Sanctuary to Sea with IoT - SteveCossy/IOT GitHub Wiki

This is an initial assembling of information in relation to a potential project to undertake environmental monitoring in the catchment of the Kaiwharawhara stream. This project was launched at Zealandia in 2017, as a very long-term expansion of the Zealandia conservation and education values beyond the fence into the suburbs between the valley and the sea, following the awa that begins within the valley. https://www.visitzealandia.com/Whats-On/ArtMID/1150/ArticleID/105/Sanctuary-to-Sea The Wellington City Council has also documented a walkway that follows this route.

To engage the community, encouraging schools, households, community groups and others to 'adopt' areas of the awa. They would be encouraged and supported to make low-cost sensors to measure stream health and other environmental factors. This would be supported by a network of 'gateways' - devices which connect each sensor to the Internet. Initially gateways could be placed in Wellington City Council owned sites within range. Schools could also be approached, as well as individuals who live within range of a sensor placed near the awa. In this context the range would depend on topography of the land between the site and the awa.

The technologies being used in this project are typical of those widely used to connect millions of sensors and other devices around the world to the Internet or to private networks ('clouds'). This type of infrastructure is commonly referred to as Internet of Things or IoT. An example of a network of this type in Wellington is 'smart' street lights that can be centrally controlled or programmed by the City Council.

This project would cover a range of objectives:

• Raise awareness of the Sanctuary to Sea project, the walkway, and he ecological and conservations needs of the catchment. This would include aspects of engagement, education and community empowerment of management of environmental recovery.
• Provide schools with an opportunity to expand their teaching of STEM topics. This project could offer opportunities in electronics, coding, web design and maths (statistics).
• Specifically, primary schools will be looking for ways to implement the new Primary Computing Curriculum.
• 'Whitebait' (various kōkopu to be more precise) use the Kaiwharawhara stream. Perhaps DOC would help with a project to make people more aware of them! https://newsletters.doc.govt.nz/t/ViewEmail/i/5A9D1274EEEE89712540EF23F30FEDED/8F8EE4835F80A8360CC2E775D3CF5869

One of our team, Andrew Hornblow, has previously provided technical support to several relevant projects:

• In Nelson, the Te Wairepo/York Stream community engagement used visualizations and engagement strategies that would be useful our project. This was part of a much larger project including thoughtfully constructed workshops as describe in this newsletter.
• From Dunedin the Sounding was an excellent example of technology playing a part in community engagement. Something similar might be suitable for this project.
• There will be potential for including pest trapping, which could be assisted with electronic lures. The kids version of this story starts 3:28 into this video.
• Enable technology for schools outside the mainstream. Entire Ngamatapouri School roll in their stream beside with water level sensor (Marley Pipe + Waratah) and temperature sensor (student at back with breadboard). Photo: Andrew Hornblow

Here are some initial ideas of how people might be part of this project, interspaced with some of the kopapa envisioned by the team.

There is a need to engage people and connect them in a real way with a live situation; actual stream science. This engagement must remain financially and conceptually accessible to those who want to engage. Elaborate commercial systems often miss the engagement and ownership of the science by those who enjoy it. Wellington City Council, Zealandia and Greater Wellington Regional Council (GW) already express engagement objectives.

• Get community involved and build groups of mixed ability, skills, qualifications and passion. Link with those close to or who have access to the stream.

• Start with simplest sensors that could be simply and cheaply implemented. Examples that can be connected to a $50 electronic basic board:
• Temperature (Low-cost sensors (~$5) on 3m leads)
• Conductivity 2 x 4" galv nails
• Water level (Marley down pipe and electric fence wire)
• Possible turbidity - people can get creative on that one
• Other things people might be able to do at home or when out on walks?
• Bucket science to measure suspended solids
• Paper Ph tests could be more a manual spot reading type thing in peoples kitchens using some standard approaches.

Probably the easiest and most accurate thing to start off with. This is an industry standard devices better than 0.5 Deg C accurate out of the bag uncalibrated but has resolution up to 1/16th deg C. As good as a traceable standard. Quality temperature results can straight away indicate what O2 levels would be OR Not be available to fish etc

Other devices will yield a trend especially if groups of sensors help build a picture length wise along the path of the stream. E.g. galvanised nails will give a good relative conductivity reading trend. This is most useful if there are enough sensors along the stream then where the conductivity takes a big leap things like someone is draining something illegally / washing chemicals down into the stream. Andrew found in Nelson case a car wash illegally connected / draining incorrectly connected etc

Will be just a relative pollution indicator but invaluable for tracking down where and What could be going on... Real time IoT connected instruments show up a whole new dimension, a Live - Living kind of map of what is going on in real time.

