Nerds Without Borders - User contributions [en]

Turtle Sense raw data

2022-03-31T06:29:11Z

Sam: add nest table

For details on how the data is collected, stored and formatted see: [http://media.turtlesense.org/2014_Turtle_Sense_final_report.pdf National Park Service -- Turtle Sense 2014 final report]

* Each year of data is consolidated in to a single zip file
**Cape Hatteras
*** [http://data.nerdswithoutborders.net/ts/CAHA2014.zip CAHA2014.zip]
*** [http://data.nerdswithoutborders.net/ts/CAHA2015.zip CAHA2015.zip]
*** [http://data.nerdswithoutborders.net/ts/CAHA2016.zip CAHA2016.zip]
*** [http://data.nerdswithoutborders.net/ts/CAHA2017.zip CAHA2017.zip]
*** [http://data.nerdswithoutborders.net/ts/CAHA2018.zip CAHA2018.zip]
**Costa Rica
*** [http://data.nerdswithoutborders.net/ts/Costa%20Rica%202017-2018.zip Costa Rica 2017-1018.zip]

For our PLoS paper we used the following data:
{|class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Nest #
! Depth (cm)
! # Eggs
! # Hatchlings
! Sensor
! relocated
|-
| 2017
| 58
| 24.2
| 132
| 113
| AA0006
|
|-
| 2017
| 49
| 36
| 155
| 137
| AA0007
|
|-
| 2017
| 61
| 33.5
| 119
| 103
| AA0016
|
|-
| 2017
| 77
| 34
| 123
| 117
| AA0017
|
|-
| 2017
| 108
| 50
| 164
| 157
| AA0025
|
|-
| 2016
| 122
| 24
| 114
| 6
| AA0011
|
|-
| 2016
| 122
| 35
| 108
| 105
| AA0008
|
|-
| 2016
| 132
| 19
| 109
| 49
| AA0009
|
|-
| 2016
| 136
| 42.3
| 107
| 97
| AA0015
|
|-
| 2016
| 143
|35
|101
|8
|AA0018
|
|-
| 2015
|2
|34
|110
|103
|AA0005
|
|-
| 2015
|3
|23
|121
|114
|AA0006
|
|-
| 2015
| 4
|20.5
|90
|84
|AA0007
|
|-
| 2015
|7
|27.4
|124
|111
|AA0009
|X
|-
| 2015
|15
|38
|100
|72
|AA0011
|
|-
| 2015
|14
|19
|129
|114
|AA0013
|
|-
| 2015
|18
|35
|132
|122
|AA0014
|
|-
| 2015
|22
|45
|80
|69
|AA0016
|
|-
| 2015
|23
|31.4
|92
|85
|AA0017
|
|-
| 2015
|24
|27
|131
|9
|AA0025
|
|-
| 2015
|36
|25
|131
|36
|AA0024
|
|-
| 2015
|41
|35.3
|85
|72
|AA0020
|
|-
| 2015
|55
|26
|130
|123
|AA0026
|X
|-
| 2015
|56
|30.5
|143
|135
|AA0027
|
|-
| 2015
|58
|30
|102
|97
|AA0028
|
|-
| 2015
|74
|30
|121
|112
|AA0029
|
|-
| 2015
|78
|37.7
|108
|76
|AA0004
|
|-
| 2015
|85
|36
|127
|111
|AA0008
|
|-
| 2015
|94
|33.3
|115
|100
|AA0015
|
|-
| 2015
|134
|30.5
|113
|86
|AA0019
|X
|-
| 2015
|139
|29
|97
|94
|AA0005
|X
|-
| 2015
|138
|28
|84
|78
|AA0009
|
|-
| 2015
|143
|32
|110
|109
|AA0006
|X
|-
| 2014
|5
|15
|99
|
|AA0005
|X
|-
| 2014
|7
|23
|153
|
|AA0003
|X
|-
| 2014
|36
|24
|122
|
|AA0009
|
|-
| 2014
|39
|29
|113
|
|AA0010
|
|-
| 2014
|43
|15
|90
|
|AA0011
|X
|-
| 2014
|45
|20
|
|
|AA0012
|
|-
| 2014
|47
|38
|108
|
|AA0013
|
|-
| 2014
|48
|15
|88
|
|AA0014
|
|-
| 2014
|56
|37
|95
|
|AA0017
|
|-
| 2014
|59
|26
|96
|
|AA0028
|X
|-
|}

Turtle Sense/Phase Two

2022-03-26T08:56:31Z

Sam: /* People */ Added Erin

==People==
*[[User:Dave]] -- Electrical engineering / Mechanical engineering
*[[User:Sam]] -- Project manager / Embedded Software
*[[User:Tom]] -- Engineering support
*[[User:Eric]] -- Fundraising / Community liaison
*[[User:Erin]] -- Turtle researcher
*[[User:Chuck]] -- Sea Turtle community outreach / Materials
*[[User:Chris]] -- Web Server Admin
*[[User:Mark]] -- Web Application Development
*[[User:Britta]] -- National Park Service Biologist
*[[User:Trebor|User:trebor]] -- Web visualizations

==Overview==
When nests are discovered by park personnel, they are uncovered, the eggs counted, and a DNA sample is taken. At that time, a smart sensor the size of a turtle egg is placed on top of the turtle nest before the excavated sand is filled back in to cover the site. The smart sensor measures motion and temperature in the nest, and the data collected is used to predict when hatching is imminent. The smart sensor is connected to a communications tower which sends out regular reports on the activity in the nest using M2M technology. The text file reports are FTP'd to a website directly from the communications tower. During Phase Two we created test units, one registration units, 8 communications towers and 24 smart sensors for installation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina startin in the Spring of 2014. Many of the sensors can be used in more than one nest per season, so Data can be collected from roughly 40 nests per season. The data is analyzed as it is collected to attempt to predict imminent hatching.

===Commercial options===
Before developing the system, other commercially available data recording systems were evaluated to see if anything that would meet our requirements was available. None of the options we found were not low enough power to fit our needs, and none provided the data we were hoping to collect. The closest matches we found would have required as much or almost as much custom engineering on our part to make it work, and there was no cost benefit to going that route.
*[[Chuck's research on data recorders]]

==Hardware components==
===Smart Sensor===
The Phase One design used plastic ping-pong balls (not good ping-pong balls, but cheap plastic knock offs) and a temperature/motion sensor pre-installed on a small circuit board ([https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11446 Qty 1 Price=$14.95]). Assembly involved cutting a small slot in a ball, putting in some silicone caulk, inserting a sensor board attached to a cable into the caulk, and then filling the rest of the ball with caulk. A ball cut in half covered the slot and makes a thorough seal with the silicone. This design was abandoned for several reasons. The silicone did not fully set, even after a few months in the field. The sensor was unreliable, which may have been because it was connected directly to the microprocessor via the long Cat 5 cable and communications were using a very slow bit-banged SPI connection. To improve communications we decided to put transceivers on both sides of the cable. By adding a microprocessor to the sensor, most of the processing could happen in the sensor assembly. The tranceivers are on for just a few seconds a day, for the upload of information from the sensor to the comm tower. This results in a Smart Sensor with very small power requirements.

The Smart Sensor has a 3-axis motion sensor (accelerometer) and temperature sensor connected to a very low power TI MSP430FR series microprocessor. There is also an RS485 transceiver chip which connects to the communications tower via a shielded Cat5 cable. The smart sensor can be programmed to take readings 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 or 400 times every second. Each reading is compared with the previous reading to determine the change in acceleration -- or "jolt". Rather than record each jolt, the sensor counts how many readings have reached approximately 25 different magnitude levels. These magnitude levels (which we call "bins counters") are in a logarithmic scale. Each bin is the square root of 2 larger than the previous one. We keep count for a variable amount of time (between 1 and 6 minutes) and then start a new set record with a new set of bins. This allows us to track how much motion there was at multiple magnitudes over time.

===Communications tower board===
Since it is not possible to make telemetry connections under wet salty sand, the smart sensors are connected to a communications tower. The design is based around creating a custom processing mother board connected to an off-the-shelf telemetry board. The communications board has a very low power TI MSP430FR series microprocessor which controls and monitors the activity of the smart sensor and controls the telemetry board. There is also a power supply, a RS485 telemetry chip and connectors for future expansion. The electronics are mounted inside a 3 inch PVC pipe and fittings anchored in a bucket filled with concrete. The concrete base and Cat 5 cable are buried in the sand. The The tower sends text reports to our web space via an FTP connection using the telemetry board. The frequency of the reports starts out a one a day when the nests are new and not very active. Later the frequency increases to 6 times a day as the nest becomes more active. Since the communications tower only makes one to 6 reports a day, The microprocessor turns the telemetry board on and off, so that it consumes no power when it is not being used.

====Telemetry board====
We are using [http://www.janus-rc.com/terminuscf.html plug in Terminus boards] made by Janus. One board works with AT&T, T-mobile and many international GSM networks. Another works with Verizon. The boards are interchangeable so both will plug into our motherboard. The cost is roughly $140 qty 1 and are [http://www.janus-rc.com/terminuscf.html available from the manufacturer, Janus]. Janus has generously offered us a discount on their boards.

===Hand-held registration unit===
A communications board is mounted in a small hand-held unit so that it can be taken in the field when nests are first discovered. This allows park service personnel to carry just the light-weight sensors and the hand-held unit to the nest sites. Later, the much heavier and bulkier communications towers can be brought in. The Hand-Held units have GPS capability. They are programmed to test the sensors to make sure they are functioning properly, get a GPS reading, check for good cell reception, and get the local time and date from the cellular network. The date, time and GPS location are sent to the sensor, so that all this information will be available to the communications tower when it eventually connected.

===Other components===
The only other components necessary are the cable and connector for the turtle egg sensor, one antenna for the communications tower (the hand held unit has an extra antenna for GPS.) The units should operate for roughly 4 months running on 4 or 8 low self-discharge NiMH Batteries. Also, anyone creating these devices will need the hardware necessary for programming the microprocessors.

==Cellular service==
We arranged for cellular service through m2mAIR which is part of TELIT, the manufacture of the cellular modules used in the Janus plug-in boards. This service is cost effective for hosting a large number of devices, as they can all be in the same account with one monthly fee. The devices are also charged for the data used by each device, but the quota is pooled (shared) between all the devices, and the data rate charges can be modified month by month. During periods of little or no activity, the data plans can be throttled back to keep the fees to a minimum.

==Web design and Database==
All reports are uploaded to our web-space. The reports are comma separated text files with headings and labels, so they can be read by people as well as computers. We are beginning work on a database to store all the data. When reports are uploaded, the communications units also check the webspace for a new parameter file and download it if it is found. The parameter file has settings that effect the behavior of the devices. Here are some of the things that can be changed:

*The frequency of reporting during inactive days
*The frequency of reporting during active days
*The number of inactive days
*The number of records per report
*How frequently samples are read by the sensor (12.5, 25, 50,100, 200 or 400 times per second)
*All of the other settings possible for the sensor
*Whether reports are verbose (labels on all the fields) or just data
*Whether temperatures are calibrated

Work has started on designing a database to collect all the data in the reports, and a website to give people access to the data. This work is just in its preliminary stages in anticipation of Phase 3.
* [[Turtle Sense/Website design]]
* [[Turtle Sense/Database design]]

==Embedded code==
There are essentially three devices that need embedded code. The smart sensor, the communications tower units, and the hand-held registration units. All three of these devices use the same microprocessor, and two of them use the same circuit board. A good deal of the embedded code is shared in the three applications..

All the code was written in C using TI's Code Composer Studio which is free for developers of code that is smaller than 16K.

The code is fully documented and can be seen on GITHUB:
*[https://github.com/NerdsWithoutBorders/Turtle-Sense-Smart-Sensor Smart Sensor embedded code]
*[https://github.com/NerdsWithoutBorders/TurtleSense-Comm-Head Communications tower embedded code]
*[https://github.com/NerdsWithoutBorders/TurtleSense-HandHeld-communicator Registration unit embedded code]

==Parts lists==
* [https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26861868/Turtle%20Sense%20Public%20Files/Turtle%20Sense%20Communicator%20PCB%20v.0.25%20--%20Bill%20of%20Materials.xls Turtle Sense Communications board parts]
* [https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26861868/Turtle%20Sense%20Public%20Files/Turtle%20Sense%20Smart%20Sensor%20PCB%20v.0.23a%20--%20Bill%20of%20Materials.xls Turtle Sense Smart Sensor board parts]

==Schematics and System design==
* [[Block Diagram of System]]
* [[Turtle Sense Smart Sensor PCB Schematic v.0.24|Smart Sensor PCB 0.24 schematic]]
* [[Turtle Sense Smart Sensor board v.0.24|Smart Sensor PCB 0.24 description]]
* [[Turtle Sense Communications PCB Schematic v.0.25a|Communications PCB 0.25a schematic]]
* [[Turtle Sense communications board v.0.25a|Communications PCB 0.25a description]]

==Circuit Board Fabrication==
* [[Turtle Sense -- Manufacturing the Communicator and Smart Sensor printed circuit boards|Manufacturing the Communicator and Smart Sensor printed circuit boards]]

==Assembly Instructions==
* [[Turtle Sense cable assembly instructions|Cable assembly instructions]]
* [[Turtle Sense casting instructions for Smart Sensor and connectors|Casting instructions for Smart Sensor and connectors]]
* [[Turtle Sense communicator PVC housing assembly instructions|Communicator PVC housing assembly instructions]]
* [[Turtle Sense communicator housing final assembly|Communicator housing final assembly]]
==User Guide ==
* [[Turtle Sense nest site installation instructions|Nest site installation instructions]]
* [[Turtle Sense nest monitoring instructions|Nest site monitoring instructions]]

Turtle Sense

2022-03-07T09:39:07Z

Sam: /* 2015 season */

;Using high tech sensors and cell phone networks to protect sea turtle hatchlings
[[File:HIOC turtle sense logo.jpg|right]]

==Background==
[[File:Hawaii turtle 2.JPG|400px|right]]
Sea turtles have existed for 100 million years, but in the last century, the impacts of man through accidental capture in fishing nets, habitat destruction, pollution, and plastics in the ocean have significantly reduced populations by as much as 95%. Six of the seven species nest in the warmer beaches of the US, and all of these are protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Although volunteer groups and park personnel can identify egg-laying sites almost immediately, the hatching date (when they emerge onto the beach) cannot be predicted—it will happen sometime in a six-week period beginning 50 days after the eggs are laid. All 100 to 150 of the sea turtle hatchlings in a nest usually appear simultaneously (mostly at night) on some unpredictable date during that six-week period. The hatchlings “boil” out of the sand and begin a dash to the ocean, one of the most touching sights in nature.

