globally extended dataset of primordial importance for a wide range of applications, such as crustal deformation, topographic measurements, or near surface processes studies. However, the high costs of GNSS receivers and the supporting software can represent a strong limitation for the applicability to landslide monitoring. Low-cost tools and techniques are strongly required to face the plausible risk of losing the equipment during a landslide event.Centro di Ricerche Sismologiche (CRS) of Istituto Nazionale di Oceanografia e di Geofisica Sperimentale OGS in collaboration with SoluTOP, in the last years, has developed a cost-effective GNSS device, called LZER0, both for post-processing and real-time applications. The aim is to satisfy the needs of both scientific and professional communities which require low-cost equipment to increase and improve the measurements on structures at risk, such as landslides or buildings, without losing precision.The landslide monitoring system implements single-frequency GNSS devices and open source software packages for GNSS positioning, dialoguing through Linux shell scripts. Furthermore a front-end web page has been developed to show real-time tracks. The system allows measuring real-time surface displacements with a centimetre precision and with a cost ten times minor than a standard RTK GPS operational system.This monitoring system has been tested and now applied to two landslides in NE- Italy: one near Tolmezzo municipality and one near Brugnera village. Part of the device development has been included inside the project CLARA 'CLoud plAtform and smart underground imaging for natural Risk Assessment' funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR).

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Low-Cost Prototype to Automate the 3D Digitization of Pieces: An Application Example and Comparison

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21082580 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (8) ◽

pp. 2580

Author(s):

Ramón González-Merino ◽

Elena Sánchez-López ◽

Pablo E. Romero ◽

Jesús Rodero ◽

Rafael E. Hidalgo-Fernández

Keyword(s):

Low Cost ◽

Cost Effective ◽

3D Models ◽

3D Scanner ◽

3D Design ◽

Robotic Arms ◽

Effective System ◽

3D Printers ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

3D Digitization

This work is aimed at describing the design of a mechanical and programmable 3D capturing system to be used by either 3D scanner or DSLR camera through photogrammetry. Both methods are widely used in diverse areas, from engineering, architecture or archaeology, up to the field of medicine; but they also entail certain disadvantages, such as the high costs of certain equipment, such as scanners with some precision, and the need to resort to specialized operatives, among others. The purpose of this design is to create a robust, precise and cost-effective system that improves the limitations of the present equipment on the market, such as robotic arms or rotary tables. For this reason, a preliminary study has been conducted to analyse the needs of improvement, later, we have focused on the 3D design and prototyping. For its construction, there have been used the FDM additive technology and structural components that are easy to find in the market. With regards to electronic components, basic electronics and Arduino-based 3D printers firmware have been selected. For system testing, the capture equipment consists of a Spider Artec 3D Scanner and a Nikon 5100 SLR Camera. Finally, 3D models have been developed by comparing the 3D meshes obtained by the two methods, obtaining satisfactory results.

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Description of a High-Profit Combination of Low-Cost Real-Time Survey Management Practices Used to Optimize Reservoir Landing in Unfamiliar Deep Offshore Geological Environment

10.2118/204100-ms ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Fabien Momot ◽

Marie-Jocelyn Comte ◽

Chloé Lacaze ◽

Anas Sikal ◽

Efficience Balou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Management Practices ◽

