Real-Time Data From USI
Real-time monitoring refers to generating a data-stream that varies over time, and being able to “see” those data as they are being collected; kinda like sitting and watching a thermometer! Although that doesn’t sound too exciting, being able to watch river-level data as a flood approaches, or atmospheric pressure as a storm approaches, or seismic data as an earthquake is generating ground movements can be instructive and beneficial.
Our effort to generate a real-time stream of ground-water levels is a logical outgrowth of our research to date. Moreover, it is becoming more important that society has an understanding of resource “behavior” before human activities impart change. Only by having long-term data sets are we able to see when change occurs in a natural system. Below are a couple of links (pdf files) to US Geological Survey publications that summarize the importance of long-term data
US Geological Survey Fact Sheet 116–03-- The value of Long-Term Monitoring in the Development of Ground-Water-Flow Models (PDF)
US Geological Survey Circular 1217-- Ground-Water-Level Monitoring and the Importance of Long-Term Water-level Data (PDF)
Hopefully our system is working (!) and you can observe real-time ground water level measurements from our Geology lab at USI. Click the link below to see those data. Also provided are some links to other real-time data sites on the web.
External LINKS