Beginning at 50 days after the eggs are laid, the National Park Service (NPS) at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore fences off a lane from the nest to the ocean and forbids other access to that lane until either the hatchlings appear or the 100 days has elapsed. This long protection period creates conflicts with other uses for beach access, such as fishing and vehicular movement for recreation and safety. Conflicts are inevitable, often leading to lawsuits.

== Project Objective==
[[File:Baby sea turtles make their way toward the water.jpg|thumb|400px|left|This project is developing technology to help protect sea turtle hatchlings at their first crisis: emerging from the egg and making it to the ocean. Hatching happens on an unpredictable day sometime during a six-week window beginning 50 days after the eggs are laid. Predicting the hatching date to within a few days is the goal of this project.]]
The goal of the project is to develop simple, inexpensive technology for determining when a "boil" will occur with as much accuracy and reliability as possible. The current design employs a sensor that measures egg motion either as the embryos agitate in the egg or as the sea turtle hatchlings begin to pip out of the eggs or both. The results, perhaps including modeling, will hopefully be able to predict hatching dates (arrival on the beach) to a reliable one-to-three-day window, a significant improvement over the current six-week window. Developing a reliable technology for predicting hatching will allow the NPS to create a new protocol for protecting the nests, thus freeing up access to the beaches for a significantly longer time.

There are several possible beneficial side effects of the technology:
* The technology can be used to help develop ecotourism around the hatching of sea turtles. Once people (especially young people) experience the hatching of these creatures, they may be much more likely to think positively about the welfare of sea turtles in the future.
* If local people can develop an income around this ecotourism activity, they may be less averse to the obstructions to beach vehicles and foot traffic.
* The technology might be useful for scientists studying sea turtles and might be adaptable for the study of other egg-laying species.

All the designs and software code will be published on this website and will be available for use worldwide. All data created by the system will be made available to researchers worldwide.

== History ==
The device began with an idea from Eric Kaplan, founder of a company that develops Bluetooth wireless technology test equipment. Kaplan sold his company to his employees and later founded the Hatteras Island Ocean Center (www.hioceancenter.org), a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) ecology education center on Hatteras Island in North Carolina. Kaplan saw the need for this technology and approached his childhood friend Tom Zimmerman, an IBM Research–Almaden (San Jose, CA) electrical engineer for assistance. Zimmerman designed the sensor package in 2013 as a public service commitment from IBM. Tom recruited his college buddy, Samuel Wantman a retired software designer, and they worked on developing the first phase of the design with support from IBM and from the National Park Service. Britta Muiznieks, a biologist with the NPS has been coordinating the Park's involvement. The first phase of the project was a very quick and inexpensive hack of cell phones with a simple custom circuit board to test the viability of the project. The devices were tried in a few nests in 2013, but unfortunately it was too late in the season to get any data from viable nests. Even so, there was enough learned to make everyone involved in the project believe that there was the potential to make the technology work.

Wantman took over management of the project in 2014, as Zimmerman had to return to other commitments at IBM. Additional volunteers were recruited, including David Hermeyer a retired electrical engineer and Charles Wade a retired IBM Research manager. Phase Two of the project involves developing a more robust custom sensor embedded in a plastic sphere the same size and shape as a turtle egg, with industry standard technology for transmitting data over cell phone networks. Installation has begun on multiple sensors that the NPS is funding for field testing in 2014. The project inspired Samuel Wantman to start Nerdswithoutborders.net to help organize the project, recruit volunteers, and inspire other projects. All of the Turtle Sense project members, with the exception of the NPS employees, donate their time. The Hatteras Island Ocean Center is the sponsoring non-profit institution that administers receipt and disbursement of funds for materials and other expenses.

==Phase One (2013 Turtle Season)==
[[file:PingPongSensor.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A ping-pong ball sensor assembly placed in a sea turtle nest (field tests 2013). The cable coming from the sensor leads to the communications tower for the cell phone connection.]]
Phase One was a proof-of-concept field test undertaken during the 2013 turtle season. A motion-and-temperature sensor (Analog Devices ADLX362, 3-Axil, Digital Output MEMS accelerometer), soldered to a Sparkfun “breakout board,” was soldered to a CAT5 cable. The board was sealed in a Ping-Pong ball by filling it with “aquarium safe” silicone caulk. The Ping-Pong ball, about the size and shape of the sea turtle eggs, was placed in the sea turtle nest by National Park Service (NPS) rangers. The other end of the cable attached to the "egg" assembly was electrically connected to a hacked cell phone that was programmed with a very small, low-powered TI MSP430 microprocessor. The phone sent out text messages with the motion and temperature data every two hours. The cell phone was protected from the elements by a communications tower made from 4" PVC pipe and pipe fittings.

Turtle eggshells are thick and leathery, so the hatchlings need considerable effort to emerge from the egg. After leaving the egg, the hatchlings remain in the nest for two-to-four days before exiting (usually) as a group onto the beach. All the resulting motions should activate the accelerometer sensor and thus provide data to the phone network. Though the first device had its problems, field tests done at Hatteras in October 2013 were positive. The signal from the sensor close to a single hatchling was eight times larger than the background signal, giving hope for more extensive tests planned for 2014.

==Phase Two Description==
''See also: [[Turtle Sense/Phase Two]]

Planning for Phase Two began during the implementation of Phase One. Samuel Wantman and David Hermeyer began working on the design for a more robust solution in the Fall of 2013. Units were installed by the NPS starting in June of 2014. About a dozen nests were monitored and predictions were made as to when the hatchlings would emerge.

Several problems were identified during Phase One that we tried to address in Phase Two:
*The sensors had reliability problems communicating with the cell phones because of the long distance between the sensor and the microprocessor in the communications unit. This is being addressed in two ways. The sensor was mounted on a very small (1 inch by 1 inch) circuit board inside the "egg" that goes in the nest. The board also contains a microprocessor and a RS485 transceiver that allows reliable communication over very long cable lengths.
[[file:PhaseTwoCommBoard.jpg|left|400px|thumb|The 2014 communications assembly contains the circuit board, power supply, a microprocessor, an M2M cell phone board and RS485 transceiver. Inset is a quarter for size reference.]]
*The cell phone, having been designed with a human interface, was often unpredictable. Occasionally messages would pop up prompting a human reply (like a notification that the phone was charging). This made programming the device difficult because of all of the possible messages and the timing of their appearance are not predictable. At one point, the devices stopped working because the cellular service provider required all its users to upload new operating software. An appropriate user response was not possible in field-installed pre-programmed units. Because of this problem, we adopted industry standard M2M (Machine to Machine) methods of sending data over a cellular network.
*Text messages and disposable cell phones were not a cost-effective way to send large amounts of data. Phase Two uses FTP protocols with devices and data plans that have much less expensive data charges.
*Hacked cell phones would be difficult to mass produce, so the new design uses off-the-shelf, plug-in cell phone boards and custom circuitry that can be mass produced.
*Phase One used single-use D cell alkaline batteries. Phase Two uses rechargeable NiMH AA batteries and achieves longer battery life, as the package is carefully designed for low energy needs.
*Most of the turtle-specific calculations are now done in the microprocessor embedded with the sensor in the "egg." The communication system is designed so that it can be modified for other sensors.
*The silicone filling the ping-pong balls that housed the sensors in Phase One never cured. For Phase Two, we made a casting of a ping-pong ball (which is the same size and shape as a turtle egg), and used it to cast solid polyurethane "eggs" around the sensor circuit boards. The polyurethane is fully set in less than a day, does not out-gas, and is very hard and durable.

== Phase Two results==
[[File:2015 - NH003 (7-28 final) sensor AA0006.png|250px|thumb|In 2015 we started to automate the graphing of data, and used the graphs to successfully predict emergence of hatchlings]]
===2014 season===
:''For more detail, see:
* [http://media.turtlesense.org/2014_Turtle_Sense_final_report.pdf National Park Service -- Turtle Sense 2014 final report]
* [[Turtle Sense / Project logs]]

===2015 season===
We successfully monitored nests at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

For graphs of the nests that were monitored see: [[Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results]]

==Phase Three Description==
''See also: [[Turtle Sense/Phase Three]]
===Phase Three Goals===
Work on phase three began after the end of the 2014 season. The goals of Phase Three are:
*To refine our hardware so that it is easier and cheaper to manufacture, more reliable, and easier to maintain.
*Extend the firmware so that it has better error handling, can be updated in the field, and offers more features and usable data.
*Create a working, somewhat complete website which does the following: automates the process of predicting hatching, reports predation events and over-washes; generates alerts for users; centralizes necessary data entry; and, allows open access of data for researchers and wildlife managers.
*Test the equipment and features in several different environments.
*Attend conferences to publicize our work and find additional organizations to team up with, and find additional volunteers to assist the project.
*Create a plan to get the technology included in protocols that are acceptable to the US Fish and Wildlife service.

Most of the technical work to make this happen will be done during 2015. The phase two equipment will be used until the phase three equipment is ready.

==Phase Three Progress==
Work is underway modifying the Turtle Sense hardware and software.
===Hardware===
* A moisture detector is being added to the smart sensor "egg".
* The power supply of the unit is changing from 8 AA rechargeable batteries that just last for a season to a solar cell that will charge 3 AAA batteries. Preliminary tests indicate that this will be cheaper to produce, and last for many years -- as long as the life of the batteries -- before needing servicing. Initial testing is very positive. There is enough light on a very overcast day to keep the units running, and even without any light the units will continue running for several weeks.
* Connections between the comm unit and the sensors will be made with coax cable. This will allow the connections to be modified and repaired in the field, greatly reduce the expense and time involved in creating the devices, and allow multiple sensors to be connected to the same comm unit. Power and two way communication will all use the same wire.
* Expansion ports will be added for USB/SD support, Bluetooth and other wireless capabilities, and auxiliary connections for controlling and interfacing with other field equipment.
* Since the batteries will not need annual servicing, the comm units will only have one sealed chamber instead of two. This will simplify the construction and installation of the devices
* Upgraded microprocessors will expand available memory from 16K to 64K while lowering power usage.

===Software===
* Expanded memory provides space for better error handling, increased data storage, and user code.
* A protocol will be developed for interfacing with multiple sensors
* Tools and libraries will be help others customize the hardware and software for other applications

==Data==
:''See also: [[Turtle Sense raw data]]''
[[File:Screenshot 2014-07-03 01.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Data from the first report of the 2014 season]]
The Turtle Sense units constantly monitor and analyze motion to create a profile of its magnitude over time. The motion detector measures the change in acceleration (or "jolt") multiple times per second. The magnitude is squared and summed. After six minutes, the results are stored in a record along with a temperature and orientation reading, and the process starts over. The sum that results is roughly the total energy recorded in the nest during the period. This process allows us to compress several thousand readings into approximately 32 bytes of information. We lose but we suspect that those details are not important. The 240 records created each day give us a very good idea of what is happening in the nest. Once 40 days have passed, we restart the process of summing every minute to get more detailed data.

There has been some research that indicates that before emerging from the nest in a "boil," turtles that have hatched congregate underground near the top of the nest. It is thought that this motion stimulates the hatching of the turtles that haven't yet emerged. Our sensors, situated at the top of the nest, were able to record some noticeable disturbances several days before the turtles boil. We were able to see these disturbances in the data in almost all of the nests that we monitored in the 2014 season and were able to predict the date of the boil within a window of a few days.

Predictions from the data in 2014 were made by human observation of graphed data. We will be generating algorithms to predict hatching from our data and refining them to come up with a reliable automated process for predicting hatching a few days in advance.

==Funding and Impact==
[[File:NH007-Post Hurr Arthur-exclosure (2) cropped small.jpg|thumb|left|300px|A few days after the first units of Phase Two were installed, Hurricane Arthur hit. The units reported regularly before and after the storm without any problems. This picture was taken the day after the storm. Notice how all the text was sandblasted off the sign in the forefront. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is just behind the dune.]]
The National Park Service has been funding the project since it began. Labor is being provided by NerdsWithoutBorder.net volunteers. Additional support has come from:
* [http://ibm.com IBM -- grants]
* [http://www.janus-rc.com/ Janus Remote Communications -- a generous discount on their M2M plug-in boards]
* [http://www.screamingcircuits.com/ Screaming Circuits -- a donation of the labor toward the production of circuit prototypes]
* [http://www.telit.com Telit -- publicity]
* [http://www.fte.com Frontline Test Equipment, Inc. -- a donation of communications testing equipment]
* [http://www.corun.com/ent Hunan Corun New Energy Co.,LTD -- a donation of rechargeable NiMH batteries]

We are seeking funding and volunteers to expand the program.

Success in this project would provide widespread, international advantages. As noted above, the stress could be lessened between the protection agencies and the fishing industry, recreational users, and tourism advocates, all of whom desire more beach access. More effective international protection will be available, since the protection resources can be concentrated close to the hatch date instead of being stretched over six weeks. With a tighter hatching schedule, the public would have the opportunity to observe the hatchlings heading for the sea, an observation available only randomly now. This would improve the public support of the turtles. NPS will use the hatch dates in on-site announcements and information centers, and the Hatteras Island Ocean Center will disseminate the information in their programs. Much of the research on sea turtle eggs and hatchlings in the world could benefit from more accurate predictions of the hatch date. For example, studies that require capturing hatchlings for research could be done with much greater efficiency. Also, the sensor/cell network could be adapted for measurements of other species, including birds. Given its modest cost and energy efficiency (long battery life), it may have other uses in environmental studies. All the design information will be available to the public on the wiki http://nerdswithoutborders.net. If the project is successful equipment will be made available at cost or perhaps below cost if sponsors come forward.

