Applications
FreeStation low-cost environmental sensing hardware has been applied to a range of applications since 2014. Our large range of sensor types, the number of environmental properties that can be measured and the flexibility of data logger configurations supports the testing of many different types of research and policy question through short term intensive measurement or long term monitoring-focused deployments. FreeStation's rapid build times and easy logger and data management and analysis through the //Smart: platform have supported a wide range of projects around the world.
Natural flood management
FreeStations have been used in a range of projects for UK DEFRA, UK county councils, water utilities, the UK Environment Agency, European Commission (Horizon 2020), Flood Action Groups and Rivers Trusts to examine the efficacy of Natural Flood Management (NFM) investments such as leaky debris dams, retention ponds and beaver re-introduction. Such applications require a combination of FreeStation weather stations, stage loggers, soil and groundwater loggers in areas where NFM investments have been made.
Agriculture
FreeStations have been used in a variety of projects for European Commission (Horizon 2020) and water utilities to examine the flood management impact of regenerative agriculture and other farming practices. Such applications require a combination of FreeStation weather stations and soil moisture loggers in neighbouring areas of conventional and regenerative management.
Forest hydrology
FreeStations have been used a a variety of projects examining hydrology of forest environments in Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Brazil and India. Such applications require a combination of FreeStation weather stations, fog gauges, wind driven rain gauges and soil moisture loggers.
Mountain hydrology
FreeStations have been used a a variety of projects examining hydrology of montane environments in Bhutan, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Brazil and India. Such applications require a combination of FreeStation weather stations, fog gauges, wind driven rain gauges and soil moisture loggers.
Urban environment
FreeStations have been used a a variety of projects examining urban environments in London, Madrid and Bologna. Such applications require a combination of FreeStation weather stations, air, noise and light pollution stations, thermal stress stations and pedestrian or traffic monitoring stations.
Indoor environment
FreeStations have been used a a variety of projects examining the indoor environment in commercial kitchens, schools and homes. Such applications require a combination of external FreeStation weather stations and internal home environment monitoring stations (air, noise and light pollution, carbon dioxide, temperature and humidity).
Indoor air pollution associated with peri-urban fire events
Indoor air pollution associated with cooking
Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems
FreeStations have been used a a variety of projects examining sustainable urban drainage systems for the City of London and the GLA. Such applications require a combination of FreeStation weather stations and soil moisture monitoring stations.
Performance monitoring on SUDS planter
Measured water uptake by SUDS planter
FreeStation weather station at SUDS site
Data from weather station
Urban heat risk
FreeStations have been used a a variety of projects examining sustainable urban heat stress for the EC (H2020 programme) the City of London and the GLA. Such applications require a combination of FreeStation weather stations and FreeStation thermal stations deployed indoors and outdoors.
Heat station deployment for monitoring impact of urban trees
London urban heat island effect during heatwave
Heat station deployment for understanding spatial variability in heat stress in Bologna
London heat island effect in winter
Environmental pollution
FreeStations have been used a a variety of projects examining environmental pollution associated with urban environments, roads or agriculture including air, noise, light and water pollution. Such applications require a combination of FreeStation weather stations and FreeStation pollution stations or water quality stations.
Air quality installation studying StrandAldwych traffic scheme
Particulate pollution and fallout associated with Saharan dust storm
Air, noise and light pollution station examining pollution footprint of road developments
Maximum sound pressure level and PM2.5 pollution associated with a typical A-road
Education
FreeStations have been used a variety of projects to support school and university Geography and STEM education for fieldwork, for student projects (non-examined assessments, dissertations) and for classroom teaching, see EduStation. Such applications require a range of FreeStation types dependeing on the application but most commonly use Weather Stations, EduStation demonstration loggers, walkable sensors or pollution stations.