Article by Themba Mongwa

4

May 2014

GEO TRENDS MONITOR

MONITOR

Issue [9]: Wednesday 30 April 2014

With over 25 years experience Vista Engineering the developer of Vista

Data Vision is based in the city of Reykjavik in Iceland. It is the choice

for environmental practitioners from different backgrounds across the

world. This year Aridus Hydro Geotechnik went into partnership with

Vista Data Vision, this partnership includes Aridus reselling the VDV

software and associated products, offering support, and hosting some

data on behave of the valued client.

Continued on pg 4

Many organizations including consultants, academia and research

institutions are continuing to battle with the handling of logged field

data. Most of the current data handling software are not robust enough

to offer functionalities to satisfy the user. Through varies research and

testing Aridus Hydro Geotechnik identified Vista Data Vision as a

complete solution covering fundamental needs as well as advanced

features needed in professional Data Management System.

Aridus partners with Vista

Engineering

Aridus offer tailor made solution

to clients on available

dataloggers & communication

protocols options.

Remote monitoring and data collection .02

In this issue we feature The

Tensiometer from Eijkelkamp

Agrisearch Equipment By

Bonti Mukhange

Feature Product .05

Pg 1

2

The use of dataloggers which have the capacity to transfer data

remotely from the site to the office has revolutionized field monitoring.

This is a favored solution where access to site might be limited or

restricted for whatever reasons or the monitoring has to be done real

time or even where there is shortage of human personnel to do the

manual downloads. Aridus offer tailor made solution to clients on the

available dataloggers and communication protocols options. Besides

tailor made configurations, there are also turnkey packages to choose

from depending on the complexity, from the most basic installations to

the most sophisticated.

These dataloggers have a wide range of applications in geotechnical

engineering, meteorology, water sectors and any other usage where

there is need for measurement precision, flexibility and long term

reliability of the monitoring and data collection system. The type and

number of sensors that can be measured by a single datalogger can

be substantially increased by the use of channel expansion peripherals

like multiplexers.

The use of these types of dataloggers support several communications

protocol. Among the supported protocols include, TCP/IP, PakBus,

Modbus, DNP3,FTP, and SMTP. To determine the best option for an

application, it is important to ensure the availability of services (e.g.

cellular phone or Satellite coverage).

The robustness of these dataloggers allow for use in the most harsh

weather conditions. The dataloggers are housed in a weather resistant

enclosure. They are powered by a rechargeable battery which can be

connected to a power source such as a solar panel.

Schlumberger Water Services

held its Distributor Seminar on the

11th of April 2014 at Delft, The

Netherlands.

Events

In brief

Article by Oreeditse Mhutsiwa

Remote Monitoring and Data Collection

EAE annual Distributor

seminar in Giesbeek, The Netherlands

On the 8-10 April 2014, Aridus

Technical manager, Mr

Benjamin Mafa attended

Eijkelkamp global distributor

seminar. The seminar was held in

Giesbeek, The Netherlands and

was attended by distributors

from 34 countries worldwide.

3

DHI South Africa will be offering Introduction and

Advanced courses for FEFLOW this May in South

Africa. The course, FEFLOW introduction to

groundwater modelling will be offered on 12-14th

May, while FEFLOW advanced groundwater

modelling will be on the 15-16th May 2014. The

venue for both courses is Wits Professional

Development Hub, Wits University, Johannesburg,

South Africa. FEFLOW is widely recognized as a

most comprehensive software package for

subsurface flow and transport simulation. The

software is used by leading research institutes,

universities, consulting firms and government

organizations all over the world. FEFLOW’s scope

of application ranges from simple local scale to

complex large scale modelling. Application areas

include water management, mine water,

saltwater intrusion, geothermal energy, and

variably saturated media. FEFLOW introduction to

groundwater modelling is a hands on course

DHI South Africa to Offer FEFLOW

Courses that shall provide one with an introduction to

groundwater modelling using FEFLOW. One will

also learn the basic concepts of the software

through building two and three-dimensional flow

and solute-transport models applying the most

important programme functions, including pre-

processing, simulation and result evaluation. The

other course aims at providing one with the skills

for advanced modelling topics. Depending on

the needs of the group of participants, a selection

of the below topics is offered. Density-dependent flow modelling, Heat-transport

modelling (geothermal energy systems), Fracture

modelling, Multi-component transport and

chemical reactions, Introduction to IFM

programming, Parameter estimation & sensitivity

analysis with FePEST, Hands-on exercises and

Unsaturated-flow modelling.

Course description item: by

DHI South Africa

4

(Continued from pg 1)

There is an upcoming release

of Hydro GeoAnalyst 2014.1.

This release shall include various

enhancements to the

Template Manager which will

make database design and

management much easier and

more flexible. Pictured above is

a quick preview of what is to

come.

New Template Manager

Preview, HGA 2014.1

We continue to grow and

expand further into the vast

African market as we seek to

build a brand recognizable

through the continent.

Did you know?

Vista Data Vision is a comprehensive, easy to use, data handling,

storage, visualization, alarming, reporting, web access to data and

application specific data handling toolkits for various disciplines. VDV is

applicable to users’ in fields of environmental monitoring,

Meteorological systems and water management.

Vista’s core functionality is being able to import data from different

sources, that is data being collected from a datalogger can be

imported into the VDV database. VDV supports Campbell Scientific and

wide variety of dataloggers. Using the intuitive interface, it only takes a

few mouse clicks to configure data storage, data visualization, alarm

setting and web service.

With regards to visualizations the VDV graphical interface maybe used

for all functions like trend lines, alarm notification, real-time display and

Google maps. VDV offers quick reports to help users to gain more

information from time series. Quick reports include XY graphs, intensity

graphs, sort by size, histogram, wind rose and download of data. VDV

also offers vital visualization of environmental data, like the filter wind

rose, overlay graphs, XY- Graphs and intensity plots all which are most

useful for quick correlation of data and to help drawing conclusions

about complex data sets.

