Equipment, message from UCONN

[Obbo]

Taye,

Thank you and it is good to meet you too! I have a series of
questions for you regarding the list of field research equipment I
have reviewed with Dr. Mekonnen Gebremichael.



I will number the questions sequentially for each item requested the
way they were proposed on the table presented to me:



2) “Deep meter (up to 300m)”: There is actually a lot to consider here
and it is also related to item # (4), but I will try to be brief but
will describe two (2) methods. If you consider a water level meter, I
immediately think about two possible techniques in making the
measurement.



Method 1: There is the standard electronic tape measure which will
allow you to lower the water sensing device to a depth (up to 300 m)
and then take a manual measurement from the top of the tape. This is a
one time measurement at each well and can not be left in the well.
Please see the following link if you are not sure what I am referring
to: http://www.rickly.com/sm/WaterLevelMeters.htm



Method 2: There is the water level recorder or pressure transducer
type. This will be a pressure sensing device that will detect how much
water is above the sensor. This means the sensor is normally fixed in
the well and left there permanently, or it is raised and lowered. It
is best if set permanently and then the data can be downloaded at the
ground surface (top of well) without pulling the sensor from the well.
You can collect data on 5, 10 15, 30 min, etc., intervals while the
unit is left their remotely. Data can be collected periodically (once
every few months or more often if needed) by retrieving via computer
connection. This will give a continuous record were as Method 1 will
give only a single point measurement in time. However, Method 1 will
give a longer use (maybe 10-15 yr service life). Service life on
Method 2 could be 2-10 yrs. This is a good example of Method 2:
http://www.solinst.com/Prod/3001/3001.html



3) “Field Test Kit”: I found a fairly nice field portable meter that
measures water temperature, electrical conductivity and pH with one
probe. Are these parameters sufficient or do you feel that something
more is needed?



7) “Stream flow rate measurements”: Can you give me a sense of the
maximum expected velocity measurement needed? They make different
meters for various ranges of flow (high flow or low flow) and it will
be good that we match the expected flow conditions as closely as
possible so that we do not send something that is below the range of
maximum flow (or vice versa). Just give a range in m/sec.



8) “Laser range finder”: what will this be used for? What is maximum
range distance (approximately) needed?



Please feel free to comment on any other issues that you have since
considered and I will do my best to explain or consider while picking
out potential equipment.



Cheers,



Jonathon B. Drasdis, Laboratory Supervisor
Laboratory Safety Committee, Chair
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
261 Glenbrook Road, Unit 2037
Storrs, Connecticut 06269-2037



ph: (860) 486-3211
fx: (860) 486-2298



dra...@engr.uconn.edu