Case Study Details Wetland Monitoring

Onset has published a case study on how Kjolhaug Environmental Services is monitoring wetlands using Bluetooth-enabled HOBO MX2001 water-level data loggers. The data provided by the HOBO loggers is enabling Kjolhaug to more effectively assess the impacts of residential development on a series of wetlands.

Kjolhaug, a natural resource consulting company based in Shorewood, Minn., began an annual monitoring program in early 2016 examining the vegetation and hydrology of wetlands located in the Twin Cities metro area. Driven by requirements under the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act, the study has served to document any changes to six existing wetlands from nearby construction on residential homes.

The Onset case study examines how researchers are able to use their iPhones to retrieve data wirelessly from the data loggers—without an internet connection—using Onset’s accompanying HOBOmobile app. It also discusses how the adoption of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology has streamlined the installation and setup of Kjolhaug’s field deployment while eliminating the need to retrieve the HOBO data loggers to download information.

“The Bluetooth data loggers and mobile app are a huge convenience since we can access data from 100 ft away, saving us a lot of time and avoiding the need to physically traverse any fences,” said Adam Cameron, wetland ecologist for Kjolhaug. “Additionally, we don’t have to pull the loggers out of the tubes and plug them into a device to upload data, which could possibly alter the positional depth, leading to inconsistent data. So, in this regard, the Bluetooth feature is key to ensuring that the data is sound.”

“For nearly 20 years, Kjolhaug has served as a trusted resource for local governments and businesses in helping to ensure that projects protect natural resources,” said Paul Gannett, product marketing manager for Onset. “We are thrilled by the high level of efficiency and accuracy that Kjolhaug has achieved in using our Bluetooth water level loggers to monitor the potential impact of local development on Twin Cities wetlands—enabling organizations to make the most informed decisions possible.”

The full case study can be viewed online at www.onsetcomp.com/resources/water-level-monitoring-provides-concrete-data-long-term-wetland-study.

Source: Onset