Low Cost ◽

Vertical Displacement ◽

Uncertainty Reduction ◽

Vertical Position ◽

Reservoir Model ◽

Data Set ◽

Wide Range ◽

Operational Time

Abstract After a first part of the drilling campaign, including about 10 wells and branches achieved within two years, the operator started questioning the geological reservoir model and reserves implications for the field Offshore Congo. Considering the potential economic impact of this development, the decision was made to reduce wellbore positioning uncertainty relying on optimization and survey QAQC processes that could be applied without adding cost of extra equipment, operational time or personnel. With more than 10 wells drilled using recent while drilling measurement and directional tools in the same environment, a wide range of wellbore positioning information was available for analysis, post-correction, and geological/reservoir model deeper understanding. Also, investigation was done to recover existing geomagnetic data acquired during the geophysical campaign. Thanks to this extensive data set, enhanced wellbores positioning was implemented using meticulous combination of processes. The "process" overall impact is often underestimated while most of the data is already available. For lateral positioning correction, it included the processing of geomagnetic IFR data over the Moho field associated to Multi Station Correction. For vertical repositioning, BHA sag correction was applied with scrutinous assessment of residual sag uncertainty and detailed analysis of continuous survey data. This robust, cost-effective, and valuable solution was chosen to be applied by the operator in the Moho field. The process was first applied post-drilling to evaluate the level of improvement that could be brought to another well also exposed to challenging trajectory context (ERD 2 with reduced target 25 × 50 m at almost 8000m MD/RT). It confirmed that the achievable uncertainty reduction would meet well objectives without adding any risk or operational time nor jeopardizing wellbore positioning and collision avoidance. Thus, it brought up to 50 to 60% of uncertainty reduction and about 30m lateral and 3m vertical displacement. The reduction of the uncertainty and trajectory adjustment allowed to enhance geologic context understanding. The vertical position of the well was offset following this revision. This had a 5% consequence in term of oil layer thickness for this well. Then, the team designed and rolled out to the operator and contractors an execution strategy and operational workflow including remote monitoring with near real-time survey QAQC that would ensure the best correction process customized for the specific drilling challenges. This monitoring enabled reducing the ellipsoid to ~20 by 50m radius at TD = 7618m. This allowed entering in the reservoir at the exact top of the structure, behind the fault that was the optimum in term of reserves and secured 90% of potential reserves of this well. The operator's choice of valuing the available information to enhance their asset is a very interesting way to optimize the past efforts put in wellbore positioning to face the current economically constrained environment.

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Development and validation of a low-cost mobile robotics testbed

Open Engineering ◽

10.2478/s13531-011-0048-z ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Michael Johnson ◽

Martin Hayes

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Mobile Robotics ◽

Vision System ◽

Tracking System ◽

Low Cost ◽

Research Work ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Video Tracking ◽

Research And Education ◽

Development And Validation

AbstractThis paper considers the design, construction and validation of a low-cost experimental robotic testbed, which allows for the localisation and tracking of multiple robotic agents in real time. The testbed system is suitable for research and education in a range of different mobile robotic applications, for validating theoretical as well as practical research work in the field of digital control, mobile robotics, graphical programming and video tracking systems. It provides a reconfigurable floor space for mobile robotic agents to operate within, while tracking the position of multiple agents in real-time using the overhead vision system. The overall system provides a highly cost-effective solution to the topical problem of providing students with practical robotics experience within severe budget constraints. Several problems encountered in the design and development of the mobile robotic testbed and associated tracking system, such as radial lens distortion and the selection of robot identifier templates are clearly addressed. The testbed performance is quantified and several experiments involving LEGO Mindstorm NXT and Merlin System MiaBot robots are discussed.

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A Road Grade Recognition Method Based on Longitudinal Acceleration

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.339.38 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 339 ◽

pp. 38-44

Author(s):

Yao Fu ◽

Wan Hua Ye ◽

Yu Long Lei ◽

Zhen Jie Liu ◽

Hua Bing Zeng

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Low Cost ◽

Dynamics Analysis ◽

Vehicle Speed ◽

Recognition Method ◽

Longitudinal Dynamics ◽

Longitudinal Acceleration ◽

Output Torque ◽

Road Grade ◽

Vehicle Sensors

A road grade recognition method based on longitudinal acceleration was proposed after longitudinal dynamics analysis. The method based on longitudinal dynamics utilized a real-time engine output torque signal and the real-time vehicle speed signal to calculate road grade. The result of simulation and the vehicle field test showed that the method based on existing vehicle sensors was low cost, simple and feasible, it could identify road grade.

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MIRRA: A Modular and Cost-Effective Microclimate Monitoring System for Real-Time Remote Applications

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s21134615 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (13) ◽

pp. 4615

Author(s):

