AN IPHONE APPLICATION TO COLLECT HYDROLOGICAL DATA FOR THE BSU GEOTHERMAL PROJECT

In order to keep track of the changes of ground water flow after the launch of its geothermal project, Ball State University at Muncie, Indiana has installed 40 monitoring wells in the first phase geothermal fields since May 2009. Hydrological data, such as the depth of water table, conductivities and water temperature at different depths, are routinely monitored. To facilitate the data collection and data organization, Hydro Logger, an iPhone app, was thus created.

Hydro Logger builds in identification on the basis of its geographical location, nature of the country rock, and depth for each well. Users can select a well to record information regarding the depth of the water table, both temperature and conductivity at the water table depth, other selected well depths, both temperature and conductivity at the selected well depths, purge information, additional notes, and recorder’s identity. Data are saved with timestamps, which enable users to browse the historical data in a chronological order. Users can search records that are associated with a particular well by the well’s ID, or search data collected on a particular date. Through a Wi-Fi connection or 3G/4G network, the app allows the collected data to be emailed to others, or uploaded to a web server so that proper data storage and immediate data manipulation can be pursued.