[[Image:Britta2013.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Britta Muiznieks, a wildlife biologist at the NPS Cape Hatteras Seashore in NC with a protected turtle nest. The 4" PVC pipe assembly tower was used in the 2013 testing. A smaller 3" structure holds the 2014 package because the electronics are smaller and AA rechargeable batteries have replaced D cells. Vandal-proofing is one aspect of the design. Britta does the field research for the NPS.]]

==Press==
===Radio===
*NPR's Here & Now:
**[http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/08/25/turtles-outer-banks Part One (Aug 2014)]
**[http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/11/04/sea-turtles-sensors Part Two (Nov 2014)]

===Print===
* [http://hamptonroads.com/2014/08/plan-hatched-could-help-keep-beaches-open Article at PilotOnline.com (Virginia-Pilot) (August 2014)]
* [http://islandfreepress.org/2014Archives/08.21.2014-ItMakesTurtleSenseGivingCellPhonesToTurtles.html Article in Island Free Press(Aug 2014)]
* [http://outerbanksvoice.com/2013/08/29/high-tech-could-help-predict-sea-turtle-hatches/ Article in Outer Banks Voice (August 2013)]
* [http://outerbanksvoice.com/2014/08/10/small-ocean-center-incorporates-an-expansive-natural-theater/ Another mention at the Outer Banks Voice]
===Web===
* [http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/13/north-carolina-sea-turtles/?ncid=rss_truncated Engadget.com]
* [http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/geek-life/hands-on/technologists-hatch-turtle-sense-system-with-ecology-and-economy-in-mind Tech-talk at IEEE Spectrum]
* [http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-green-mind/201409/sensing-turtles Article at PsychologyToday.com]
* [http://hackaday.com/page/8/ Blog at hackaday.com]
* [http://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2014/08/remote-sensors-mean-more-sea-turtles-fewer-beach-closures-hatteras/90545/ Article at nextgov.com (August 2014)]
* [http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140515-910765.html Telit press release in the Wall Street Journal (May 2014)]
* [http://www.iotworld.com/author.asp?section_id=3153&doc_id=563269 Blog at iotworld.com]

==Links==
*[http://www.hioceancenter.org/ Hatteras Island Ocean Center website]
*[http://hackaday.io/project/2264-Turtle-Sense Entry for the Hackaday Prize at hackaday.io]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_bWmOsYJz4 Video about the project at YouTube]
*[[Turtle Sense/People]] -- People involved in this project.

==Contact us==
If you would like to help with this project, make suggestions, or offer a critique, please email: admin@nerdswithoutborders.net.

Thank You!

Turtle Sense

2022-03-07T09:31:25Z

Sam: /* 2014 season */ stored version in website

;Using high tech sensors and cell phone networks to protect sea turtle hatchlings
[[File:HIOC turtle sense logo.jpg|right]]

==Background==
[[File:Hawaii turtle 2.JPG|400px|right]]
Sea turtles have existed for 100 million years, but in the last century, the impacts of man through accidental capture in fishing nets, habitat destruction, pollution, and plastics in the ocean have significantly reduced populations by as much as 95%. Six of the seven species nest in the warmer beaches of the US, and all of these are protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Although volunteer groups and park personnel can identify egg-laying sites almost immediately, the hatching date (when they emerge onto the beach) cannot be predicted—it will happen sometime in a six-week period beginning 50 days after the eggs are laid. All 100 to 150 of the sea turtle hatchlings in a nest usually appear simultaneously (mostly at night) on some unpredictable date during that six-week period. The hatchlings “boil” out of the sand and begin a dash to the ocean, one of the most touching sights in nature.

Beginning at 50 days after the eggs are laid, the National Park Service (NPS) at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore fences off a lane from the nest to the ocean and forbids other access to that lane until either the hatchlings appear or the 100 days has elapsed. This long protection period creates conflicts with other uses for beach access, such as fishing and vehicular movement for recreation and safety. Conflicts are inevitable, often leading to lawsuits.

== Project Objective==
[[File:Baby sea turtles make their way toward the water.jpg|thumb|400px|left|This project is developing technology to help protect sea turtle hatchlings at their first crisis: emerging from the egg and making it to the ocean. Hatching happens on an unpredictable day sometime during a six-week window beginning 50 days after the eggs are laid. Predicting the hatching date to within a few days is the goal of this project.]]
The goal of the project is to develop simple, inexpensive technology for determining when a "boil" will occur with as much accuracy and reliability as possible. The current design employs a sensor that measures egg motion either as the embryos agitate in the egg or as the sea turtle hatchlings begin to pip out of the eggs or both. The results, perhaps including modeling, will hopefully be able to predict hatching dates (arrival on the beach) to a reliable one-to-three-day window, a significant improvement over the current six-week window. Developing a reliable technology for predicting hatching will allow the NPS to create a new protocol for protecting the nests, thus freeing up access to the beaches for a significantly longer time.

There are several possible beneficial side effects of the technology:
* The technology can be used to help develop ecotourism around the hatching of sea turtles. Once people (especially young people) experience the hatching of these creatures, they may be much more likely to think positively about the welfare of sea turtles in the future.
* If local people can develop an income around this ecotourism activity, they may be less averse to the obstructions to beach vehicles and foot traffic.
* The technology might be useful for scientists studying sea turtles and might be adaptable for the study of other egg-laying species.

All the designs and software code will be published on this website and will be available for use worldwide. All data created by the system will be made available to researchers worldwide.

== History ==
The device began with an idea from Eric Kaplan, founder of a company that develops Bluetooth wireless technology test equipment. Kaplan sold his company to his employees and later founded the Hatteras Island Ocean Center (www.hioceancenter.org), a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) ecology education center on Hatteras Island in North Carolina. Kaplan saw the need for this technology and approached his childhood friend Tom Zimmerman, an IBM Research–Almaden (San Jose, CA) electrical engineer for assistance. Zimmerman designed the sensor package in 2013 as a public service commitment from IBM. Tom recruited his college buddy, Samuel Wantman a retired software designer, and they worked on developing the first phase of the design with support from IBM and from the National Park Service. Britta Muiznieks, a biologist with the NPS has been coordinating the Park's involvement. The first phase of the project was a very quick and inexpensive hack of cell phones with a simple custom circuit board to test the viability of the project. The devices were tried in a few nests in 2013, but unfortunately it was too late in the season to get any data from viable nests. Even so, there was enough learned to make everyone involved in the project believe that there was the potential to make the technology work.

Wantman took over management of the project in 2014, as Zimmerman had to return to other commitments at IBM. Additional volunteers were recruited, including David Hermeyer a retired electrical engineer and Charles Wade a retired IBM Research manager. Phase Two of the project involves developing a more robust custom sensor embedded in a plastic sphere the same size and shape as a turtle egg, with industry standard technology for transmitting data over cell phone networks. Installation has begun on multiple sensors that the NPS is funding for field testing in 2014. The project inspired Samuel Wantman to start Nerdswithoutborders.net to help organize the project, recruit volunteers, and inspire other projects. All of the Turtle Sense project members, with the exception of the NPS employees, donate their time. The Hatteras Island Ocean Center is the sponsoring non-profit institution that administers receipt and disbursement of funds for materials and other expenses.

==Phase One (2013 Turtle Season)==
[[file:PingPongSensor.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A ping-pong ball sensor assembly placed in a sea turtle nest (field tests 2013). The cable coming from the sensor leads to the communications tower for the cell phone connection.]]
Phase One was a proof-of-concept field test undertaken during the 2013 turtle season. A motion-and-temperature sensor (Analog Devices ADLX362, 3-Axil, Digital Output MEMS accelerometer), soldered to a Sparkfun “breakout board,” was soldered to a CAT5 cable. The board was sealed in a Ping-Pong ball by filling it with “aquarium safe” silicone caulk. The Ping-Pong ball, about the size and shape of the sea turtle eggs, was placed in the sea turtle nest by National Park Service (NPS) rangers. The other end of the cable attached to the "egg" assembly was electrically connected to a hacked cell phone that was programmed with a very small, low-powered TI MSP430 microprocessor. The phone sent out text messages with the motion and temperature data every two hours. The cell phone was protected from the elements by a communications tower made from 4" PVC pipe and pipe fittings.

Turtle eggshells are thick and leathery, so the hatchlings need considerable effort to emerge from the egg. After leaving the egg, the hatchlings remain in the nest for two-to-four days before exiting (usually) as a group onto the beach. All the resulting motions should activate the accelerometer sensor and thus provide data to the phone network. Though the first device had its problems, field tests done at Hatteras in October 2013 were positive. The signal from the sensor close to a single hatchling was eight times larger than the background signal, giving hope for more extensive tests planned for 2014.

==Phase Two Description==
''See also: [[Turtle Sense/Phase Two]]

Planning for Phase Two began during the implementation of Phase One. Samuel Wantman and David Hermeyer began working on the design for a more robust solution in the Fall of 2013. Units were installed by the NPS starting in June of 2014. About a dozen nests were monitored and predictions were made as to when the hatchlings would emerge.

Several problems were identified during Phase One that we tried to address in Phase Two:
*The sensors had reliability problems communicating with the cell phones because of the long distance between the sensor and the microprocessor in the communications unit. This is being addressed in two ways. The sensor was mounted on a very small (1 inch by 1 inch) circuit board inside the "egg" that goes in the nest. The board also contains a microprocessor and a RS485 transceiver that allows reliable communication over very long cable lengths.
[[file:PhaseTwoCommBoard.jpg|left|400px|thumb|The 2014 communications assembly contains the circuit board, power supply, a microprocessor, an M2M cell phone board and RS485 transceiver. Inset is a quarter for size reference.]]
*The cell phone, having been designed with a human interface, was often unpredictable. Occasionally messages would pop up prompting a human reply (like a notification that the phone was charging). This made programming the device difficult because of all of the possible messages and the timing of their appearance are not predictable. At one point, the devices stopped working because the cellular service provider required all its users to upload new operating software. An appropriate user response was not possible in field-installed pre-programmed units. Because of this problem, we adopted industry standard M2M (Machine to Machine) methods of sending data over a cellular network.
*Text messages and disposable cell phones were not a cost-effective way to send large amounts of data. Phase Two uses FTP protocols with devices and data plans that have much less expensive data charges.
*Hacked cell phones would be difficult to mass produce, so the new design uses off-the-shelf, plug-in cell phone boards and custom circuitry that can be mass produced.
*Phase One used single-use D cell alkaline batteries. Phase Two uses rechargeable NiMH AA batteries and achieves longer battery life, as the package is carefully designed for low energy needs.
*Most of the turtle-specific calculations are now done in the microprocessor embedded with the sensor in the "egg." The communication system is designed so that it can be modified for other sensors.
*The silicone filling the ping-pong balls that housed the sensors in Phase One never cured. For Phase Two, we made a casting of a ping-pong ball (which is the same size and shape as a turtle egg), and used it to cast solid polyurethane "eggs" around the sensor circuit boards. The polyurethane is fully set in less than a day, does not out-gas, and is very hard and durable.

== Phase Two results==
[[File:2015 - NH003 (7-28 final) sensor AA0006.png|250px|thumb|In 2015 we started to automate the graphing of data, and used the graphs to successfully predict emergence of hatchlings]]
===2014 season===
:''For more detail, see:
* [http://media.turtlesense.org/2014_Turtle_Sense_final_report.pdf National Park Service -- Turtle Sense 2014 final report]
* [[Turtle Sense / Project logs]]

===2015 season===
We successfully monitored nests at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. For a record of predictions please go to [https://groups.google.com/forum/?pli=1#!forum/turtlesense our Google Group]

For graphs of the nests that were monitored see: [[Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results]]

==Phase Three Description==
''See also: [[Turtle Sense/Phase Three]]
===Phase Three Goals===
Work on phase three began after the end of the 2014 season. The goals of Phase Three are:
*To refine our hardware so that it is easier and cheaper to manufacture, more reliable, and easier to maintain.
*Extend the firmware so that it has better error handling, can be updated in the field, and offers more features and usable data.
*Create a working, somewhat complete website which does the following: automates the process of predicting hatching, reports predation events and over-washes; generates alerts for users; centralizes necessary data entry; and, allows open access of data for researchers and wildlife managers.
*Test the equipment and features in several different environments.
*Attend conferences to publicize our work and find additional organizations to team up with, and find additional volunteers to assist the project.
*Create a plan to get the technology included in protocols that are acceptable to the US Fish and Wildlife service.

Most of the technical work to make this happen will be done during 2015. The phase two equipment will be used until the phase three equipment is ready.

==Phase Three Progress==
Work is underway modifying the Turtle Sense hardware and software.
===Hardware===
* A moisture detector is being added to the smart sensor "egg".
* The power supply of the unit is changing from 8 AA rechargeable batteries that just last for a season to a solar cell that will charge 3 AAA batteries. Preliminary tests indicate that this will be cheaper to produce, and last for many years -- as long as the life of the batteries -- before needing servicing. Initial testing is very positive. There is enough light on a very overcast day to keep the units running, and even without any light the units will continue running for several weeks.
* Connections between the comm unit and the sensors will be made with coax cable. This will allow the connections to be modified and repaired in the field, greatly reduce the expense and time involved in creating the devices, and allow multiple sensors to be connected to the same comm unit. Power and two way communication will all use the same wire.
* Expansion ports will be added for USB/SD support, Bluetooth and other wireless capabilities, and auxiliary connections for controlling and interfacing with other field equipment.
* Since the batteries will not need annual servicing, the comm units will only have one sealed chamber instead of two. This will simplify the construction and installation of the devices
* Upgraded microprocessors will expand available memory from 16K to 64K while lowering power usage.

