Search publications of the members of the Royal Belgian institute of natural Sciences
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NiphNet: a self-governing environmental monitoring network
- A high-precision and low-cost temperature and humidity logging device, called Niphargus and originally intended for environmental monitoring in caves, was developed at the Geological Survey of Belgium (Burlet et al., 2015). The Niphargus is designed as a standalone logger, with data to be retrieved manually whenever needed. This allows for a very small and simple electronic design, low power consumption and flexible placement. There are, however, a number of disadvantages for specific applications. For example, there is no feedback possible on malfunction or battery lifetime. To avoid loss of data during long-term measurement campaigns, regular inspection and data retrieval are necessary. Apart from the inconvenience, this manipulation also causes disturbance in the measurements. A new version of the Niphargus was therefore developed, including a wireless Digi XBee DigiMesh module. These modules communicate on a 868 MHz radio frequency, in a self-governing mesh network (Fig. 1). In such a network, every device is able to communicate to any other device within range. For data transmission, the most optimal pathway is chosen between transmitter and receiver. As such, in case of a single device malfunction, the connection between the other nodes can still be guaranteed. In case of the NiphNet, the receiving end includes a single-board computer with cellular network connectivity, from which data is uploaded to a cloud repository. From there, live monitoring data can be displayed online, downloaded and processed. A first successful test was conducted with a NiphNet of 5 devices in waterproof containers (Fig. 2) and online display at the GeoEnergy Test Bed in Nottingham, UK, in March 2018. Current and future efforts focus on the enclosure design and the automation of data readout over the network. There is a large array of possible applications. For environmental monitoring in caves, the individual nodes can ensure data transmission from a network of environmental sensors inside the cave to a station outside, allowing for continuous access to measurements and minimising the need for regular field inspection. This is currently being installed in the caves of Han. The geological storage of CO2 requires long-term monitoring to establish a baseline and detect leakage from the reservoir, both below and above ground. Such monitoring activities need to be maintained for several decades, and therefore need to be low effort and low cost. Near the surface, temperature is expected to be a good proxy for CO2 leakage when a network is set-up that can detect temperature anomalies in the range of 0.01°C. This is possible with a network of shallow buried Niphargus nodes. Then, wireless access to thesedevices is not only a matter of long-term and maintenance-free coverage of a large area. Detection of small temperature differences depends on not disturbing the shallow subsurface, and therefore on being able to download the data remotely.
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Ensemble analysis and forecast of ecosystem indicators in the North Atlantic using ocean colour observations and prior statistics from a stochastic NEMO–PISCES simulator
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Evaluation of operational ocean forecasting systems from the perspective of the users and the experts
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Odanext - Oceanographic data acquisition: the next age
- The new Research Vessel Belgica represents a major advancement in Belgian maritime research, equipped with cutting-edge technologies and advanced scientific equipment. As a successor to the previous vessel, it introduces new challenges, particularly in managing vast amounts of data generated by its variety of sensors. The redesign of data systems is essential to fully utilize the vessel's capabilities, ensuring trustworthy data collection and analysis. This transformation is vital to meet modern IT standards and comply with European directives like INSPIRE and Open Data, which demand accessible, standardized, and open data. The ODANext project addressed these challenges by enhancing data acquisition workflows, preserving historical data, and establishing a durable infrastructure for data storage and dissemination. These improvements aim to elevate the RV Belgica’s global research impact, facilitate efficient data sharing, and support scientific research, policy-making, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
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Real-Time Data Transfer and Management for the RV Belgica Using FROST OGC SensorThings API
- A fully automated near-real time vessel-to-client data transfer has been implemented for the en-route data of the new RV Belgica. It includes the transfer itself, metadata enrichment, data standardization, quality checks and data dissemination. The infrastructure uses existing open-source solutions, altought some small components have been developed internally (data normalization and quality control). The FROST OGC SensorThings API proves to be a simple and reliable standard for the management and dissemination of sensor data, including various metadata (quality flags, geo-referencing, sensor information, etc.).
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) Paleoparasitological analysis of a 15th–16th c. CE latrine from the merchant quarter of Bruges, Belgium: Evidence for local and exotic parasite infections
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Woodland exploitation by early modern military camps and their impact on the forest environment. Anthracological analysis from Ninove-Doorn Noord (1692–1693, 1745, Belgium)
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Optical dating of charcoal kiln remains from WWII: A test of accuracy.
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Fuelling the Roman salt industry. Developing a new multiproxy approach to identify peat fuel from archaeological combustion residue
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Evidence of parasites in Burials and cesspits used by the clergy and general population of 13th – 18th century Ghent, Belgium
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La rondelle au mammouth de Chaleux
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Entre rectangles et trapèzes : les maisons rubanées de Belgique entre Rhin et Bassin parisien
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Étude tracéologique d'un ensemble d'outils lithiques provenant du site de "En Bia Flo" à Remicourt. L'industrie laminaire au Paléolithique moyen.
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Préhistoire gaumaise
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Le site de Rebecq Le Spinoi (prov. du Brabant wallon)
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Le murus gallicus du Camp romain à Lompret (prov. de Hainaut)
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Les gisements rubanés des Grottes d'Engis : deux raisons pour rechercher des aiguilles dans une botte de foin
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Identification de brai de bouleau sur quatre vases du site rubané de Fexhe-le-Haut-Clocher "Podrî l'Cortri". Premiers résultats
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Trois petits tours et puis s'en vont... La fin de la présence danubienne en Moyenne Belgique
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Cataloog. Catalogue. 1. Hassnoerelementen. Spy & Chaleux (Namur, België). Éléments du [de] parure. Spy & Chaleux (Namur, Belgique)
