Data logger specialists, Campbell Scientific Ltd, manufacture and sell reliable data acquisition systems including scientific data loggers, sensors, and automated weather stations for industry, science and research.

Scientific Data Loggers
Campbell research grade data loggers all consume minimal power from a 12vdc power source (eg. battery pack and solar charger) and are renowned for their reliability even when used in challenging environments. Campbell Multi Channel Data Loggers offer measurement and control capabilities, operate accurately across a wide range of temperatures; they are programmable and can store data and perform calculations on-board and work without the need for a field pc. Most Campbell dataloggers have a 3 year warranty as standard.

Data logging capabilities can be extended using a wide range of peripherals, including communication devices such as radio link, LAN, fixed wire modem, GSM/GPRS or satellite modem which allows direct or remote data logger interrogation. Other system enhancements include data storage devices for extending the data capacity; SDM addressable peripherals for extended measurement and output capabilities, and multiplexers for increasing the number of inputs available on a single data logger to reduce the number of loggers needed where large numbers of sensors are employed.

Multi Channel Data Loggers in Automatic Weather Stations (AWS)
The outstanding reliability, wide range of communication options and the flexibility to measure most makes and types of sensor makes Campbell dataloggers ideal for long term or unattended applications such as weather and climate studies as testified by the popularity of Campbell’s automated weather stations for serious studies around the world.

Reliability is important because climate stations are often left unattended for months on end in remote locations and in extreme conditions and users need to know that data will be collected and stored reliably and accurately. Communications are important because this means that the weather station logger can be interrogated remotely by one of a choice of methods. Flexibility to work with different sensors means that weather stations can be custom configured to meet whatever measurement criteria is required; connecting not only to virtually any meteorological sensor but also to other sensor types such as soil moisture or surface wetness or to weather cameras. An AWS can be a stand-alone unit or networked to other weather stations to provide a detailed weather picture across a wider area.

Campbell Scientific weather stations are used by many of the world’s met service providers including the Met Office and have also featured in several leading climate research projects. Other less obvious weather station applications include: weather monitoring on civil engineering projects where evidence may be required to protect against litigation for delays caused by bad weather; monitoring and controlling of irrigation systems such as for golf courses; tourist weather information (sunshine duration, maximum and minimum temperatures etc.); for sports events (trackside wind speed, temperature and humidity readings etc.); for flood warning systems, for predicting bushfires and monitoring the spread; or at airports where weather conditions can seriously impact on the safe take off and landing of air traffic.

Visibility and Present Weather Sensor
The PWS100 Visibility and Present Weather Sensor offers an automated way to measure present weather parameters such as precipitation type, visibility and rain rate. This sensor measures the size, velocity and chrystallinity of falling particles as small as 0.1mm and is able to distinguish and classify different precipitation types according to World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) codes; for instance reporting rain, drizzle, grauple, or snow. As well as the WMO codes the sensor can also provide raw histogram data for particle size and velocity. Visibility of up to 10Km can be also be determined with this sensor.

The PWS100 Visibility & Present Weather Sensor uniquely uses a laser to create a structured measurement volume consisting of four parallel horizontal light sheets monitored by two offset receptors. As a particle passes through the volume light is scattered to the receptors. A high speed digital signal processor (DSP) analyses the signal and using phase Doppler anemometry techniques accurately determines not only the velocity and size of the particle but also the ice content of a particle to discriminate between various types of precipitation.

The PWS100 is supplied with new viewing software which provides browser based visual interface to the sensors outputs. Graphs included show particle size and velocity, precipitation rates, drop size distribution, particle type, visibility and temperature and relative humidity

Data Loggers in Road Weather Systems (RWIS)
Road weather is another important market for weather monitoring instruments for Campbell Scientific – providing permanent or temporary Road Weather Information Systems (RWIS) which provide local authorities with real-time and historical road condition data. Accurate real time road surface temperature measurement makes more informed decision making on the need for road salting possible; enhancing road safety by helping to ensure roads are gritted when needed and saving the authority money and helping the environment by reducing unnecessary road salting.

Campbell offer contactless, infrared sensors which measure the temperature of the road surface without slot cutting or road closure and which remain unaffected by road resurfacing work. Sensors are attached to any suitable existing roadside posts or overhead gantries with a separate enclosure containing a Campbell scientific data loggers power pack, temperature and relative humidity sensor, GPRS modem and faced with a solar panel (this enclosure is installed facing south to optimise solar charging). The relatively low cost of these units means that for a given budget a wider network of monitoring points is possible.

Campbell Scientific can capture and serve the road weather data via the internet using a special interface providing real time and historical data in graphical or tabular formats. Secure access is available to the authorised user and data can be fed to any other designated third party, such as a neighbouring authorities or weather forecasting service provider.

For permanent installations Campbell offer embedded road condition sensors which are flush mounted into the road and measure road conditions ( damp, wet, ice etc.) and water salinity as well as road surface temperature.

Other road weather solutions include fully specified roadside outstations, up-grades to existing stations, and road weather cameras. Installation and maintenance services are also offered.

Multi Channel Data Loggers for Structural Monitoring
Campbell data loggers are used in data acquisition systems in civil engineering projects for structural monitoring of tunnels, bridges, ancient monuments, and construction projects. The recently introduced AVW200 vibrating wire interface utilises an innovative new technique for monitoring vibrating wire strain gauges which virtually eliminates noise errors caused by electrical interference common with many other such interfaces. The AVW200 analyses the frequency of the vibrating wire rather than measuring time domain components used in other systems.

Dataloggers for Offshore and Airport Weather Monitoring
Campbell Scientific Ltd recently acquired Muir Matheson, specialists in offshore and aviation weather monitoring systems; Muir Matheson already integrate Campbell Scientific dataloggers into their weather systems for oil platforms and airports and this is expected to increase.