Olivier Pieters ◽

Emiel Deprost ◽

Jonas Van Der Donckt ◽

Lore Brosens ◽

Pieter Sanczuk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Real Time ◽

Monitoring System ◽

Low Cost ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Time Data ◽

Real Time Data ◽

Microclimate Monitoring ◽

Weather Stations

Monitoring climate change, and its impacts on ecological, agricultural, and other societal systems, is often based on temperature data derived from official weather stations. Yet, these data do not capture most microclimates, influenced by soil, vegetation and topography, operating at spatial scales relevant to the majority of organisms on Earth. Detecting and attributing climate change impacts with confidence and certainty will only be possible by a better quantification of temperature changes in forests, croplands, mountains, shrublands, and other remote habitats. There is an urgent need for a novel, miniature and simple device filling the gap between low-cost devices with manual data download (no instantaneous data) and high-end, expensive weather stations with real-time data access. Here, we develop an integrative real-time monitoring system for microclimate measurements: MIRRA (Microclimate Instrument for Real-time Remote Applications) to tackle this problem. The goal of this platform is the design of a miniature and simple instrument for near instantaneous, long-term and remote measurements of microclimates. To that end, we optimised power consumption and transfer data using a cellular uplink. MIRRA is modular, enabling the use of different sensors (e.g., air and soil temperature, soil moisture and radiation) depending upon the application, and uses an innovative node system highly suitable for remote locations. Data from separate sensor modules are wirelessly sent to a gateway, thus avoiding the drawbacks of cables. With this sensor technology for the long-term, low-cost, real-time and remote sensing of microclimates, we lay the foundation and open a wide range of possibilities to map microclimates in different ecosystems, feeding a next generation of models. MIRRA is, however, not limited to microclimate monitoring thanks to its modular and wireless design. Within limits, it is suitable or any application requiring real-time data logging of power-efficient sensors over long periods of time. We compare the performance of this system to a reference system in real-world conditions in the field, indicating excellent correlation with data collected by established data loggers. This proof-of-concept forms an important foundation to creating the next version of MIRRA, fit for large scale deployment and possible commercialisation. In conclusion, we developed a novel wireless cost-effective sensor system for microclimates.

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Static, Portable and Smart Detection of Water Quality in Panchayath Distribution Tank

International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering - 2 ◽

10.35940/ijrte.b1023.0782s519 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (2S5) ◽

pp. 103-108

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Low Cost ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Daily Basis ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Sensor Data ◽

Sensor Technology ◽

Real Time System ◽

Quality Of Water ◽

Physical And Chemical

The significant crunch in the Current world is Water pollution. It has created an abundant influence on the Environment. With the intention of the non-toxic distribution of the water and its eminence should be monitored at real time. This paper suggested the smart detection with low cost real time system which is used to monitor the quality of water through IOT(internet of things). The system entail of different sensors which are used to measure the physical and chemical parameters of the water. The quality parameters are temperature, pH, turbidity, conductivity and Total dissolved solids of the water are measured. Commercially available products capable of monitoring such parameters are usually somewhat expensive and the data’s are collected by mobile van. Using Sensor technology provides a cost-effective and pre-eminent reliable as they can provide real time output. The measured values from the sensors can be observed by the core controller. The controller was programmed to monitor the distribution tank on a daily basis to hour basis monitoring. The TIVA C series is used as a core controller. The Controller is mounted on the side of the distribution tank. Finally, the sensor data from the controller is sent to Wi-Fi module through UART protocol. Wi-fi Module is connected to a public Wi-Fi system through which data is seen by the locals who are all connected to that Wi-Fi network.

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DYNAMAP – Development of low cost sensors networks for real time noise mapping

Noise Mapping ◽

10.1515/noise-2016-0013 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Xavier Sevillano ◽

Joan Claudi Socoró ◽

Francesc Alías ◽

Patrizia Bellucci ◽

Laura Peruzzi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Low Cost ◽

Cost Effective ◽

Noise Sources ◽

Noise Mapping ◽

Real Time Measurement ◽

Project Idea ◽

Processing Information ◽

Acoustic Impact ◽

Acoustic Mapping

AbstractThe Environmental Noise Directive (END) requires that regular updating of noise maps is implemented every five years to check and report about the changes occurred during the reference period. The updating process is usually achieved using a standardized approach, consisting in collating and processing information through acoustic models to produce the updated maps. This procedure is time consuming and costly, and has a significant impact on the budget of the authorities responsible for providing the maps. Furthermore, END requires that simplified and easy-to-read noise maps are made available to inform the public about noise levels and actions to be undertaken by local and central authorities to reduce noise impacts. To make the updating of noisemaps easier and more cost effective, there is a need for integrated systems that incorporate real-time measurement and processing to assess the acoustic impact of noise sources. To that end, a dedicated project, named DYNAMAP (DYNamic Acoustic MAPping), has been proposed and co-financed in the framework of the LIFE 2013 program, with the aim to develop a dynamic noise mapping system able to detect and represent in real time the acoustic impact of road infrastructures. In this paper, after a comprehensive description of the project idea, objectives and expected results, the most important steps to achieve the ultimate goal are described.

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