===Software===
* Expanded memory provides space for better error handling, increased data storage, and user code.
* A protocol will be developed for interfacing with multiple sensors
* Tools and libraries will be help others customize the hardware and software for other applications

==Data==
:''See also: [[Turtle Sense raw data]]''
[[File:Screenshot 2014-07-03 01.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Data from the first report of the 2014 season]]
The Turtle Sense units constantly monitor and analyze motion to create a profile of its magnitude over time. The motion detector measures the change in acceleration (or "jolt") multiple times per second. The magnitude is squared and summed. After six minutes, the results are stored in a record along with a temperature and orientation reading, and the process starts over. The sum that results is roughly the total energy recorded in the nest during the period. This process allows us to compress several thousand readings into approximately 32 bytes of information. We lose but we suspect that those details are not important. The 240 records created each day give us a very good idea of what is happening in the nest. Once 40 days have passed, we restart the process of summing every minute to get more detailed data.

There has been some research that indicates that before emerging from the nest in a "boil," turtles that have hatched congregate underground near the top of the nest. It is thought that this motion stimulates the hatching of the turtles that haven't yet emerged. Our sensors, situated at the top of the nest, were able to record some noticeable disturbances several days before the turtles boil. We were able to see these disturbances in the data in almost all of the nests that we monitored in the 2014 season and were able to predict the date of the boil within a window of a few days.

Predictions from the data in 2014 were made by human observation of graphed data. We will be generating algorithms to predict hatching from our data and refining them to come up with a reliable automated process for predicting hatching a few days in advance.

==Funding and Impact==
[[File:NH007-Post Hurr Arthur-exclosure (2) cropped small.jpg|thumb|left|300px|A few days after the first units of Phase Two were installed, Hurricane Arthur hit. The units reported regularly before and after the storm without any problems. This picture was taken the day after the storm. Notice how all the text was sandblasted off the sign in the forefront. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is just behind the dune.]]
The National Park Service has been funding the project since it began. Labor is being provided by NerdsWithoutBorder.net volunteers. Additional support has come from:
* [http://ibm.com IBM -- grants]
* [http://www.janus-rc.com/ Janus Remote Communications -- a generous discount on their M2M plug-in boards]
* [http://www.screamingcircuits.com/ Screaming Circuits -- a donation of the labor toward the production of circuit prototypes]
* [http://www.telit.com Telit -- publicity]
* [http://www.fte.com Frontline Test Equipment, Inc. -- a donation of communications testing equipment]
* [http://www.corun.com/ent Hunan Corun New Energy Co.,LTD -- a donation of rechargeable NiMH batteries]

We are seeking funding and volunteers to expand the program.

Success in this project would provide widespread, international advantages. As noted above, the stress could be lessened between the protection agencies and the fishing industry, recreational users, and tourism advocates, all of whom desire more beach access. More effective international protection will be available, since the protection resources can be concentrated close to the hatch date instead of being stretched over six weeks. With a tighter hatching schedule, the public would have the opportunity to observe the hatchlings heading for the sea, an observation available only randomly now. This would improve the public support of the turtles. NPS will use the hatch dates in on-site announcements and information centers, and the Hatteras Island Ocean Center will disseminate the information in their programs. Much of the research on sea turtle eggs and hatchlings in the world could benefit from more accurate predictions of the hatch date. For example, studies that require capturing hatchlings for research could be done with much greater efficiency. Also, the sensor/cell network could be adapted for measurements of other species, including birds. Given its modest cost and energy efficiency (long battery life), it may have other uses in environmental studies. All the design information will be available to the public on the wiki http://nerdswithoutborders.net. If the project is successful equipment will be made available at cost or perhaps below cost if sponsors come forward.

[[Image:Britta2013.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Britta Muiznieks, a wildlife biologist at the NPS Cape Hatteras Seashore in NC with a protected turtle nest. The 4" PVC pipe assembly tower was used in the 2013 testing. A smaller 3" structure holds the 2014 package because the electronics are smaller and AA rechargeable batteries have replaced D cells. Vandal-proofing is one aspect of the design. Britta does the field research for the NPS.]]

==Press==
===Radio===
*NPR's Here & Now:
**[http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/08/25/turtles-outer-banks Part One (Aug 2014)]
**[http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/11/04/sea-turtles-sensors Part Two (Nov 2014)]

===Print===
* [http://hamptonroads.com/2014/08/plan-hatched-could-help-keep-beaches-open Article at PilotOnline.com (Virginia-Pilot) (August 2014)]
* [http://islandfreepress.org/2014Archives/08.21.2014-ItMakesTurtleSenseGivingCellPhonesToTurtles.html Article in Island Free Press(Aug 2014)]
* [http://outerbanksvoice.com/2013/08/29/high-tech-could-help-predict-sea-turtle-hatches/ Article in Outer Banks Voice (August 2013)]
* [http://outerbanksvoice.com/2014/08/10/small-ocean-center-incorporates-an-expansive-natural-theater/ Another mention at the Outer Banks Voice]
===Web===
* [http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/13/north-carolina-sea-turtles/?ncid=rss_truncated Engadget.com]
* [http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/geek-life/hands-on/technologists-hatch-turtle-sense-system-with-ecology-and-economy-in-mind Tech-talk at IEEE Spectrum]
* [http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-green-mind/201409/sensing-turtles Article at PsychologyToday.com]
* [http://hackaday.com/page/8/ Blog at hackaday.com]
* [http://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2014/08/remote-sensors-mean-more-sea-turtles-fewer-beach-closures-hatteras/90545/ Article at nextgov.com (August 2014)]
* [http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140515-910765.html Telit press release in the Wall Street Journal (May 2014)]
* [http://www.iotworld.com/author.asp?section_id=3153&doc_id=563269 Blog at iotworld.com]

==Links==
*[http://www.hioceancenter.org/ Hatteras Island Ocean Center website]
*[http://hackaday.io/project/2264-Turtle-Sense Entry for the Hackaday Prize at hackaday.io]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_bWmOsYJz4 Video about the project at YouTube]
*[[Turtle Sense/People]] -- People involved in this project.

==Contact us==
If you would like to help with this project, make suggestions, or offer a critique, please email: admin@nerdswithoutborders.net.

Thank You!

Turtle Sense raw data

2022-03-07T09:30:35Z

Sam: details in report

Turtle Sense

2022-03-07T09:21:52Z

Sam: /* Data */ ''

;Using high tech sensors and cell phone networks to protect sea turtle hatchlings
[[File:HIOC turtle sense logo.jpg|right]]

==Background==
[[File:Hawaii turtle 2.JPG|400px|right]]
Sea turtles have existed for 100 million years, but in the last century, the impacts of man through accidental capture in fishing nets, habitat destruction, pollution, and plastics in the ocean have significantly reduced populations by as much as 95%. Six of the seven species nest in the warmer beaches of the US, and all of these are protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Although volunteer groups and park personnel can identify egg-laying sites almost immediately, the hatching date (when they emerge onto the beach) cannot be predicted—it will happen sometime in a six-week period beginning 50 days after the eggs are laid. All 100 to 150 of the sea turtle hatchlings in a nest usually appear simultaneously (mostly at night) on some unpredictable date during that six-week period. The hatchlings “boil” out of the sand and begin a dash to the ocean, one of the most touching sights in nature.

Beginning at 50 days after the eggs are laid, the National Park Service (NPS) at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore fences off a lane from the nest to the ocean and forbids other access to that lane until either the hatchlings appear or the 100 days has elapsed. This long protection period creates conflicts with other uses for beach access, such as fishing and vehicular movement for recreation and safety. Conflicts are inevitable, often leading to lawsuits.

== Project Objective==
[[File:Baby sea turtles make their way toward the water.jpg|thumb|400px|left|This project is developing technology to help protect sea turtle hatchlings at their first crisis: emerging from the egg and making it to the ocean. Hatching happens on an unpredictable day sometime during a six-week window beginning 50 days after the eggs are laid. Predicting the hatching date to within a few days is the goal of this project.]]
The goal of the project is to develop simple, inexpensive technology for determining when a "boil" will occur with as much accuracy and reliability as possible. The current design employs a sensor that measures egg motion either as the embryos agitate in the egg or as the sea turtle hatchlings begin to pip out of the eggs or both. The results, perhaps including modeling, will hopefully be able to predict hatching dates (arrival on the beach) to a reliable one-to-three-day window, a significant improvement over the current six-week window. Developing a reliable technology for predicting hatching will allow the NPS to create a new protocol for protecting the nests, thus freeing up access to the beaches for a significantly longer time.

There are several possible beneficial side effects of the technology:
* The technology can be used to help develop ecotourism around the hatching of sea turtles. Once people (especially young people) experience the hatching of these creatures, they may be much more likely to think positively about the welfare of sea turtles in the future.
* If local people can develop an income around this ecotourism activity, they may be less averse to the obstructions to beach vehicles and foot traffic.
* The technology might be useful for scientists studying sea turtles and might be adaptable for the study of other egg-laying species.

All the designs and software code will be published on this website and will be available for use worldwide. All data created by the system will be made available to researchers worldwide.

== History ==
The device began with an idea from Eric Kaplan, founder of a company that develops Bluetooth wireless technology test equipment. Kaplan sold his company to his employees and later founded the Hatteras Island Ocean Center (www.hioceancenter.org), a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) ecology education center on Hatteras Island in North Carolina. Kaplan saw the need for this technology and approached his childhood friend Tom Zimmerman, an IBM Research–Almaden (San Jose, CA) electrical engineer for assistance. Zimmerman designed the sensor package in 2013 as a public service commitment from IBM. Tom recruited his college buddy, Samuel Wantman a retired software designer, and they worked on developing the first phase of the design with support from IBM and from the National Park Service. Britta Muiznieks, a biologist with the NPS has been coordinating the Park's involvement. The first phase of the project was a very quick and inexpensive hack of cell phones with a simple custom circuit board to test the viability of the project. The devices were tried in a few nests in 2013, but unfortunately it was too late in the season to get any data from viable nests. Even so, there was enough learned to make everyone involved in the project believe that there was the potential to make the technology work.

Wantman took over management of the project in 2014, as Zimmerman had to return to other commitments at IBM. Additional volunteers were recruited, including David Hermeyer a retired electrical engineer and Charles Wade a retired IBM Research manager. Phase Two of the project involves developing a more robust custom sensor embedded in a plastic sphere the same size and shape as a turtle egg, with industry standard technology for transmitting data over cell phone networks. Installation has begun on multiple sensors that the NPS is funding for field testing in 2014. The project inspired Samuel Wantman to start Nerdswithoutborders.net to help organize the project, recruit volunteers, and inspire other projects. All of the Turtle Sense project members, with the exception of the NPS employees, donate their time. The Hatteras Island Ocean Center is the sponsoring non-profit institution that administers receipt and disbursement of funds for materials and other expenses.

==Phase One (2013 Turtle Season)==
[[file:PingPongSensor.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A ping-pong ball sensor assembly placed in a sea turtle nest (field tests 2013). The cable coming from the sensor leads to the communications tower for the cell phone connection.]]
Phase One was a proof-of-concept field test undertaken during the 2013 turtle season. A motion-and-temperature sensor (Analog Devices ADLX362, 3-Axil, Digital Output MEMS accelerometer), soldered to a Sparkfun “breakout board,” was soldered to a CAT5 cable. The board was sealed in a Ping-Pong ball by filling it with “aquarium safe” silicone caulk. The Ping-Pong ball, about the size and shape of the sea turtle eggs, was placed in the sea turtle nest by National Park Service (NPS) rangers. The other end of the cable attached to the "egg" assembly was electrically connected to a hacked cell phone that was programmed with a very small, low-powered TI MSP430 microprocessor. The phone sent out text messages with the motion and temperature data every two hours. The cell phone was protected from the elements by a communications tower made from 4" PVC pipe and pipe fittings.

Turtle eggshells are thick and leathery, so the hatchlings need considerable effort to emerge from the egg. After leaving the egg, the hatchlings remain in the nest for two-to-four days before exiting (usually) as a group onto the beach. All the resulting motions should activate the accelerometer sensor and thus provide data to the phone network. Though the first device had its problems, field tests done at Hatteras in October 2013 were positive. The signal from the sensor close to a single hatchling was eight times larger than the background signal, giving hope for more extensive tests planned for 2014.

==Phase Two Description==
''See also: [[Turtle Sense/Phase Two]]

Planning for Phase Two began during the implementation of Phase One. Samuel Wantman and David Hermeyer began working on the design for a more robust solution in the Fall of 2013. Units were installed by the NPS starting in June of 2014. About a dozen nests were monitored and predictions were made as to when the hatchlings would emerge.

Several problems were identified during Phase One that we tried to address in Phase Two:
*The sensors had reliability problems communicating with the cell phones because of the long distance between the sensor and the microprocessor in the communications unit. This is being addressed in two ways. The sensor was mounted on a very small (1 inch by 1 inch) circuit board inside the "egg" that goes in the nest. The board also contains a microprocessor and a RS485 transceiver that allows reliable communication over very long cable lengths.
[[file:PhaseTwoCommBoard.jpg|left|400px|thumb|The 2014 communications assembly contains the circuit board, power supply, a microprocessor, an M2M cell phone board and RS485 transceiver. Inset is a quarter for size reference.]]
*The cell phone, having been designed with a human interface, was often unpredictable. Occasionally messages would pop up prompting a human reply (like a notification that the phone was charging). This made programming the device difficult because of all of the possible messages and the timing of their appearance are not predictable. At one point, the devices stopped working because the cellular service provider required all its users to upload new operating software. An appropriate user response was not possible in field-installed pre-programmed units. Because of this problem, we adopted industry standard M2M (Machine to Machine) methods of sending data over a cellular network.
*Text messages and disposable cell phones were not a cost-effective way to send large amounts of data. Phase Two uses FTP protocols with devices and data plans that have much less expensive data charges.
*Hacked cell phones would be difficult to mass produce, so the new design uses off-the-shelf, plug-in cell phone boards and custom circuitry that can be mass produced.
*Phase One used single-use D cell alkaline batteries. Phase Two uses rechargeable NiMH AA batteries and achieves longer battery life, as the package is carefully designed for low energy needs.
*Most of the turtle-specific calculations are now done in the microprocessor embedded with the sensor in the "egg." The communication system is designed so that it can be modified for other sensors.
*The silicone filling the ping-pong balls that housed the sensors in Phase One never cured. For Phase Two, we made a casting of a ping-pong ball (which is the same size and shape as a turtle egg), and used it to cast solid polyurethane "eggs" around the sensor circuit boards. The polyurethane is fully set in less than a day, does not out-gas, and is very hard and durable.

