FloDar
Project Leads: Cara Walter, Evan Hockert
A remote data logger measuring flow rate (L/min) of water passing through a pipe for prolonged periods of time.
Infiltration of heavy precipitation can cause elevated groundwater levels and potential slope instability. While this may result in rapid ground movements, more often for larger landslides, elevated groundwater levels result in slow creep. These movements may compromise the integrity of infrastructure; for these slope failures, the most common and economical mitigation technique is the installation of embedded pipe networks, which removes groundwater through gravity-driven seepage. However, the performance of these systems and their influence on groundwater removal is only inferred through qualitative field observations. The optimal operation and maintenance of these systems is currently unknown. In collaboration with the Oregon Department of Transportation and the Oregon State College of Forestry, a low-cost sensing system – FloDar – was developed by OPEnS Lab to quantify groundwater discharge and its properties. Installed at three hillsides, and planned for three more, FloDar is capable of collecting flow rate, turbidity, and temperature data at specified time intervals. FloDar is capable of measuring over 700L/min bidirectionally with an uncertainty of ±7L/min using a 1.5” schedule 40 pipe. The transducers used are rated for DN25 to DN100mm pipe sizes. This system presents a low-cost means of monitoring groundwater discharge and its properties, which is of relevance to landslide mitigation drains, irrigation, and other groundwater management systems.
The main objective of this project if to create a water tight, easily to implement system for field sensing of water velocity, turbidity, and temperature for pipe systems.
| Sensor/Part | Units of Measurement | Operating Temperature Range | Sensing Range | Technical Accuracy | Lab Tested Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TUF-2000M | Flow (LPM) | -30 - 90°C | 0 to 769 (for 1.59" ID) | <1% | Varies from 5-25% FS* |
| DFRobot Gravity Analog Turbidity Sensor | NTU | 5℃ - 90℃ | 0 to >4000 | Not Stated | Qualitative* |
| Thermocouple | °C | to 500℃ | Not Stated | ±2°C to ±6°C | * |
*In testing
| Sensor/Part | Voltage | "On" Amperage Use | "Sleep" Amperage Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| TUF-2000M | 12 | 120/85 mA | 0 |
| DFRobot SKU SEN0189 | 5 | N/A | N/A |
| Thermocouple | 3.3 | N/A | N/A |
| OPEnS Hypnos | 3.3, 5 | 17 mA | 3mA |
| ADS1115 | 3.3 | N/A | N/A |
| TalentCell Battery | 5, 12 | 12V 6000mAh/5V 12000mAh | N/A |
FloDar uses a battery with two outputs:
- 5V USB slot used to power the Feather
- 12V 2.1mm jack power adapter used to power the USFM by way of the Hypnos power control rails.
- Power to Feather: (~5v)
- Sleep: No current
- Wakeup: 10mA (10 seconds)
- Power to USFM: (~10v)
- Sleep: No current
- Wakeup: 0.120 mA (10 seconds)
- Total:
- Sleep: No current
- Wakeup: 10.120mA
This project will first be introduced in the field for data collection in areas of high erosion potential near roads and interstate highways in Oregon. This application and the analysis of the data acquired is headed by the OSU Forestry Dept. Associated Professor, Dr. Ben Leshchinsky, in association with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). The areas of study will contain rain collection systems, channeling flow from collection tiles through pipes and into a central station where the FloDar system will be located. The information acquired from locations around Oregon will be used to create alert systems for storm events giving ODOT advanced notice of any activity associated with landslides or flooding. This early warning system will allow for safe travel due to early closures in areas of risk as well as expedite response time if such an event occurs.
Old Project Leads: Hadi Al-Agele, Andrew Walker, Dexter Carpenter, Duane Knapp