May 164 min read

How to Set Up a Monitoring Solution: From Manual Collection to Automated Insights with Novion

Updated: May 25

Monitoring environmental conditions is critical for maintaining the health and performance of green infrastructure. Whether you're tracking water levels, air quality, or other key metrics, accurate and timely data is essential. Traditionally, setting up and managing a monitoring solution can be labor-intensive and time-consuming. In this blog, we'll walk through the manual process of setting up a pressure sensor in a monitoring port, and then highlight how Novion’s automated solution can simplify this process and provide real-time data.

Setting Up a Manual Monitoring Solution

Step 1: Selecting and Installing the Sensor

First, choose an appropriate pressure sensor for your monitoring needs. Ensure it is compatible with the environmental conditions of your site. Here’s a step-by-step guide to installing a pressure sensor in a monitoring port:

Research the Site: Conduct a thorough site assessment to determine the best location for installing the sensor. Consider factors such as accessibility, environmental conditions, and specific monitoring requirements.
Prepare Installation Hardware: Gather all necessary installation hardware, including mounting brackets, cables, and protective enclosures for the sensor.
Identify the Monitoring Port: Locate the designated port or well where the sensor will be installed.
Prepare the Sensor: Ensure the sensor is calibrated and configured correctly for accurate measurements.
Install the Sensor: Insert the sensor into the monitoring port, making sure it is securely positioned to avoid any dislodgment. Secure all connections and ensure the sensor is protected from environmental elements.

Step 2: Collecting Data Manually

Once the sensor is installed, you need to collect data regularly. Here’s how you can do it manually:

Schedule Regular Visits: Plan monthly visits to the site to collect data.
Bring Necessary Equipment: Carry your laptop to the site to download the data manually from the sensor.
Retrieve Data: Connect to the sensor and download the data to your laptop during each visit.

Step 3: Analyzing the Data

After collecting the data, the next step is to analyze it. Here’s how you can do it:

Input Data into Spreadsheets: Back in the office, input the collected data into Excel spreadsheets.
Clean and Process Data: Clean the data by checking for any inconsistencies or errors. Format the data correctly to ensure it is ready for analysis.
Generate Graphs and Tables: Manually create graphs and tables to visualize the data. This helps in interpreting trends and identifying any significant changes or patterns.
Perform Data Crunching: Use statistical or analytical methods to derive insights from the data. This may involve calculating averages, identifying peak values, and analyzing trends over time.

Step 4: Creating Reports

Creating comprehensive reports from your data analysis is crucial for sharing insights and making informed decisions. Here’s how to do it:

Compile Data and Visuals: Gather all cleaned data, graphs, and tables into a cohesive format.
Write the Report: Document your findings, including an introduction, methodology, results, and conclusions.
Emphasize Key Insights: Highlight significant trends, anomalies, and actionable insights derived from the data.
Utilize Data Analytics Expertise: Crafting these reports requires a solid understanding of data analytics to ensure accuracy and relevance. You need to be proficient in interpreting data and translating it into meaningful information.
Review and Revise: Ensure the report is clear, accurate, and free of errors before sharing it with stakeholders.

Challenges of Manual Monitoring

While manual monitoring provides valuable data, it comes with several challenges:

Time-Consuming: Regular site visits are labor-intensive and can be disruptive to your workflow.
Inconsistent Data: Monthly data collection might miss important fluctuations or events.
Human Error: Manual recording and data entry increase the risk of errors.
Resource Intensive: Researching the site, preparing hardware, and performing data crunching add to the workload.
Need for Expertise: Creating accurate, insightful reports requires specialized data analytics skills.

Novion’s Automated Monitoring Solution

Imagine eliminating the need for manual site visits and accessing real-time data effortlessly. Novion’s automated monitoring solution transforms how you manage and collect environmental data. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Tell Novion what site you want monitored.

Novion handles the entire installation process for you:

Site Assessment: Our experts assess your site to determine the best locations for sensor installation.
Professional Installation: We configure Novion's proprietary Data Loggers with the sensor needed for your site and handle all installation, testing, and calibration for you.
On-going maintenance: You don't need to go on-site again to collect the data. We handle all sensor maintenance and battery changes so you don't have to leave the office.

Step 2: Get the Real-Time remotely through Novion's Climate Intelligence Platform.

Once installed, Novion’s sensor solution continuously collect data and transmit it in real-time:

Real-Time Dashboard: View all your data on an intuitive, user-friendly dashboard.
Automated Insights Generation: Novion's Climate Intelligence Platform automatically cleans, processes, and extracts insights from the data collected.
Automated Reporting: You'll be able to download reports that are automatically generated.

Benefits of Novion’s Automated Solution

Switching to Novion’s automated monitoring solution offers numerous advantages:

Save Time and Resources: No more manual site visits; focus on analysis and decision-making. Do more with your existing staff.
Get Accurate, Real-Time Data: Access up-to-the-minute data for more informed decisions.
Reduce Errors: Automated data collection minimizes the risk of human error.
Improve Responsiveness: React quickly to changes in environmental conditions with real-time alerts and insights.

Conclusion

Manual data collection for environmental monitoring can be labor-intensive and prone to errors.

By contrast, Novion’s automated monitoring solution provides a hassle-free, efficient way to collect and analyze real-time data. Our advanced sensors and Climate Intelligence Platform deliver accurate, timely insights, helping you make better decisions for your green infrastructure projects. Let Novion handle the complexities of data collection so you can focus on building resilient, sustainable cities.