== Phase Two results==
[[File:2015 - NH003 (7-28 final) sensor AA0006.png|250px|thumb|In 2015 we started to automate the graphing of data, and used the graphs to successfully predict emergence of hatchlings]]
===2014 season===
:''For more detail, see:
* [https://www.dropbox.com/s/g1yrkai0npe0p91/2014%20Turtle%20Sense%20final%20report.pdf?dl=0 National Park Service -- Turtle Sense 2014 final report]
* [[Turtle Sense / Project logs]]

===2015 season===
We successfully monitored nests at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. For a record of predictions please go to [https://groups.google.com/forum/?pli=1#!forum/turtlesense our Google Group]

For graphs of the nests that were monitored see: [[Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results]]

==Phase Three Description==
''See also: [[Turtle Sense/Phase Three]]
===Phase Three Goals===
Work on phase three began after the end of the 2014 season. The goals of Phase Three are:
*To refine our hardware so that it is easier and cheaper to manufacture, more reliable, and easier to maintain.
*Extend the firmware so that it has better error handling, can be updated in the field, and offers more features and usable data.
*Create a working, somewhat complete website which does the following: automates the process of predicting hatching, reports predation events and over-washes; generates alerts for users; centralizes necessary data entry; and, allows open access of data for researchers and wildlife managers.
*Test the equipment and features in several different environments.
*Attend conferences to publicize our work and find additional organizations to team up with, and find additional volunteers to assist the project.
*Create a plan to get the technology included in protocols that are acceptable to the US Fish and Wildlife service.

Most of the technical work to make this happen will be done during 2015. The phase two equipment will be used until the phase three equipment is ready.

==Phase Three Progress==
Work is underway modifying the Turtle Sense hardware and software.
===Hardware===
* A moisture detector is being added to the smart sensor "egg".
* The power supply of the unit is changing from 8 AA rechargeable batteries that just last for a season to a solar cell that will charge 3 AAA batteries. Preliminary tests indicate that this will be cheaper to produce, and last for many years -- as long as the life of the batteries -- before needing servicing. Initial testing is very positive. There is enough light on a very overcast day to keep the units running, and even without any light the units will continue running for several weeks.
* Connections between the comm unit and the sensors will be made with coax cable. This will allow the connections to be modified and repaired in the field, greatly reduce the expense and time involved in creating the devices, and allow multiple sensors to be connected to the same comm unit. Power and two way communication will all use the same wire.
* Expansion ports will be added for USB/SD support, Bluetooth and other wireless capabilities, and auxiliary connections for controlling and interfacing with other field equipment.
* Since the batteries will not need annual servicing, the comm units will only have one sealed chamber instead of two. This will simplify the construction and installation of the devices
* Upgraded microprocessors will expand available memory from 16K to 64K while lowering power usage.

===Software===
* Expanded memory provides space for better error handling, increased data storage, and user code.
* A protocol will be developed for interfacing with multiple sensors
* Tools and libraries will be help others customize the hardware and software for other applications

==Data==
:''See also: [[Turtle Sense raw data]]''
[[File:Screenshot 2014-07-03 01.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Data from the first report of the 2014 season]]
The Turtle Sense units constantly monitor and analyze motion to create a profile of its magnitude over time. The motion detector measures the change in acceleration (or "jolt") multiple times per second. The magnitude is squared and summed. After six minutes, the results are stored in a record along with a temperature and orientation reading, and the process starts over. The sum that results is roughly the total energy recorded in the nest during the period. This process allows us to compress several thousand readings into approximately 32 bytes of information. We lose but we suspect that those details are not important. The 240 records created each day give us a very good idea of what is happening in the nest. Once 40 days have passed, we restart the process of summing every minute to get more detailed data.

There has been some research that indicates that before emerging from the nest in a "boil," turtles that have hatched congregate underground near the top of the nest. It is thought that this motion stimulates the hatching of the turtles that haven't yet emerged. Our sensors, situated at the top of the nest, were able to record some noticeable disturbances several days before the turtles boil. We were able to see these disturbances in the data in almost all of the nests that we monitored in the 2014 season and were able to predict the date of the boil within a window of a few days.

Predictions from the data in 2014 were made by human observation of graphed data. We will be generating algorithms to predict hatching from our data and refining them to come up with a reliable automated process for predicting hatching a few days in advance.

==Funding and Impact==
[[File:NH007-Post Hurr Arthur-exclosure (2) cropped small.jpg|thumb|left|300px|A few days after the first units of Phase Two were installed, Hurricane Arthur hit. The units reported regularly before and after the storm without any problems. This picture was taken the day after the storm. Notice how all the text was sandblasted off the sign in the forefront. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is just behind the dune.]]
The National Park Service has been funding the project since it began. Labor is being provided by NerdsWithoutBorder.net volunteers. Additional support has come from:
* [http://ibm.com IBM -- grants]
* [http://www.janus-rc.com/ Janus Remote Communications -- a generous discount on their M2M plug-in boards]
* [http://www.screamingcircuits.com/ Screaming Circuits -- a donation of the labor toward the production of circuit prototypes]
* [http://www.telit.com Telit -- publicity]
* [http://www.fte.com Frontline Test Equipment, Inc. -- a donation of communications testing equipment]
* [http://www.corun.com/ent Hunan Corun New Energy Co.,LTD -- a donation of rechargeable NiMH batteries]

We are seeking funding and volunteers to expand the program.

Success in this project would provide widespread, international advantages. As noted above, the stress could be lessened between the protection agencies and the fishing industry, recreational users, and tourism advocates, all of whom desire more beach access. More effective international protection will be available, since the protection resources can be concentrated close to the hatch date instead of being stretched over six weeks. With a tighter hatching schedule, the public would have the opportunity to observe the hatchlings heading for the sea, an observation available only randomly now. This would improve the public support of the turtles. NPS will use the hatch dates in on-site announcements and information centers, and the Hatteras Island Ocean Center will disseminate the information in their programs. Much of the research on sea turtle eggs and hatchlings in the world could benefit from more accurate predictions of the hatch date. For example, studies that require capturing hatchlings for research could be done with much greater efficiency. Also, the sensor/cell network could be adapted for measurements of other species, including birds. Given its modest cost and energy efficiency (long battery life), it may have other uses in environmental studies. All the design information will be available to the public on the wiki http://nerdswithoutborders.net. If the project is successful equipment will be made available at cost or perhaps below cost if sponsors come forward.

[[Image:Britta2013.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Britta Muiznieks, a wildlife biologist at the NPS Cape Hatteras Seashore in NC with a protected turtle nest. The 4" PVC pipe assembly tower was used in the 2013 testing. A smaller 3" structure holds the 2014 package because the electronics are smaller and AA rechargeable batteries have replaced D cells. Vandal-proofing is one aspect of the design. Britta does the field research for the NPS.]]

==Press==
===Radio===
*NPR's Here & Now:
**[http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/08/25/turtles-outer-banks Part One (Aug 2014)]
**[http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/11/04/sea-turtles-sensors Part Two (Nov 2014)]

===Print===
* [http://hamptonroads.com/2014/08/plan-hatched-could-help-keep-beaches-open Article at PilotOnline.com (Virginia-Pilot) (August 2014)]
* [http://islandfreepress.org/2014Archives/08.21.2014-ItMakesTurtleSenseGivingCellPhonesToTurtles.html Article in Island Free Press(Aug 2014)]
* [http://outerbanksvoice.com/2013/08/29/high-tech-could-help-predict-sea-turtle-hatches/ Article in Outer Banks Voice (August 2013)]
* [http://outerbanksvoice.com/2014/08/10/small-ocean-center-incorporates-an-expansive-natural-theater/ Another mention at the Outer Banks Voice]
===Web===
* [http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/13/north-carolina-sea-turtles/?ncid=rss_truncated Engadget.com]
* [http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/geek-life/hands-on/technologists-hatch-turtle-sense-system-with-ecology-and-economy-in-mind Tech-talk at IEEE Spectrum]
* [http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-green-mind/201409/sensing-turtles Article at PsychologyToday.com]
* [http://hackaday.com/page/8/ Blog at hackaday.com]
* [http://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2014/08/remote-sensors-mean-more-sea-turtles-fewer-beach-closures-hatteras/90545/ Article at nextgov.com (August 2014)]
* [http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140515-910765.html Telit press release in the Wall Street Journal (May 2014)]
* [http://www.iotworld.com/author.asp?section_id=3153&doc_id=563269 Blog at iotworld.com]

==Links==
*[http://www.hioceancenter.org/ Hatteras Island Ocean Center website]
*[http://hackaday.io/project/2264-Turtle-Sense Entry for the Hackaday Prize at hackaday.io]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_bWmOsYJz4 Video about the project at YouTube]
*[[Turtle Sense/People]] -- People involved in this project.

==Contact us==
If you would like to help with this project, make suggestions, or offer a critique, please email: admin@nerdswithoutborders.net.

Thank You!

Turtle Sense/Phase Two

2022-03-07T09:17:06Z

Sam: /* User Guide */

==People==
*[[User:Dave]] -- Electrical engineering / Mechanical engineering
*[[User:Sam]] -- Project manager / Embedded Software
*[[User:Tom]] -- Engineering support
*[[User:Eric]] -- Fundraising / Community liaison
*[[User:Chuck]] -- Sea Turtle community outreach / Materials
*[[User:Chris]] -- Web Server Admin
*[[User:Mark]] -- Web Application Development
*[[User:Britta]] -- National Park Service Biologist
*[[User:Trebor|User:trebor]] -- Web visualizations

==Overview==
When nests are discovered by park personnel, they are uncovered, the eggs counted, and a DNA sample is taken. At that time, a smart sensor the size of a turtle egg is placed on top of the turtle nest before the excavated sand is filled back in to cover the site. The smart sensor measures motion and temperature in the nest, and the data collected is used to predict when hatching is imminent. The smart sensor is connected to a communications tower which sends out regular reports on the activity in the nest using M2M technology. The text file reports are FTP'd to a website directly from the communications tower. During Phase Two we created test units, one registration units, 8 communications towers and 24 smart sensors for installation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina startin in the Spring of 2014. Many of the sensors can be used in more than one nest per season, so Data can be collected from roughly 40 nests per season. The data is analyzed as it is collected to attempt to predict imminent hatching.

===Commercial options===
Before developing the system, other commercially available data recording systems were evaluated to see if anything that would meet our requirements was available. None of the options we found were not low enough power to fit our needs, and none provided the data we were hoping to collect. The closest matches we found would have required as much or almost as much custom engineering on our part to make it work, and there was no cost benefit to going that route.
*[[Chuck's research on data recorders]]

==Hardware components==
===Smart Sensor===
The Phase One design used plastic ping-pong balls (not good ping-pong balls, but cheap plastic knock offs) and a temperature/motion sensor pre-installed on a small circuit board ([https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11446 Qty 1 Price=$14.95]). Assembly involved cutting a small slot in a ball, putting in some silicone caulk, inserting a sensor board attached to a cable into the caulk, and then filling the rest of the ball with caulk. A ball cut in half covered the slot and makes a thorough seal with the silicone. This design was abandoned for several reasons. The silicone did not fully set, even after a few months in the field. The sensor was unreliable, which may have been because it was connected directly to the microprocessor via the long Cat 5 cable and communications were using a very slow bit-banged SPI connection. To improve communications we decided to put transceivers on both sides of the cable. By adding a microprocessor to the sensor, most of the processing could happen in the sensor assembly. The tranceivers are on for just a few seconds a day, for the upload of information from the sensor to the comm tower. This results in a Smart Sensor with very small power requirements.

The Smart Sensor has a 3-axis motion sensor (accelerometer) and temperature sensor connected to a very low power TI MSP430FR series microprocessor. There is also an RS485 transceiver chip which connects to the communications tower via a shielded Cat5 cable. The smart sensor can be programmed to take readings 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 or 400 times every second. Each reading is compared with the previous reading to determine the change in acceleration -- or "jolt". Rather than record each jolt, the sensor counts how many readings have reached approximately 25 different magnitude levels. These magnitude levels (which we call "bins counters") are in a logarithmic scale. Each bin is the square root of 2 larger than the previous one. We keep count for a variable amount of time (between 1 and 6 minutes) and then start a new set record with a new set of bins. This allows us to track how much motion there was at multiple magnitudes over time.

===Communications tower board===
Since it is not possible to make telemetry connections under wet salty sand, the smart sensors are connected to a communications tower. The design is based around creating a custom processing mother board connected to an off-the-shelf telemetry board. The communications board has a very low power TI MSP430FR series microprocessor which controls and monitors the activity of the smart sensor and controls the telemetry board. There is also a power supply, a RS485 telemetry chip and connectors for future expansion. The electronics are mounted inside a 3 inch PVC pipe and fittings anchored in a bucket filled with concrete. The concrete base and Cat 5 cable are buried in the sand. The The tower sends text reports to our web space via an FTP connection using the telemetry board. The frequency of the reports starts out a one a day when the nests are new and not very active. Later the frequency increases to 6 times a day as the nest becomes more active. Since the communications tower only makes one to 6 reports a day, The microprocessor turns the telemetry board on and off, so that it consumes no power when it is not being used.

====Telemetry board====
We are using [http://www.janus-rc.com/terminuscf.html plug in Terminus boards] made by Janus. One board works with AT&T, T-mobile and many international GSM networks. Another works with Verizon. The boards are interchangeable so both will plug into our motherboard. The cost is roughly $140 qty 1 and are [http://www.janus-rc.com/terminuscf.html available from the manufacturer, Janus]. Janus has generously offered us a discount on their boards.

===Hand-held registration unit===
A communications board is mounted in a small hand-held unit so that it can be taken in the field when nests are first discovered. This allows park service personnel to carry just the light-weight sensors and the hand-held unit to the nest sites. Later, the much heavier and bulkier communications towers can be brought in. The Hand-Held units have GPS capability. They are programmed to test the sensors to make sure they are functioning properly, get a GPS reading, check for good cell reception, and get the local time and date from the cellular network. The date, time and GPS location are sent to the sensor, so that all this information will be available to the communications tower when it eventually connected.

