Understanding Environmental Processes With LAN Data Acquisition Systems By Bmcm

Maisach, Germany, May 5, 2015 (Newswire.com) - ​Environmental monitoring concentrates on measuring and observing environmental conditions, such as water, air, and soil quality.

Another important part is the wide-ranged topic "healthy living" dealing with hazardous substances in building fabrics, indoor climate, mold infestation, electric smog, or noise, for example.

Last but not least to mention are measurements to improve energy efficiency.

​As energy production has often negative effects on environment, saving energy has a great share in reducing pollution and hazardous waste material.

To measure different environmental data, universal PC measurement systems are particularly suitable. ​
​Unlike specialized DAQ systems, they can be used for a wide range of applications.

Different physical quantities are recorded simultaneously and related to each other.
New measuring tasks can mostly be realized with small effort, often only by exchanging the sensor.

All-purpose, flexible, easy-to-use, and cost-efficient:
​Following these demands, BMC Messsysteme GmbH (bmcm) has been developing, producing, and distributing measurement hardware for more than 20 years.

​Of course, measurement technology by bmcm is used in various fields of environmental monitoring, too.
Especially DAQ systems measuring via network (LAN or WLAN) have great advantages as the following examples demonstrate:

1. Long-term measurement synchronized and in real-time at many measuring points

In connection with modernizing insulation of buildings constructed in the fifties, the Technical University Darmstadt measures the total thermal resistance of house walls before and after the insulation works.
Reducing heating costs, improving the indoor climate, and preventing mold formation are targeted.

As measurements are necessary at many points inside and outside and mostly for a longer period of time, the all-in-one measurement system AMS42-LAN16fx of bmcm is used.

Via one joint network cable, different measuring signals (e.g. temperature, humidity) are transmitted from many measuring points to the DAQ system.
​​They are related to each other and presented in real-time.

2. Many physical quantities, different measuring ranges and sampling rates

The EU research project PEGASOS analyzed hazardous substances in the air, if and how fast they are degraded, and their influence on climatic change.

Measurements were done in the so-called planetary boundary layer at an altitude of approximately 100 to 2000 meters.
This is where the fate of the pollutants is decided basically.

Featuring unique characteristics, the Zeppelin NT proved to be perfect:
​slowly floating, vertically ascending and descending, producing almost no air swirl, up to 24 hours operating time, and carrying measurement equipment of more than 1000kg weight.
For this a specially designed "top platform" has been mounted on top of the Zeppelin.

The research center "Forschungszentrum Jülich" participated in the world-wide measuring campaigns using LAN data acquisition systems of bmcm.
​​Different measuring data were recorded and transmitted via network to the measuring PC in the airship.

​With the bmcm measuring software NextView they were combined with flight data measured via the Zeppelin's ARINC bus, visualized, and analyzed.

3. Interference-free measuring data in mobile or rough environment

The municipal energy supplier "Stadtwerke München" did an interesting test with the Munich subway:
​They wanted to find out how high the energy consumption of a subway is running between two stations with different types of speed-up.

Scans were done speeding up moderatly but longer as well as with a high, short increase of speed but steadily running longer.

Required in this case was a measurement system suitable for mobile use and operable not just under laboratory conditions.

Again the LAN amplifier measurement system AMS42-LAN16fx of bmcm was favored.
​Due to integrated 5B amplifier technology, signals could be recorded noise-free even being close to electrical consumers.

The measuring result of the third example was a surprise by the way and will not be revealed here.

This and further information about the use of bmcm measurement hardware in environmental monitoring is provided on the bmcm website or at this year's measurement fair Sensor +Test 2015.

BMC Messsysteme GmbH (bmcm) at Sensor+Test 2015
May 19 – 21, 2015
Nuremberg Exhibition Center
Hall 12, stand 500