Category: Marine sensor Benin

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First data gave insights in how to improve the sensor

Monday 7th of October 2019

Report and figure: Sylvain Amoussou

Pictures: www.lastminuteengineers.com

We analyzed the data of the first prototype. The prototype has been activated at 5 pm on Friday, October 2019 as Wilfried described in the last report.
The figure shows the temperature measured by the prototype from 5 pm local time on Friday. The figure1 (a) shows that the temperature is almost constant from 5 pm to around 7 pm, the temperature decreases and oscillates overnight. The figure 1 (b) show the temperature from 12 am to 8am UTM time. The temperature still oscillated from 12 am to 5 am UTM. But after that, the temperature is almost constan, the oscillations started  when the sun went down and stopped when it went under.

Data gathered with the prototype during 3 October (a) and 4 October (b)at the port of Cotonou.

Today we also further improved our model:

  • The prototype has stopped for during the night, luckily it started back independently.
  • We verified the voltage on the batteries. We noticed that the remaining voltage was 6,28 V which is half of the 12V of the fully charged battery pack. We still need to further investigate if this is acceptable.
  • In the future we would like to use a gsm module in stead of a gps module, this will allow to transfer data without having to open the box. We found a solution to charge the lithion/ion battery that charges this module.
Electronic scheme from https://lastminuteengineers.com, a very helpfull site for developing arduino projects
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Production of more sensors and retrieval of thermometer at the port of Cotonou

Friday the 4th of October 2019,

Today we prepared the composition of a different type of sensor containing a GSM system in stead of a GPS. We collected the thermometer we left at the port yesterday, the thermometer was still switched on, a promising sign. On monday we will retrieve and analyse the data inside.

Reporter: Médard Honfo
Pictures: Katrijn Baetens

In order to reach the goal of today (composing a new sensor) different chores had to be executed:
Buying SIM cards

Buying SIM cards with a good formula, not so easy as it seems

We discussed several options for new thermometer containers and went of to the market in search of the ultimate box.

Making sure the boxes are suitable for our sensor system

Trying to find battery chargers.

Négotiations at the market for finding good chargers

Collecting the thermometer at the port of Cotonou, the light was still on, so at least the batteries were still working. After the weekend we will analyze and evaluate what we have done so far. We keep you posted.

After 24 hours the thermometer was still switched on

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Testing the prototype in the waters of the port of Cotonou.

03/10/2019 at “Institut de Recherches Halieutiques et Océanologiques du Benin” (IRHOB)

Reporter: Wilfried Sintondji
Pictures: Wilfried Sintondji and Katrijn Baetens

The first session started at 9:00 in the morning in the presence of Katrijn Baetens of RBINS, dr. Zacharie Sohou, the director of IRHOB, dr George Degbé et mr. Médard Honfo of IRHOB. There is also an important participation of students selected for this project: Mr Sylvain Amoussou and Mr  Wilfried Sintondji.

After an introduction to the project Katrijn Baetens présented all the parts and materials that are needed to develop the thermometers. During this occasion she used the prototype developed in Belgium to demonstrate how everything works. After this each student was trusted with a task to copy the prototype and get the hang of the system.  Some of the tasks needed are:

  • Constructing and testing if the box containing the electronics is waterproof

    The box remained waterproof during lab testing
  • Checking the voltage of the system
  • Test the wiring of the new thermometer system on a breadboard
  • Double check if the prototype is working

    The prototype works independently and the GPS receives a signal
  • Programming the thermometer with the desirable time parameters
The students working hard on their assigned tasks. Médard on the left is wiring the new thermometers, Sylvain in the middle is preparing a new waterproof box and Wilfried on the right is isolating the electronic wires.

At the end of the day we were able to test our first prototype in the waters of the port of Cotonou.

On our way to test the first prototype in the waters of the port of Cotonou
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Development of a Methodology to Acquire a Spatiotemporal Series of Physicochemical Parameters of the Coastal Marine Environment of Benin

IRHOB and RBINS developed a first prototype of an arduino based temperature  sensor that is waterproof. This is done in the framework of a CEBioS/BBI project. The cost of this model was 56 euro, which is 16 euro more than initially expected, this was mainly because of the inclusion of an expensive GPS module of 18 euro. The next step is to investigate where future  budget cuts can be made. It is difficult to compare the price of our prototype with market prices as a gps and storage of data on an SD card is included in this model. The coming weeks the prototype will be improved and tested in the field, we will keep you posted.

The overall objective of this Project is to foster long-term cooperation between IRHOB, the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC) in Benin, and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (RBINS) on the development of a methodology to acquire reliable scientific data for rational management and the conservation of aquatic resources in Benin, using sound scientific, technical, and socioeconomic advice. BBI funding enables cooperation in manufacturing Arduino sensors in order to measure physicochemical water quality parameters, such as temperature, salinity, acidity and dissolved oxygen, of the marine and lacustrine environment around Cotonou in Benin. This data collection will constitute the first step towards constructing habitat suitability maps.

The project is mainly sponsored by the Bio-Bridge initiative and co-sponsored by the CEBioS programme of RBINS.

The concept of the methodology is explained in this short movie:

First prototype of an arduino based temperature that is waterproof. Cost of this model is 56 euro.

Text and pictures: Katrijn Baetens, Zacharie Sohou