Chapter 2 :Monitoring and Control

Sensor: A device that records data about the surrounding

physical environment. The sensor inputs this data into a
computer system to be processed.
Sensor scan automatically enter data into a computer
system, resultantly it increases the accuracy of the data by
removing the possibility of human error.

Analogue Data: The physical data that we stream in our

daily life.
Analogue to digital device (ADC):A device used to
convert analogue data into digital data.
Microprocessor: An integrated circuit used in
monitoring and control technologies.
Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC): A device used to
convert digital data into analogue data.
Actuator: This is a device usually a motor or a switch that
controls a mechanism or a System
 Monitoring Techniques
Physical variables are monitored or measured
over time using a computer or other device with
a microprocessor. This process is known as
measurement or monitoring. Knowing which
sensors are suitable to monitor physical factors
like blood pressure, pH, light, temperature, air
pressure, humidity, and wetness in a particular
scenario is crucial.
In reality, the process is unending and ongoing.
Since analogue sensors make up the majority
of sensors used in monitoring systems, the data
they provide to the computer is also analogue.
An analogue-to-digital converter (ADC) must be
used to transform the data because the
computer can only handle digital data. This is
necessary for the computer to process the data,
as it can only comprehend digital data. The
system's output is often shown on a screen or
printed out, but it may also sound an alert if vital
monitoring is being done, such as when a
nuclear reactor is overheating.
Sensors Description and uses
Light/Ultraviolet It measures the amount of light. There
are many types of light sensor, but they
all follow the same principle. When light
falls on this type of sensor, it generates
electrical energy. These sensors can be
used in weather stations to measure the
amount of sunshine. Ultraviolet sensors
are used to measure the amount of UV
(specifically UVB radiation, which can be
dangerous to humans, sometimes
causing skin cancer)
Temperature The components of different types of
temperature sensor either change their
electrical resistance or generate a voltage
according to temperature. Whichever type
is used, electrical signals are generated
which are converted into values to
represent temperature.
Pressure A pressure sensor converts the force
applied to its surface to generate
electrical energy which is then converted
into values to represent the applied
pressure. These sensors are used to
measure atmospheric pressure in
weather stations.
Humidity/Moisture Humidity sensors are often a combination
of a moisture sensor and a temperature
sensor in one unit. This is because
humidity can only be calculated by
 knowing how much water there is in the
atmosphere together with the
temperature. A moisture sensor is actually
a combination of a light sensor and a light
emitter, as the amount of light transmitted
depends on the moisture content of the
air. Humidity sensors are used to
measure the air humidity in a weather
station. Moisture sensors are also used
when monitoring soil quality
Sound These sensors convert sound waves into
voltages or electrical signals which are
converted by the computer into values to
represent sound. Sound sensors can be
used in environmental monitoring
systems to measure noise pollution.
Infrared All bodies possess thermal energy and
therefore emit infrared radiation. This
radiation is converted into electrical
signals as a result. These sensors can be
used in environmental monitoring, for
example the Earth’s surface temperature
can be monitored by satellites.

Oxygen, These sensors are employed in the

Carbon surveillance of water contamination
dioxide, pH, and the environment. The amount
turbidity of oxygen present in soil and water
is measured using oxygen (O2)
sensors. Carbon dioxide (CO2)
sensors are essentially an infrared
sensor modified to measure the
amount of carbon dioxide in the air
or in water. The acidity of soil and
water in rivers, lakes, etc. is
measured using pH sensors. They
work similarly to a basic battery
and produce energy based on the
concentration of hydrogen ions in
the solution, which results in the
generation of a voltage across an
electrode. Turbidity sensors
evaluate how hazy the water is in a
river that has been impacted by
pollution. In reality, a turbidity
sensor is a light sensor that is
often positioned perpendicularly to
a light source.
The greater the number of particles
in the water, the greater the
amount of light reflected off them
on to the sensor.
Uses of monitoring Technologies
1.Weather stations
Weather stations could be used to monitor the weather in
terms of temperature, rainfall, hours of sunlight, atmospheric
pressure, humidity, and UV radiation. For this purpose, it
would need:
Temperature sensors to measure the ambient temperature.
When referring to the weather, ambient temperature means
the temperature of the surrounding air of the weather
station.
Pressure sensors to measure atmospheric pressure, which
is the pressure of the air above us.
Humidity sensors measure absolute and relative humidity.
Absolute humidity is the amount of moisture in the air,
Light sensors to measure the number of hours of sunlight.
Reed switch to measure rainfall.
When the weather station is operating, the readings from
the sensors are feedback to an ADC and then sent to the
computer. The ADC converts the data
from analogue to digital so that the computer can
understand and process it. On receiving the digital data, the
computer stores the data in the form of a table, which could
be done using a spreadsheet or database package, so that
it can be processed. The processing might consist of
calculating, for each day, the highest, lowest and mean
temperature, the level of UV radiation, total rainfall, hours of
sunshine, highest and lowest value of atmospheric
pressure, and wind speed and direction. These values can
also be calculated for the month and year to date. Results
can be output in the form of graphs, either to a monitor or
printed out. This all happens automatically without the need
for human intervention.

Monitoring water pollution

This involves inserting two sets of sensors, one upstream

from the suspected site of pollution and the other
downstream, immediately after the site, whatever that may
be, farm or factory. The sensors involved are temperature
sensors, pH sensors, turbidity sensors, O2 and
CO2sensors.

Sensors feed data to an ADC and then the computer

processes the digital data.

The processing carried out is a comparison of the readings

with normal values if it is the first method, or a comparison
of the readings from the two sets of sensors if the second
method is being used.

Greenhouse/Glasshouse Environment Control:

Five different sensors could be used to control the

glasshouse environment namely, humidity, temperature, pH,
moisture and light.
1-Sensors monitor the values and send to the computing
device.

2-The signals are sent through ADC.

3-Computing device compares the value of the sensors with

its stored values.

4-If values are same to stored/preset values then no action

is taken.

5-If values vary then signal is sent to the actuators through

DAC