There are many reasons to equip a data buoy for a short deployment, but the most common involve monitoring for water quality and weather. The need for more data in real-time means more frequent deployments, but which types of data buoys are best suited for this kind of job? In this post, we’ll cover what kinds of needs short deployments present, and which data buoys are designed for short deployments.
Short Deployments
Real-time data collected by instruments on data buoys is used in numerous applications. Meteorological models and the weather forecasts they produce on both typical days and in times of extreme weather both rely on data buoys. Forecasting seasonal shifts is also influenced by the data collected from buoys.
Marine forecasting for commerce and personal travel also depends on data buoys, and data buoys improve safety at sea generally. They also allow fisheries to function properly, allowing authorities to control fishing activity to prevent over-harvesting and other problems. More long term data from buoys is also critical to many industries and concerns, enabling scientists to better understand how the climate is changing.
However, it’s critical to deploy the right data buoy for your application. A built-in capacity for data logging, a suitable battery pack, and quick deployability, coupled with a convenient footprint and an affordable cost for your application are all essential for short deployments. Getting the right mix of these features isn’t always easy, but there are lots of choices to get you started.
Great Data Buoys for Short Deployments
Short deployments usually mean a limited budget, so cost is one of the first factors to consider when selecting a data buoy for this kind of deployment. Buoys that offer a compact platform are typically the best choice for this kind of project, for more than one reason. On the one hand, they are lower cost to purchase, but on the other hand, they come with a lower deployment cost because they are smaller. A buoy that can be deployed by a team of just two people in a regular vehicle carries lower costs than a larger unit.
Data buoys with a more compact footprint are also deployed more quickly. The ability to deploy without a large team or special equipment—or, in some cases, a coast guard escort—means a fast reaction time in an emergency. It also means an enhanced ability to capture fleeting data.
Smaller, more compact size can also mean less room for instruments, so it’s critical to ensure your data buoy can support your sensors, data logger, and power source. Some data buoys, such as the NexSens CB-40 data buoy, work well with water quality sondes or any water quality instrument that has built-in data logging and a battery pack, allowing for a range of short deployments and other applications.
Others, such as the NexSens CB-150 data buoy, designed for smaller bodies of water, maintains a small footprint for short-term or portable deployments. This data buoy is also ideal for applications requiring compact or low-power sensors as it carries its own solar panel as a backup for battery power.
The Bottom Line
There are many other great data buoy options available for short deployments. Each user has the ability to customize their unit to meet the needs of their application. To learn more about which data buoy might be best for your short deployment and other applications, contact a knowledgeable member of the NexSens team today.
Equipment
The NexSens CB-150 Data Buoy is designed for deployment in lakes, rivers, coastal waters, harbors, estuaries and other freshwater or marine environments.
The YSI EXO represents the next generation of water quality instruments from YSI. The EXO2 sonde includes six sensor ports and a central anti-fouling wiper option.
WQData LIVE is a web-based project management service that allows users 24/7 instant access to data collected from remote telemetry systems.
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