Web-based Data Acquisition System Research Articles

UNCERTAINTY ANALYSIS OF A WEB-BASED DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM FOR POULTRY MANAGEMENT WITH SENSOR NETWORKS

This paper presents a web-based data acquisition system developed by LabVIEW software program using for environment monitoring of poultry management. Measurement error and uncertainty analysis should be conducted accurately to maximize the reliability of this system. An algorithm for uncertainty analysis was proposed to estimate the sensor networks with calibration and validation processes fulfilling the standards of Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (GUM). For different environmental sensors, values of uncertainties were calculated with the methods of type A and type B evaluation through a case study. Environmental parameters including air temperature, relative humidity and CO2 concentration of a compartment housing for a small-group (n=90) of laying hens with a perch aviary system were measured in a 24-h period with an interval of 5 min. Results showed that the expanded uncertainty of the data acquisition system lies above 1.02℃, 5.54% and 67.8 ppm over the sensors data from air temperature, relative humidity and CO2 concentration with perch system for laying hens. Moreover, the relative uncertainty of this system was estimated by 15.9%. Therefore, the web-based data acquisition system has a considerable potential to ensure correct decision making when served for poultry production based on more reliable uncertaity analysis and data evaluation.

Challenges facing the implementation of water demand management initiatives in Gauteng Province

Gauteng Province is the industrial heartland of South Africa and is one of the few large urbanised areas in the world that is not located adjacent to a major source of water. The demand for water in Gauteng outstripped the local resource of the Vaal River many years ago with the result that the area relies heavily on large water schemes which transfer water from adjacent river basins into the Vaal River basin. The water transfer schemes associated with the Vaal River basin are large by any international standards and the water resource system is one of the most complex and integrated anywhere in the world. As the demand for water continues to grow in Gauteng, the Department of Water Affairs and forestry is investigating the various alternative water resource development options as well as the potential for reducing the growth in demand through water conservation (WC) and water demand management (WDM) measures. From the most recent investigations it has become clear that WDM is no longer considered a possible option but rather a necessity that must be implemented as a matter of urgency. It has been established that even if new water resource development options are implemented, it will still be necessary to introduce the WDM measures. In this regard, several of the large municipalities in Gauteng have already commenced with various WDM interventions, some of which are already in operation and showing significant savings. The paper will highlight the need for WDM in Gauteng and provide details of the latest investigations into the potential savings that can be achieved. Some of the key problems that are hampering the implementation of WDM interventions in Gauteng will be discussed and the measures taken to overcome these difficulties will be explained. The benefits that can be obtained from a potent web-based data acquisition system which is already operational in several parts of Gauteng will also be highlighted. The paper concludes with the clear message that wasting water in Gauteng province is a luxury that cannot be sustained and measures to eliminate the wastage must be introduced as a priority before the situation deteriorates to such an extent that water shortages become a common occurrence.

Computer-Facilitated Assessment of Disaster Preparedness for Remote Hospitals in a Long-Distance, Virtual Tabletop Drill Model

Emergency preparedness experts generally are based at academic or governmental institutions. A mechanism for experts to remotely facilitate a distant hospital's disaster readiness is lacking. The objective of this study was to develop and examine the feasibility of an Internet-based software tool to assess disaster preparedness for remote hospitals using a long-distance, virtual, tabletop drill. An Internet-based system that remotely acquires information and analyzes disaster preparedness for hospitals at a distance in a virtual, tabletop drill model was piloted. Nine hospitals in Cape Town, South Africa designated as receiving institutions for the 2010 FIFA World Cup Games and its organizers, utilized the system over a 10-week period. At one-week intervals, the system e-mailed each hospital's leadership a description of a stadium disaster and instructed them to login to the system and answer questions relating to their hospital's state of readiness. A total of 169 questions were posed relating to operational and surge capacities, communication, equipment, major incident planning, public relations, staff safety, hospital supplies, and security in each hospital. The system was used to analyze answers and generate a real-time grid that reflected readiness as a percent for each hospital in each of the above categories. It also created individualized recommendations of how to improve preparedness for each hospital. To assess feasibility of such a system, the end users' compliance and response times were examined. Overall, compliance was excellent with an aggregate response rate of 98%. The mean response interval, defined as the time elapsed between sending a stimuli and receiving a response, was eight days (95% CI = 8-9 days). A web-based data acquisition system using a virtual, tabletop drill to remotely facilitate assessment of disaster preparedness is efficient and feasible. Weekly reinforcement for disaster preparedness resulted in strong compliance.

The design and development of a web-based data acquisition system

With the growth of the Internet, an interesting possibility is that of performing research, development, and collaborative experimentation unlimited by physical location. The focus of this paper is on the development of an educational tool, based on freeware, for the introduction of various Web-related aspects of remote instrumentation. An important ingredient of the system is a mechanism for handling multiple clients through a scheduling strategy that uses semaphores. Other features include provisions for multiple-instrument access and output of the data acquired in textual and graphical forms. The approach is cost-effective, and the solution is suitable for a variety of platforms. Experiments using two instruments, namely a digital multimeter and a thermocouple unit, are reported.