===Other components===
The only other components necessary are the cable and connector for the turtle egg sensor, one antenna for the communications tower (the hand held unit has an extra antenna for GPS.) The units should operate for roughly 4 months running on 4 or 8 low self-discharge NiMH Batteries. Also, anyone creating these devices will need the hardware necessary for programming the microprocessors.

==Cellular service==
We arranged for cellular service through m2mAIR which is part of TELIT, the manufacture of the cellular modules used in the Janus plug-in boards. This service is cost effective for hosting a large number of devices, as they can all be in the same account with one monthly fee. The devices are also charged for the data used by each device, but the quota is pooled (shared) between all the devices, and the data rate charges can be modified month by month. During periods of little or no activity, the data plans can be throttled back to keep the fees to a minimum.

==Web design and Database==
All reports are uploaded to our web-space. The reports are comma separated text files with headings and labels, so they can be read by people as well as computers. We are beginning work on a database to store all the data. When reports are uploaded, the communications units also check the webspace for a new parameter file and download it if it is found. The parameter file has settings that effect the behavior of the devices. Here are some of the things that can be changed:

*The frequency of reporting during inactive days
*The frequency of reporting during active days
*The number of inactive days
*The number of records per report
*How frequently samples are read by the sensor (12.5, 25, 50,100, 200 or 400 times per second)
*All of the other settings possible for the sensor
*Whether reports are verbose (labels on all the fields) or just data
*Whether temperatures are calibrated

Work has started on designing a database to collect all the data in the reports, and a website to give people access to the data. This work is just in its preliminary stages in anticipation of Phase 3.
* [[Turtle Sense/Website design]]
* [[Turtle Sense/Database design]]

==Embedded code==
There are essentially three devices that need embedded code. The smart sensor, the communications tower units, and the hand-held registration units. All three of these devices use the same microprocessor, and two of them use the same circuit board. A good deal of the embedded code is shared in the three applications..

All the code was written in C using TI's Code Composer Studio which is free for developers of code that is smaller than 16K.

The code is fully documented and can be seen on GITHUB:
*[https://github.com/NerdsWithoutBorders/Turtle-Sense-Smart-Sensor Smart Sensor embedded code]
*[https://github.com/NerdsWithoutBorders/TurtleSense-Comm-Head Communications tower embedded code]
*[https://github.com/NerdsWithoutBorders/TurtleSense-HandHeld-communicator Registration unit embedded code]

==Parts lists==
* [https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26861868/Turtle%20Sense%20Public%20Files/Turtle%20Sense%20Communicator%20PCB%20v.0.25%20--%20Bill%20of%20Materials.xls Turtle Sense Communications board parts]
* [https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26861868/Turtle%20Sense%20Public%20Files/Turtle%20Sense%20Smart%20Sensor%20PCB%20v.0.23a%20--%20Bill%20of%20Materials.xls Turtle Sense Smart Sensor board parts]

==Schematics and System design==
* [[Block Diagram of System]]
* [[Turtle Sense Smart Sensor PCB Schematic v.0.24|Smart Sensor PCB 0.24 schematic]]
* [[Turtle Sense Smart Sensor board v.0.24|Smart Sensor PCB 0.24 description]]
* [[Turtle Sense Communications PCB Schematic v.0.25a|Communications PCB 0.25a schematic]]
* [[Turtle Sense communications board v.0.25a|Communications PCB 0.25a description]]

==Circuit Board Fabrication==
* [[Turtle Sense -- Manufacturing the Communicator and Smart Sensor printed circuit boards|Manufacturing the Communicator and Smart Sensor printed circuit boards]]

==Assembly Instructions==
* [[Turtle Sense cable assembly instructions|Cable assembly instructions]]
* [[Turtle Sense casting instructions for Smart Sensor and connectors|Casting instructions for Smart Sensor and connectors]]
* [[Turtle Sense communicator PVC housing assembly instructions|Communicator PVC housing assembly instructions]]
* [[Turtle Sense communicator housing final assembly|Communicator housing final assembly]]
==User Guide ==
* [[Turtle Sense nest site installation instructions|Nest site installation instructions]]
* [[Turtle Sense nest monitoring instructions|Nest site monitoring instructions]]

Turtle Sense/Phase Two

2022-03-07T09:16:38Z

Sam: /* Parts lists */

==People==
*[[User:Dave]] -- Electrical engineering / Mechanical engineering
*[[User:Sam]] -- Project manager / Embedded Software
*[[User:Tom]] -- Engineering support
*[[User:Eric]] -- Fundraising / Community liaison
*[[User:Chuck]] -- Sea Turtle community outreach / Materials
*[[User:Chris]] -- Web Server Admin
*[[User:Mark]] -- Web Application Development
*[[User:Britta]] -- National Park Service Biologist
*[[User:Trebor|User:trebor]] -- Web visualizations

==Overview==
When nests are discovered by park personnel, they are uncovered, the eggs counted, and a DNA sample is taken. At that time, a smart sensor the size of a turtle egg is placed on top of the turtle nest before the excavated sand is filled back in to cover the site. The smart sensor measures motion and temperature in the nest, and the data collected is used to predict when hatching is imminent. The smart sensor is connected to a communications tower which sends out regular reports on the activity in the nest using M2M technology. The text file reports are FTP'd to a website directly from the communications tower. During Phase Two we created test units, one registration units, 8 communications towers and 24 smart sensors for installation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina startin in the Spring of 2014. Many of the sensors can be used in more than one nest per season, so Data can be collected from roughly 40 nests per season. The data is analyzed as it is collected to attempt to predict imminent hatching.

===Commercial options===
Before developing the system, other commercially available data recording systems were evaluated to see if anything that would meet our requirements was available. None of the options we found were not low enough power to fit our needs, and none provided the data we were hoping to collect. The closest matches we found would have required as much or almost as much custom engineering on our part to make it work, and there was no cost benefit to going that route.
*[[Chuck's research on data recorders]]

==Hardware components==
===Smart Sensor===
The Phase One design used plastic ping-pong balls (not good ping-pong balls, but cheap plastic knock offs) and a temperature/motion sensor pre-installed on a small circuit board ([https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11446 Qty 1 Price=$14.95]). Assembly involved cutting a small slot in a ball, putting in some silicone caulk, inserting a sensor board attached to a cable into the caulk, and then filling the rest of the ball with caulk. A ball cut in half covered the slot and makes a thorough seal with the silicone. This design was abandoned for several reasons. The silicone did not fully set, even after a few months in the field. The sensor was unreliable, which may have been because it was connected directly to the microprocessor via the long Cat 5 cable and communications were using a very slow bit-banged SPI connection. To improve communications we decided to put transceivers on both sides of the cable. By adding a microprocessor to the sensor, most of the processing could happen in the sensor assembly. The tranceivers are on for just a few seconds a day, for the upload of information from the sensor to the comm tower. This results in a Smart Sensor with very small power requirements.

The Smart Sensor has a 3-axis motion sensor (accelerometer) and temperature sensor connected to a very low power TI MSP430FR series microprocessor. There is also an RS485 transceiver chip which connects to the communications tower via a shielded Cat5 cable. The smart sensor can be programmed to take readings 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 or 400 times every second. Each reading is compared with the previous reading to determine the change in acceleration -- or "jolt". Rather than record each jolt, the sensor counts how many readings have reached approximately 25 different magnitude levels. These magnitude levels (which we call "bins counters") are in a logarithmic scale. Each bin is the square root of 2 larger than the previous one. We keep count for a variable amount of time (between 1 and 6 minutes) and then start a new set record with a new set of bins. This allows us to track how much motion there was at multiple magnitudes over time.

===Communications tower board===
Since it is not possible to make telemetry connections under wet salty sand, the smart sensors are connected to a communications tower. The design is based around creating a custom processing mother board connected to an off-the-shelf telemetry board. The communications board has a very low power TI MSP430FR series microprocessor which controls and monitors the activity of the smart sensor and controls the telemetry board. There is also a power supply, a RS485 telemetry chip and connectors for future expansion. The electronics are mounted inside a 3 inch PVC pipe and fittings anchored in a bucket filled with concrete. The concrete base and Cat 5 cable are buried in the sand. The The tower sends text reports to our web space via an FTP connection using the telemetry board. The frequency of the reports starts out a one a day when the nests are new and not very active. Later the frequency increases to 6 times a day as the nest becomes more active. Since the communications tower only makes one to 6 reports a day, The microprocessor turns the telemetry board on and off, so that it consumes no power when it is not being used.

====Telemetry board====
We are using [http://www.janus-rc.com/terminuscf.html plug in Terminus boards] made by Janus. One board works with AT&T, T-mobile and many international GSM networks. Another works with Verizon. The boards are interchangeable so both will plug into our motherboard. The cost is roughly $140 qty 1 and are [http://www.janus-rc.com/terminuscf.html available from the manufacturer, Janus]. Janus has generously offered us a discount on their boards.

===Hand-held registration unit===
A communications board is mounted in a small hand-held unit so that it can be taken in the field when nests are first discovered. This allows park service personnel to carry just the light-weight sensors and the hand-held unit to the nest sites. Later, the much heavier and bulkier communications towers can be brought in. The Hand-Held units have GPS capability. They are programmed to test the sensors to make sure they are functioning properly, get a GPS reading, check for good cell reception, and get the local time and date from the cellular network. The date, time and GPS location are sent to the sensor, so that all this information will be available to the communications tower when it eventually connected.

===Other components===
The only other components necessary are the cable and connector for the turtle egg sensor, one antenna for the communications tower (the hand held unit has an extra antenna for GPS.) The units should operate for roughly 4 months running on 4 or 8 low self-discharge NiMH Batteries. Also, anyone creating these devices will need the hardware necessary for programming the microprocessors.

==Cellular service==
We arranged for cellular service through m2mAIR which is part of TELIT, the manufacture of the cellular modules used in the Janus plug-in boards. This service is cost effective for hosting a large number of devices, as they can all be in the same account with one monthly fee. The devices are also charged for the data used by each device, but the quota is pooled (shared) between all the devices, and the data rate charges can be modified month by month. During periods of little or no activity, the data plans can be throttled back to keep the fees to a minimum.

==Web design and Database==
All reports are uploaded to our web-space. The reports are comma separated text files with headings and labels, so they can be read by people as well as computers. We are beginning work on a database to store all the data. When reports are uploaded, the communications units also check the webspace for a new parameter file and download it if it is found. The parameter file has settings that effect the behavior of the devices. Here are some of the things that can be changed:

*The frequency of reporting during inactive days
*The frequency of reporting during active days
*The number of inactive days
*The number of records per report
*How frequently samples are read by the sensor (12.5, 25, 50,100, 200 or 400 times per second)
*All of the other settings possible for the sensor
*Whether reports are verbose (labels on all the fields) or just data
*Whether temperatures are calibrated

Work has started on designing a database to collect all the data in the reports, and a website to give people access to the data. This work is just in its preliminary stages in anticipation of Phase 3.
* [[Turtle Sense/Website design]]
* [[Turtle Sense/Database design]]

==Embedded code==
There are essentially three devices that need embedded code. The smart sensor, the communications tower units, and the hand-held registration units. All three of these devices use the same microprocessor, and two of them use the same circuit board. A good deal of the embedded code is shared in the three applications..

All the code was written in C using TI's Code Composer Studio which is free for developers of code that is smaller than 16K.

The code is fully documented and can be seen on GITHUB:
*[https://github.com/NerdsWithoutBorders/Turtle-Sense-Smart-Sensor Smart Sensor embedded code]
*[https://github.com/NerdsWithoutBorders/TurtleSense-Comm-Head Communications tower embedded code]
*[https://github.com/NerdsWithoutBorders/TurtleSense-HandHeld-communicator Registration unit embedded code]

==Parts lists==
* [https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26861868/Turtle%20Sense%20Public%20Files/Turtle%20Sense%20Communicator%20PCB%20v.0.25%20--%20Bill%20of%20Materials.xls Turtle Sense Communications board parts]
* [https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26861868/Turtle%20Sense%20Public%20Files/Turtle%20Sense%20Smart%20Sensor%20PCB%20v.0.23a%20--%20Bill%20of%20Materials.xls Turtle Sense Smart Sensor board parts]

==Schematics and System design==
* [[Block Diagram of System]]
* [[Turtle Sense Smart Sensor PCB Schematic v.0.24|Smart Sensor PCB 0.24 schematic]]
* [[Turtle Sense Smart Sensor board v.0.24|Smart Sensor PCB 0.24 description]]
* [[Turtle Sense Communications PCB Schematic v.0.25a|Communications PCB 0.25a schematic]]
* [[Turtle Sense communications board v.0.25a|Communications PCB 0.25a description]]

==Circuit Board Fabrication==
* [[Turtle Sense -- Manufacturing the Communicator and Smart Sensor printed circuit boards|Manufacturing the Communicator and Smart Sensor printed circuit boards]]

==Assembly Instructions==
* [[Turtle Sense cable assembly instructions|Cable assembly instructions]]
* [[Turtle Sense casting instructions for Smart Sensor and connectors|Casting instructions for Smart Sensor and connectors]]
* [[Turtle Sense communicator PVC housing assembly instructions|Communicator PVC housing assembly instructions]]
* [[Turtle Sense communicator housing final assembly|Communicator housing final assembly]]
==User Guide ==
* [[Turtle Sense nest site installation instructions|Nest site installation instructions]]
* [[Turtle Sense nest monitoring instructions|Nest site monitoring instructions]]
* [[Turtle Sense equipment maintenance instructions|Equipment maintenance instructions]]

Turtle Sense raw data

2022-03-07T09:14:10Z

Sam: links to zip files

* Each year of data is consolidated in to a single zip file
**Cape Hatteras
*** [http://data.nerdswithoutborders.net/ts/CAHA2014.zip CAHA2014.zip]
*** [http://data.nerdswithoutborders.net/ts/CAHA2015.zip CAHA2015.zip]
*** [http://data.nerdswithoutborders.net/ts/CAHA2016.zip CAHA2016.zip]
*** [http://data.nerdswithoutborders.net/ts/CAHA2017.zip CAHA2017.zip]
*** [http://data.nerdswithoutborders.net/ts/CAHA2018.zip CAHA2018.zip]
**Costa Rica
*** [http://data.nerdswithoutborders.net/ts/Costa%20Rica%202017-2018.zip Costa Rica 2017-1018.zip]

Turtle Sense raw data

2022-03-07T08:18:18Z

Sam: ftp?