VDV has a built in comprehensive web service serving any number of

web - based users. It supports all major web browsers such as Internet

Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Safari and Opera. VDV offers manuel input of

data via web interface and via data files. For manuel input of sensor

readings, records may be added and edited online. VDV includes a

keep alive monitor to let network monitoring programs know if it is up

and running; this is a priority at all times.

Vista Data Vision comes in 3 versions each version with respect to

project size and data service as compared to most software packages

with Vista all 3 versions run the same proven and speedy software

engine. The Base version is the entry level version suitable for small

datalogging systems and basic service. The Standard version is for users

utilizing small to average size data logging systems and do not need

access control to the VDV web service, it includes features such as

virtual variables & intensity plot. The final version the Professional version

is for professional users who need all the tools to run Professional Data System for measurements, including web access control. VDV is the

perfect choice for running a web based data hosting service for a

variety of industries.

5

Feature Product: Tensiometer

The tensiometer can be used by agricultural organizations,

academic institutions and crop farmers who are seeking to

conserve water and better manage their soil moisture levels.

The Tensiometer will provide critical information that will assist in

maintaining healthy crops in their fields.

Local Applications

The ability of plants to absorb water from soil is a very important factor in their early development. This

ability to extract water by plant roots depends on the amount of the force that the soil retains the water at

the plant root zone.

The measurement of this force allows us to

determine the availability of moisture in the soil that

is available for use by plants.

An instrument called a tensiometer supplied by

Aridus in conjunction with Eijkelkamp Agrisearch

Equipment has been developed for this purpose.

Tensiometers are available in a variety of types

which includes jet fill tensiometer, quick draw

tensiometers, and the standard tensiometer. The

standard tensiometer consists of a porous cup,

connected through a rigid transparent body tube to

a vacuum gauge, with all components filled with

water. The cup is made up of ceramic material due

to its permeability to water. The body is made up of

a clear transparent plastic tube to allow the water

inside to be easily seen and monitored.

The tensiometer is an easy and quick instrument to

use and install. A hole is simply dug by means of an

auger, usually gouge auger and the tensiometer is

placed in the ground with the ceramic cup firmly in

close contact with the soil. Since the tensiometer reacts to changes in the small

volume of soil that directly surrounds the ceramic

cup, it is important that it is placed in the active plant root zone.

Since the soil is normally not saturated, the water

inside the tensiometer will slowly move out through

the ceramic cup to equilibrate with the soil water.

As the water moves out, the water level inside the

tube will drop creating a vacuum which is

measured by the vacuum gauge. If the soil is near

saturation the water will move from tensiometer to

the soil with little force and if the soil is dry the water

will move with a greater force creating a larger

vacuum. The level of pressure in the vacuum is a

direct indication of the energy that will be required

by plants to counter the strength with which the soil

holds the water.

Tensiometers are very useful in providing information

for irrigation planning. Their major advantage is that

they can be also be modified and be used as

automated irrigation controllers in various irrigation

systems.

News from Our Partners

Schlumberger Water Services and the University at Buffalo are pleased to

announce a one-day workshop on pumping test design and analysis. The

workshop will take place on June 3 and is designed to give students and

groundwater professionals hands-on experience designing and implementing a

field scale pumping test using Diver Groundwater Dataloggers. Participants will

also have to opportunity to review the pumping test data and make

interpretations using Aquifer Test Pro Pumping and Slug Test Analysis Software.

GEO5 software will be presented in the “6th national slope engineering technology

conference organized by Engineering Investigation Branch of Architectural

Society of China (ASC). This shall happen on April 19-21, 2014 at China (Beijing).

Ganzhou Pangolin Technology Co., Ltd is the exclusive distributor of GEO5 at China

.

SWS Announces Pumping Test Design & analysis

workshop with Universty of Buffalo

Solinst Releases New Mini Interface Meter

EAE to exhibit at IFAT 2014 in Munich

GEO5 software will be presented at the 6th national slope engineering technology conference.

Solinst is pleased to announce the release of a new version of the Model

122M Mini Interface Meter, which features a narrow PVDF cable. The PVDF

cable is very durable and easy to decontaminate. It is available in 80 ft. or

25 m lengths, precisely laser marked every 1/100 ft. or mm, certified

traceable to national standards. The cable comes on a portable reel,

compact so it fits in a backpack. Like the recently released Model 122

Standard Interface Meter, the new 122M Mini also features redesigned

electronics and a 5/8" (16 mm) dia. probe that is pressure-proof up to 500

psi. Meters are certified intrinsically safe for use in explosive environments,

and are ATEX certified.

3rd DHI Middle East conference conducted

successfully in Dubai

ibutor for China

We successfully conducted the 3rd DHI Middle East conference on 11 March

2014 in Dubai. Decision-makers as well as industry and water modelling

experts attended the conference. They shared their knowledge on various

water modelling-related challenges and technologies for sustainable water

resource management. The conference covered solutions as well as MIKE by

DHI software topics, including new software features of Release 2014. It

included practical case studies presented by our Middle East clients and

software users as well as by our own experts.

On 5-8 May 2014 at Munich, booth 104, hall A5 Eijkelkamp shall be exhibiting at the IFAT

2014. IFAT 2014 is the world s most important trade fair for the environment and waste

disposal. At this trade fair more than 2900 exhibitors from 54 countries will present their

products, innovations and services on 215 000 square meters of exhibition space. EAE

shall be presenting solutions and equipment such as carefree solutions, diver water

level loggers, plant care, augering and soil sampling equipment and water sampling

equipment.