West-LA Temperature Collection

This is a temperature collection experiment with consumer-grade temperature sensors in the LA area. Computer-attached, all-weather temperature sensors are quite expensive ($100 or more), and a mote-based solution would be more stiff. Instead, we point a $10 consumer webcam at the LCD display of a $20 consumer-grade temperature sensor, and automatically determine the temperature by processing the images. While inefficient, we see this approach as leveraging very cheap, commodity hardware and repurposing pre-existing, capable platforms such as PCs to bring slogging to casual users.

The sensor is consist of two units. The main unit collect inside temperature. The other unit collects outside temperature and send it to the main unit wireless. The software we provide takes a image of the main unit using a webcam and processes it and publishes to the sensorbase.org. See the details on the README file in the software package.

Participant

People who live in L.A. area can participate this experiment. It requires a computer which is running 24 hrs with internet connection.

Hardware

We provide

Radio shack wireless temperature sensors
USB powered LED light

In addition to above, you need to have.

Computer with internet connection
Webcam*

If you don't have a webcam, we can provide a webcam.

Deployment Examples

Software

Linux
GUI version (new) Download README
-(tested on Fedora 8.)
Script version (old) Download README
-(tested on Fedora Core 6, Fedora 7 & 8.)
Windows
Beta 0.4 version Download README
Beta 0.3 version Download README
Beta 0.2 version Download README

History

beta 0.4, 01-07-07
- supports Linux
- added the configuration reset button.(If the webcam is not selectable, reset the configuration)
- fixed minor bugs.

Windows beta 0.3, 12-03-07
- packaged with NSIS installer
- added the auto-slogging. The program starts automatically when it starts.

Windows beta 0.2, 11-05-07
- add the webcam warm-up delay

Windows beta 0.1, 11-05-07
- Windows version

linux beta 0.3, 10-22-07
- beta 0.3

Contact

If you have any question regarding this software, contact Unkyu Park [ukpark AT isi.edu]