The 3m DS18B20 probes can give 1cm resolution water level at the same time as water temperature. A separate electric fence wire can give mm resolution.

This could start with a universal sub-$25 of bare unpackaged electronics and a sensor from the suggestions above, that will run off 3x AA alkaline for a year. Semi permanent solar PV / garden light hack options are available. Might need another $20 for a weather-proof housing.

Flooding and vandalism are main threats to security of these instruments. Advantage is low cost in case of total loss / theft. Sensible location out of sight and on bridge / culvert / non direct impact areas is needed. Making the instrument into an interesting attractive artwork with interpretation panel beside track might help.

Creative, artistic reuse of containers or Marley Pipe and fittings for the electronics. Build something creative and place it in something novel or stand-out on its own or part of other persons art work.

Artworks some how. This could be a 'festival' week or month theme. As in Breath (Nelson) the sensor could modulate an artwork along side the stream pathway or some co-creative exhibit or exhibition art space remotely in, around the CBD - downtown. Have the real time data doing something creative and blinking out the results and this would be fun for users of the walk beside the stream to look out for.

• Perhaps E-Glow worms ?
• Hidden musical tunes ?

Data sensors distributed along the length of the stream 'streams' time and date stamped science in real time up to some sort of a central IoT clearing house. Sensors in streams 'over the fence / within a few 100m, in peoples back yard connect for free into the system via volunteer domestic Wi-Fi. WCC infrastructure may also be available in many places.

• Andrew's [email protected] passion is STEM education in all forms. He has experience at introducing science, technology, engineering and maths to all levels of compulsory education.

• Steve Cosgrove [email protected] is a senior lecturer at Whitireia Polytechnic who will bring his experience with Internet of Things (IoT) research to the project.

• Matthew Way [email protected] brings 35 years computer experience started with ZX81 at school and never looked back. He has since worked in NZ and overseas on computer networks from mainframes, PC LANs to embedded micro controllers.
  Matt loves our NZ outdoor environment and working in conservation, while living on Aotea (Great Barrier Island) Matt formed Econode with a vision of "empowering conservation with technology". The last 4 years have been focused on designing and deploying IoT sensor networks in the New Zealand and Australian conservation estates.

• Oliver Seiler [email protected] Oliver has a background in software engineering and electronics, and enjoys prototyping and making things. He has set up a local IoT network around his home in Eastbourne and is engaged in local conservation projects and how they can best make use of modern technology.

2022 Dec - Updates from Zealandia on LinkedIn and media release on Scoop
https://davelintott.photoshelter.com/gallery-image/210323-CentrePort-Zealandia-Sanctuary-to-Sea-Project-MOU/G00002qKIds9rt6M/I0000IcJua3GOi.Q https://mountainstoseawellington.org/fish-friendly-te-awa-kaiwharawhara/ https://archive.gw.govt.nz/assets/Whaitua-Te-Whanganui-a-Tara/Sanctuary-to-Sea-presentation.pdf https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Schematic-representation-of-Maori-engagement-process-for-the-Zealandia-Sanctuary-to-Sea_fig2_337608856 https://newzealandecology.org/article-keywords/sanctuary-sea-initiative https://www.visitzealandia.com/Whats-On/ArtMID/1150/ArticleID/118/Sanctuary-to-Sea-the-Waters-Journey https://wellington.govt.nz/recreation/outdoors/walks-and-walkways/beyond-the-city/karori-wildlife-sanctuary https://www.walkingaccess.govt.nz/track/sanctuary-to-sea-walkway/pdf https://www.visitzealandia.com/Whats-On/ArtMID/1150/ArticleID/105/Sanctuary-to-Sea

https://www.gw.govt.nz/assets/Documents/2021/12/te_mahere_wai_20211028_v32_DIGI_FINAL.pdf#page=97
https://archive.gw.govt.nz/assets/Whaitua-Te-Whanganui-a-Tara/TKT-workshop-notes-29.8.2020.pdf#page=5
https://www.gw.govt.nz/document/18282/whaitua-te-whanganui-a-tara-committee-workshop-sanctuary-to-sea-presentationthursday-17-october-2019 and https://www.gw.govt.nz/assets/Documents/2022/04/Sanctuary-to-Sea-presentation.pdf
https://www.gw.govt.nz/assets/Documents/2022/04/TWT-workshop-notes-22.3.2021.pdf

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