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USB-2-UHI Kit with vehicle mount
 
Click to enlarge images
Weatherproof Humidity / Temperature Data Logger for measuring your local Urban Heat Island
(UHI) Effect
This simple kit makes a great science fair project that almost anyone can do. All you need
is a Windows based PC, a car, and cooperative weather. This simple kit allows you to drive
transects of your town while measuring and logging the temperature as you drive. For
example, here's a temperature transect done of Reno Nevada by the owner of WeatherShop by
simply driving a north-south route on Virginia Street and then plotted over a Google Earth
map:
The UHI signature of Reno, NV – Click for larger image
Measuring UHI in your city is an easy to do process:
- Install the software on your Windows PC (or laptop if you bring it with you in the car).
Experiment with and familiarize yourself with the datalogger.
- Choose a route you can drive in your town that provides a good north-south and/or
east-west driving transect from country, through suburbs, downtown, and back to
countryside again. Use Google Earth or a similar mapping tool to assist in planning your
route. Try to choose a route that will not take any more than 30 minutes to minimize
ambient temperature change that may occur.
- Choose a clear night with no wind or light wind if possible. Later at night like
11PM-midnight is best so as to have minimum traffic and stoplights.
- Set the data logger to start logging either immediately or at some start time in the
future. Put the waterproof cap back on
- Affix the datalogger to the vehicle mount using the strap provided.
- Put the vehicle mount on the top edge of your vehicle window and close it for a tight
fit.
- Drive to the start point, Either wait for the pre-programmed start time or trigger the
data logger to start from your laptop. It is always best to start on an easy to check
period like top of the hour, quarter hour, or half hour.
- Drive the route, trying to maintain a fixed speed.
- Have your passenger note landmarks/locations in a logbook as you drive so that you can
correlate with temperatures later.
- Optional - take a logging GPS unit with you if you want exact positions and time.
- Once completing the first transect, turn around and drive it again. You may wish to do
several transects if time allows so that you can create an average profile later.
- Remove the USB-2 datalogger from the vehicle mount, plug into your PC, launch the
included software and plot your results! Export the data to a spreadsheet for further
analysis.
Mounting is very simple using the velcro strip and clamp. The window mount holds the USB
datalogger up and away from the vehicle in the clear airstream:
     
Click images to enlarge
Here is a sample of what the software included with the datalogger might produce from your
logged driving transect data:
Click to enlarge
You can then export the data into other programs, so that you can prepare overlays such as
on a map or Google Earth image as shown above.
The USB-2 data logger measures and stores up to 16,382 relative humidity and 16,382
temperature readings over 0 to 100%RH and -35 to +80°C (-31 to +176°F) measurement ranges,
switchable to °C also. The user can easily set up the logging rate and start time, and
download the stored data by plugging the module straight into a PCs USB port and running the
included software. Relative humidity, temperature and dew point (the temperature at which
water vapor present in the air begins to condense) data can then be graphed, printed and
exported to other applications.
The data logger is supplied complete with a long-life lithium battery, which can typically
allow logging for a year. Status indication is via flashing red and green LEDs. The logger
is protected against ingress from water and dust to IP67 standard when the plastic cap and
seal are fitted. It is accurate enough to perform scientific analysis.
The data is saved in comma delimited format with date/time stamps for easy import into other
spreadsheet, database, and graphing applications. See a sample data file here
(.txt format)
 
* Depending on sample rate, ambient temperatures and use of alarm LEDs
** This specifies the overall error in the logged readings, for relative humidity
measurements between 20 and 80%RH
*** This specifies the overall error in the calculated dew point, for realtive humidity
measurements between 40 and 100%RH at 25°C
Includes vehicle mount, waterproof cap, battery, software mini CD, and manual.
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