* [ftp://data.nerdswithoutborders.net/ts/CAHA2016 2016 raw data]

Turtle Sense raw data

2022-03-07T08:16:42Z

Sam: //

* [http://data.nerdswithoutborders.net/ts/CAHA2016 2016 raw data]

Turtle Sense raw data

2022-03-07T08:16:18Z

Sam: testing

* [http:data.nerdswithoutborders.net/ts/CAHA2016 2016 raw data]

Turtle Sense

2022-03-07T08:03:27Z

Sam: /* Data */ link to raw data

;Using high tech sensors and cell phone networks to protect sea turtle hatchlings
[[File:HIOC turtle sense logo.jpg|right]]

==Background==
[[File:Hawaii turtle 2.JPG|400px|right]]
Sea turtles have existed for 100 million years, but in the last century, the impacts of man through accidental capture in fishing nets, habitat destruction, pollution, and plastics in the ocean have significantly reduced populations by as much as 95%. Six of the seven species nest in the warmer beaches of the US, and all of these are protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Although volunteer groups and park personnel can identify egg-laying sites almost immediately, the hatching date (when they emerge onto the beach) cannot be predicted—it will happen sometime in a six-week period beginning 50 days after the eggs are laid. All 100 to 150 of the sea turtle hatchlings in a nest usually appear simultaneously (mostly at night) on some unpredictable date during that six-week period. The hatchlings “boil” out of the sand and begin a dash to the ocean, one of the most touching sights in nature.

Beginning at 50 days after the eggs are laid, the National Park Service (NPS) at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore fences off a lane from the nest to the ocean and forbids other access to that lane until either the hatchlings appear or the 100 days has elapsed. This long protection period creates conflicts with other uses for beach access, such as fishing and vehicular movement for recreation and safety. Conflicts are inevitable, often leading to lawsuits.

== Project Objective==
[[File:Baby sea turtles make their way toward the water.jpg|thumb|400px|left|This project is developing technology to help protect sea turtle hatchlings at their first crisis: emerging from the egg and making it to the ocean. Hatching happens on an unpredictable day sometime during a six-week window beginning 50 days after the eggs are laid. Predicting the hatching date to within a few days is the goal of this project.]]
The goal of the project is to develop simple, inexpensive technology for determining when a "boil" will occur with as much accuracy and reliability as possible. The current design employs a sensor that measures egg motion either as the embryos agitate in the egg or as the sea turtle hatchlings begin to pip out of the eggs or both. The results, perhaps including modeling, will hopefully be able to predict hatching dates (arrival on the beach) to a reliable one-to-three-day window, a significant improvement over the current six-week window. Developing a reliable technology for predicting hatching will allow the NPS to create a new protocol for protecting the nests, thus freeing up access to the beaches for a significantly longer time.

There are several possible beneficial side effects of the technology:
* The technology can be used to help develop ecotourism around the hatching of sea turtles. Once people (especially young people) experience the hatching of these creatures, they may be much more likely to think positively about the welfare of sea turtles in the future.
* If local people can develop an income around this ecotourism activity, they may be less averse to the obstructions to beach vehicles and foot traffic.
* The technology might be useful for scientists studying sea turtles and might be adaptable for the study of other egg-laying species.

All the designs and software code will be published on this website and will be available for use worldwide. All data created by the system will be made available to researchers worldwide.

== History ==
The device began with an idea from Eric Kaplan, founder of a company that develops Bluetooth wireless technology test equipment. Kaplan sold his company to his employees and later founded the Hatteras Island Ocean Center (www.hioceancenter.org), a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) ecology education center on Hatteras Island in North Carolina. Kaplan saw the need for this technology and approached his childhood friend Tom Zimmerman, an IBM Research–Almaden (San Jose, CA) electrical engineer for assistance. Zimmerman designed the sensor package in 2013 as a public service commitment from IBM. Tom recruited his college buddy, Samuel Wantman a retired software designer, and they worked on developing the first phase of the design with support from IBM and from the National Park Service. Britta Muiznieks, a biologist with the NPS has been coordinating the Park's involvement. The first phase of the project was a very quick and inexpensive hack of cell phones with a simple custom circuit board to test the viability of the project. The devices were tried in a few nests in 2013, but unfortunately it was too late in the season to get any data from viable nests. Even so, there was enough learned to make everyone involved in the project believe that there was the potential to make the technology work.

Wantman took over management of the project in 2014, as Zimmerman had to return to other commitments at IBM. Additional volunteers were recruited, including David Hermeyer a retired electrical engineer and Charles Wade a retired IBM Research manager. Phase Two of the project involves developing a more robust custom sensor embedded in a plastic sphere the same size and shape as a turtle egg, with industry standard technology for transmitting data over cell phone networks. Installation has begun on multiple sensors that the NPS is funding for field testing in 2014. The project inspired Samuel Wantman to start Nerdswithoutborders.net to help organize the project, recruit volunteers, and inspire other projects. All of the Turtle Sense project members, with the exception of the NPS employees, donate their time. The Hatteras Island Ocean Center is the sponsoring non-profit institution that administers receipt and disbursement of funds for materials and other expenses.

==Phase One (2013 Turtle Season)==
[[file:PingPongSensor.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A ping-pong ball sensor assembly placed in a sea turtle nest (field tests 2013). The cable coming from the sensor leads to the communications tower for the cell phone connection.]]
Phase One was a proof-of-concept field test undertaken during the 2013 turtle season. A motion-and-temperature sensor (Analog Devices ADLX362, 3-Axil, Digital Output MEMS accelerometer), soldered to a Sparkfun “breakout board,” was soldered to a CAT5 cable. The board was sealed in a Ping-Pong ball by filling it with “aquarium safe” silicone caulk. The Ping-Pong ball, about the size and shape of the sea turtle eggs, was placed in the sea turtle nest by National Park Service (NPS) rangers. The other end of the cable attached to the "egg" assembly was electrically connected to a hacked cell phone that was programmed with a very small, low-powered TI MSP430 microprocessor. The phone sent out text messages with the motion and temperature data every two hours. The cell phone was protected from the elements by a communications tower made from 4" PVC pipe and pipe fittings.

Turtle eggshells are thick and leathery, so the hatchlings need considerable effort to emerge from the egg. After leaving the egg, the hatchlings remain in the nest for two-to-four days before exiting (usually) as a group onto the beach. All the resulting motions should activate the accelerometer sensor and thus provide data to the phone network. Though the first device had its problems, field tests done at Hatteras in October 2013 were positive. The signal from the sensor close to a single hatchling was eight times larger than the background signal, giving hope for more extensive tests planned for 2014.

==Phase Two Description==
''See also: [[Turtle Sense/Phase Two]]

Planning for Phase Two began during the implementation of Phase One. Samuel Wantman and David Hermeyer began working on the design for a more robust solution in the Fall of 2013. Units were installed by the NPS starting in June of 2014. About a dozen nests were monitored and predictions were made as to when the hatchlings would emerge.

Several problems were identified during Phase One that we tried to address in Phase Two:
*The sensors had reliability problems communicating with the cell phones because of the long distance between the sensor and the microprocessor in the communications unit. This is being addressed in two ways. The sensor was mounted on a very small (1 inch by 1 inch) circuit board inside the "egg" that goes in the nest. The board also contains a microprocessor and a RS485 transceiver that allows reliable communication over very long cable lengths.
[[file:PhaseTwoCommBoard.jpg|left|400px|thumb|The 2014 communications assembly contains the circuit board, power supply, a microprocessor, an M2M cell phone board and RS485 transceiver. Inset is a quarter for size reference.]]
*The cell phone, having been designed with a human interface, was often unpredictable. Occasionally messages would pop up prompting a human reply (like a notification that the phone was charging). This made programming the device difficult because of all of the possible messages and the timing of their appearance are not predictable. At one point, the devices stopped working because the cellular service provider required all its users to upload new operating software. An appropriate user response was not possible in field-installed pre-programmed units. Because of this problem, we adopted industry standard M2M (Machine to Machine) methods of sending data over a cellular network.
*Text messages and disposable cell phones were not a cost-effective way to send large amounts of data. Phase Two uses FTP protocols with devices and data plans that have much less expensive data charges.
*Hacked cell phones would be difficult to mass produce, so the new design uses off-the-shelf, plug-in cell phone boards and custom circuitry that can be mass produced.
*Phase One used single-use D cell alkaline batteries. Phase Two uses rechargeable NiMH AA batteries and achieves longer battery life, as the package is carefully designed for low energy needs.
*Most of the turtle-specific calculations are now done in the microprocessor embedded with the sensor in the "egg." The communication system is designed so that it can be modified for other sensors.
*The silicone filling the ping-pong balls that housed the sensors in Phase One never cured. For Phase Two, we made a casting of a ping-pong ball (which is the same size and shape as a turtle egg), and used it to cast solid polyurethane "eggs" around the sensor circuit boards. The polyurethane is fully set in less than a day, does not out-gas, and is very hard and durable.

== Phase Two results==
[[File:2015 - NH003 (7-28 final) sensor AA0006.png|250px|thumb|In 2015 we started to automate the graphing of data, and used the graphs to successfully predict emergence of hatchlings]]
===2014 season===
:''For more detail, see:
* [https://www.dropbox.com/s/g1yrkai0npe0p91/2014%20Turtle%20Sense%20final%20report.pdf?dl=0 National Park Service -- Turtle Sense 2014 final report]
* [[Turtle Sense / Project logs]]

===2015 season===
We successfully monitored nests at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. For a record of predictions please go to [https://groups.google.com/forum/?pli=1#!forum/turtlesense our Google Group]

For graphs of the nests that were monitored see: [[Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results]]

==Phase Three Description==
''See also: [[Turtle Sense/Phase Three]]
===Phase Three Goals===
Work on phase three began after the end of the 2014 season. The goals of Phase Three are:
*To refine our hardware so that it is easier and cheaper to manufacture, more reliable, and easier to maintain.
*Extend the firmware so that it has better error handling, can be updated in the field, and offers more features and usable data.
*Create a working, somewhat complete website which does the following: automates the process of predicting hatching, reports predation events and over-washes; generates alerts for users; centralizes necessary data entry; and, allows open access of data for researchers and wildlife managers.
*Test the equipment and features in several different environments.
*Attend conferences to publicize our work and find additional organizations to team up with, and find additional volunteers to assist the project.
*Create a plan to get the technology included in protocols that are acceptable to the US Fish and Wildlife service.

Most of the technical work to make this happen will be done during 2015. The phase two equipment will be used until the phase three equipment is ready.

==Phase Three Progress==
Work is underway modifying the Turtle Sense hardware and software.
===Hardware===
* A moisture detector is being added to the smart sensor "egg".
* The power supply of the unit is changing from 8 AA rechargeable batteries that just last for a season to a solar cell that will charge 3 AAA batteries. Preliminary tests indicate that this will be cheaper to produce, and last for many years -- as long as the life of the batteries -- before needing servicing. Initial testing is very positive. There is enough light on a very overcast day to keep the units running, and even without any light the units will continue running for several weeks.
* Connections between the comm unit and the sensors will be made with coax cable. This will allow the connections to be modified and repaired in the field, greatly reduce the expense and time involved in creating the devices, and allow multiple sensors to be connected to the same comm unit. Power and two way communication will all use the same wire.
* Expansion ports will be added for USB/SD support, Bluetooth and other wireless capabilities, and auxiliary connections for controlling and interfacing with other field equipment.
* Since the batteries will not need annual servicing, the comm units will only have one sealed chamber instead of two. This will simplify the construction and installation of the devices
* Upgraded microprocessors will expand available memory from 16K to 64K while lowering power usage.

===Software===
* Expanded memory provides space for better error handling, increased data storage, and user code.
* A protocol will be developed for interfacing with multiple sensors
* Tools and libraries will be help others customize the hardware and software for other applications

==Data==
:''See also: [[Turtle Sense raw data]]""
[[File:Screenshot 2014-07-03 01.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Data from the first report of the 2014 season]]
The Turtle Sense units constantly monitor and analyze motion to create a profile of its magnitude over time. The motion detector measures the change in acceleration (or "jolt") multiple times per second. The magnitude is squared and summed. After six minutes, the results are stored in a record along with a temperature and orientation reading, and the process starts over. The sum that results is roughly the total energy recorded in the nest during the period. This process allows us to compress several thousand readings into approximately 32 bytes of information. We lose but we suspect that those details are not important. The 240 records created each day give us a very good idea of what is happening in the nest. Once 40 days have passed, we restart the process of summing every minute to get more detailed data.

There has been some research that indicates that before emerging from the nest in a "boil," turtles that have hatched congregate underground near the top of the nest. It is thought that this motion stimulates the hatching of the turtles that haven't yet emerged. Our sensors, situated at the top of the nest, were able to record some noticeable disturbances several days before the turtles boil. We were able to see these disturbances in the data in almost all of the nests that we monitored in the 2014 season and were able to predict the date of the boil within a window of a few days.

Predictions from the data in 2014 were made by human observation of graphed data. We will be generating algorithms to predict hatching from our data and refining them to come up with a reliable automated process for predicting hatching a few days in advance.

==Funding and Impact==
[[File:NH007-Post Hurr Arthur-exclosure (2) cropped small.jpg|thumb|left|300px|A few days after the first units of Phase Two were installed, Hurricane Arthur hit. The units reported regularly before and after the storm without any problems. This picture was taken the day after the storm. Notice how all the text was sandblasted off the sign in the forefront. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is just behind the dune.]]
The National Park Service has been funding the project since it began. Labor is being provided by NerdsWithoutBorder.net volunteers. Additional support has come from:
* [http://ibm.com IBM -- grants]
* [http://www.janus-rc.com/ Janus Remote Communications -- a generous discount on their M2M plug-in boards]
* [http://www.screamingcircuits.com/ Screaming Circuits -- a donation of the labor toward the production of circuit prototypes]
* [http://www.telit.com Telit -- publicity]
* [http://www.fte.com Frontline Test Equipment, Inc. -- a donation of communications testing equipment]
* [http://www.corun.com/ent Hunan Corun New Energy Co.,LTD -- a donation of rechargeable NiMH batteries]

We are seeking funding and volunteers to expand the program.

Success in this project would provide widespread, international advantages. As noted above, the stress could be lessened between the protection agencies and the fishing industry, recreational users, and tourism advocates, all of whom desire more beach access. More effective international protection will be available, since the protection resources can be concentrated close to the hatch date instead of being stretched over six weeks. With a tighter hatching schedule, the public would have the opportunity to observe the hatchlings heading for the sea, an observation available only randomly now. This would improve the public support of the turtles. NPS will use the hatch dates in on-site announcements and information centers, and the Hatteras Island Ocean Center will disseminate the information in their programs. Much of the research on sea turtle eggs and hatchlings in the world could benefit from more accurate predictions of the hatch date. For example, studies that require capturing hatchlings for research could be done with much greater efficiency. Also, the sensor/cell network could be adapted for measurements of other species, including birds. Given its modest cost and energy efficiency (long battery life), it may have other uses in environmental studies. All the design information will be available to the public on the wiki http://nerdswithoutborders.net. If the project is successful equipment will be made available at cost or perhaps below cost if sponsors come forward.

[[Image:Britta2013.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Britta Muiznieks, a wildlife biologist at the NPS Cape Hatteras Seashore in NC with a protected turtle nest. The 4" PVC pipe assembly tower was used in the 2013 testing. A smaller 3" structure holds the 2014 package because the electronics are smaller and AA rechargeable batteries have replaced D cells. Vandal-proofing is one aspect of the design. Britta does the field research for the NPS.]]

==Press==
===Radio===
*NPR's Here & Now:
**[http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/08/25/turtles-outer-banks Part One (Aug 2014)]
**[http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/11/04/sea-turtles-sensors Part Two (Nov 2014)]

===Print===
* [http://hamptonroads.com/2014/08/plan-hatched-could-help-keep-beaches-open Article at PilotOnline.com (Virginia-Pilot) (August 2014)]
* [http://islandfreepress.org/2014Archives/08.21.2014-ItMakesTurtleSenseGivingCellPhonesToTurtles.html Article in Island Free Press(Aug 2014)]
* [http://outerbanksvoice.com/2013/08/29/high-tech-could-help-predict-sea-turtle-hatches/ Article in Outer Banks Voice (August 2013)]
* [http://outerbanksvoice.com/2014/08/10/small-ocean-center-incorporates-an-expansive-natural-theater/ Another mention at the Outer Banks Voice]
===Web===
* [http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/13/north-carolina-sea-turtles/?ncid=rss_truncated Engadget.com]
* [http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/geek-life/hands-on/technologists-hatch-turtle-sense-system-with-ecology-and-economy-in-mind Tech-talk at IEEE Spectrum]
* [http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-green-mind/201409/sensing-turtles Article at PsychologyToday.com]
* [http://hackaday.com/page/8/ Blog at hackaday.com]
* [http://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2014/08/remote-sensors-mean-more-sea-turtles-fewer-beach-closures-hatteras/90545/ Article at nextgov.com (August 2014)]
* [http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140515-910765.html Telit press release in the Wall Street Journal (May 2014)]
* [http://www.iotworld.com/author.asp?section_id=3153&doc_id=563269 Blog at iotworld.com]

==Links==
*[http://www.hioceancenter.org/ Hatteras Island Ocean Center website]
*[http://hackaday.io/project/2264-Turtle-Sense Entry for the Hackaday Prize at hackaday.io]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_bWmOsYJz4 Video about the project at YouTube]
*[[Turtle Sense/People]] -- People involved in this project.

==Contact us==
If you would like to help with this project, make suggestions, or offer a critique, please email: admin@nerdswithoutborders.net.

Thank You!

Nature’s Turtle Nursery Inside The Nest

2022-03-05T10:19:58Z

Sam: Sam moved page Nature’s Turtle Nursery Inside The Nest to Nature’s Turtle Nursery -- Inside The Nest

#REDIRECT [[Nature’s Turtle Nursery -- Inside The Nest]]

Nature’s Turtle Nursery -- Inside The Nest

2022-03-05T10:19:58Z

Sam: Sam moved page Nature’s Turtle Nursery Inside The Nest to Nature’s Turtle Nursery -- Inside The Nest

*[http://media.turtlesense.org/Clip%201.mp4 Clip 1]
*[http://media.turtlesense.org/Clip%202.mp4 Clip 2]
*[http://media.turtlesense.org/Clip%203%28without%20sound%29.mp4 Clip 3 (without sound)]
*[http://media.turtlesense.org/Clip%204.mp4 Clip 4]
*[http://media.turtlesense.org/Clip%205.mp4 Clip 5]
*[http://media.turtlesense.org/Clip%206.mp4 Clip 6]
*[http://media.turtlesense.org/Clip%207.mp4 Clip 7]
*[http://media.turtlesense.org/Clip%208.mp4 Clip 8]

Nature’s Turtle Nursery -- Inside The Nest

2022-03-05T10:18:41Z

Sam: org! argh!

Nature’s Turtle Nursery -- Inside The Nest

2022-03-05T10:16:17Z

Sam: Clips from doc

*[http://media.turtlesense.com/Clip%201.mp4 Clip 1]
*[http://media.turtlesense.com/Clip%202.mp4 Clip 2]
*[http://media.turtlesense.com/Clip%203%28without%20sound%29.mp4 Clip 3 (without sound)]
*[http://media.turtlesense.com/Clip%204.mp4 Clip 4]
*[http://media.turtlesense.com/Clip%205.mp4 Clip 5]
*[http://media.turtlesense.com/Clip%206.mp4 Clip 6]
*[http://media.turtlesense.com/Clip%207.mp4 Clip 7]
*[http://media.turtlesense.com/Clip%208.mp4 Clip 8]

Turtle Sense

2022-03-05T09:03:07Z

Sam: Thank you

;Using high tech sensors and cell phone networks to protect sea turtle hatchlings
[[File:HIOC turtle sense logo.jpg|right]]

==Background==
[[File:Hawaii turtle 2.JPG|400px|right]]
Sea turtles have existed for 100 million years, but in the last century, the impacts of man through accidental capture in fishing nets, habitat destruction, pollution, and plastics in the ocean have significantly reduced populations by as much as 95%. Six of the seven species nest in the warmer beaches of the US, and all of these are protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Although volunteer groups and park personnel can identify egg-laying sites almost immediately, the hatching date (when they emerge onto the beach) cannot be predicted—it will happen sometime in a six-week period beginning 50 days after the eggs are laid. All 100 to 150 of the sea turtle hatchlings in a nest usually appear simultaneously (mostly at night) on some unpredictable date during that six-week period. The hatchlings “boil” out of the sand and begin a dash to the ocean, one of the most touching sights in nature.

Beginning at 50 days after the eggs are laid, the National Park Service (NPS) at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore fences off a lane from the nest to the ocean and forbids other access to that lane until either the hatchlings appear or the 100 days has elapsed. This long protection period creates conflicts with other uses for beach access, such as fishing and vehicular movement for recreation and safety. Conflicts are inevitable, often leading to lawsuits.

== Project Objective==
[[File:Baby sea turtles make their way toward the water.jpg|thumb|400px|left|This project is developing technology to help protect sea turtle hatchlings at their first crisis: emerging from the egg and making it to the ocean. Hatching happens on an unpredictable day sometime during a six-week window beginning 50 days after the eggs are laid. Predicting the hatching date to within a few days is the goal of this project.]]
The goal of the project is to develop simple, inexpensive technology for determining when a "boil" will occur with as much accuracy and reliability as possible. The current design employs a sensor that measures egg motion either as the embryos agitate in the egg or as the sea turtle hatchlings begin to pip out of the eggs or both. The results, perhaps including modeling, will hopefully be able to predict hatching dates (arrival on the beach) to a reliable one-to-three-day window, a significant improvement over the current six-week window. Developing a reliable technology for predicting hatching will allow the NPS to create a new protocol for protecting the nests, thus freeing up access to the beaches for a significantly longer time.

There are several possible beneficial side effects of the technology:
* The technology can be used to help develop ecotourism around the hatching of sea turtles. Once people (especially young people) experience the hatching of these creatures, they may be much more likely to think positively about the welfare of sea turtles in the future.
* If local people can develop an income around this ecotourism activity, they may be less averse to the obstructions to beach vehicles and foot traffic.
* The technology might be useful for scientists studying sea turtles and might be adaptable for the study of other egg-laying species.

All the designs and software code will be published on this website and will be available for use worldwide. All data created by the system will be made available to researchers worldwide.

== History ==
The device began with an idea from Eric Kaplan, founder of a company that develops Bluetooth wireless technology test equipment. Kaplan sold his company to his employees and later founded the Hatteras Island Ocean Center (www.hioceancenter.org), a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) ecology education center on Hatteras Island in North Carolina. Kaplan saw the need for this technology and approached his childhood friend Tom Zimmerman, an IBM Research–Almaden (San Jose, CA) electrical engineer for assistance. Zimmerman designed the sensor package in 2013 as a public service commitment from IBM. Tom recruited his college buddy, Samuel Wantman a retired software designer, and they worked on developing the first phase of the design with support from IBM and from the National Park Service. Britta Muiznieks, a biologist with the NPS has been coordinating the Park's involvement. The first phase of the project was a very quick and inexpensive hack of cell phones with a simple custom circuit board to test the viability of the project. The devices were tried in a few nests in 2013, but unfortunately it was too late in the season to get any data from viable nests. Even so, there was enough learned to make everyone involved in the project believe that there was the potential to make the technology work.

Wantman took over management of the project in 2014, as Zimmerman had to return to other commitments at IBM. Additional volunteers were recruited, including David Hermeyer a retired electrical engineer and Charles Wade a retired IBM Research manager. Phase Two of the project involves developing a more robust custom sensor embedded in a plastic sphere the same size and shape as a turtle egg, with industry standard technology for transmitting data over cell phone networks. Installation has begun on multiple sensors that the NPS is funding for field testing in 2014. The project inspired Samuel Wantman to start Nerdswithoutborders.net to help organize the project, recruit volunteers, and inspire other projects. All of the Turtle Sense project members, with the exception of the NPS employees, donate their time. The Hatteras Island Ocean Center is the sponsoring non-profit institution that administers receipt and disbursement of funds for materials and other expenses.

==Phase One (2013 Turtle Season)==
[[file:PingPongSensor.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A ping-pong ball sensor assembly placed in a sea turtle nest (field tests 2013). The cable coming from the sensor leads to the communications tower for the cell phone connection.]]
Phase One was a proof-of-concept field test undertaken during the 2013 turtle season. A motion-and-temperature sensor (Analog Devices ADLX362, 3-Axil, Digital Output MEMS accelerometer), soldered to a Sparkfun “breakout board,” was soldered to a CAT5 cable. The board was sealed in a Ping-Pong ball by filling it with “aquarium safe” silicone caulk. The Ping-Pong ball, about the size and shape of the sea turtle eggs, was placed in the sea turtle nest by National Park Service (NPS) rangers. The other end of the cable attached to the "egg" assembly was electrically connected to a hacked cell phone that was programmed with a very small, low-powered TI MSP430 microprocessor. The phone sent out text messages with the motion and temperature data every two hours. The cell phone was protected from the elements by a communications tower made from 4" PVC pipe and pipe fittings.

Turtle eggshells are thick and leathery, so the hatchlings need considerable effort to emerge from the egg. After leaving the egg, the hatchlings remain in the nest for two-to-four days before exiting (usually) as a group onto the beach. All the resulting motions should activate the accelerometer sensor and thus provide data to the phone network. Though the first device had its problems, field tests done at Hatteras in October 2013 were positive. The signal from the sensor close to a single hatchling was eight times larger than the background signal, giving hope for more extensive tests planned for 2014.

==Phase Two Description==
''See also: [[Turtle Sense/Phase Two]]

Planning for Phase Two began during the implementation of Phase One. Samuel Wantman and David Hermeyer began working on the design for a more robust solution in the Fall of 2013. Units were installed by the NPS starting in June of 2014. About a dozen nests were monitored and predictions were made as to when the hatchlings would emerge.

Several problems were identified during Phase One that we tried to address in Phase Two:
*The sensors had reliability problems communicating with the cell phones because of the long distance between the sensor and the microprocessor in the communications unit. This is being addressed in two ways. The sensor was mounted on a very small (1 inch by 1 inch) circuit board inside the "egg" that goes in the nest. The board also contains a microprocessor and a RS485 transceiver that allows reliable communication over very long cable lengths.
[[file:PhaseTwoCommBoard.jpg|left|400px|thumb|The 2014 communications assembly contains the circuit board, power supply, a microprocessor, an M2M cell phone board and RS485 transceiver. Inset is a quarter for size reference.]]
*The cell phone, having been designed with a human interface, was often unpredictable. Occasionally messages would pop up prompting a human reply (like a notification that the phone was charging). This made programming the device difficult because of all of the possible messages and the timing of their appearance are not predictable. At one point, the devices stopped working because the cellular service provider required all its users to upload new operating software. An appropriate user response was not possible in field-installed pre-programmed units. Because of this problem, we adopted industry standard M2M (Machine to Machine) methods of sending data over a cellular network.
*Text messages and disposable cell phones were not a cost-effective way to send large amounts of data. Phase Two uses FTP protocols with devices and data plans that have much less expensive data charges.
*Hacked cell phones would be difficult to mass produce, so the new design uses off-the-shelf, plug-in cell phone boards and custom circuitry that can be mass produced.
*Phase One used single-use D cell alkaline batteries. Phase Two uses rechargeable NiMH AA batteries and achieves longer battery life, as the package is carefully designed for low energy needs.
*Most of the turtle-specific calculations are now done in the microprocessor embedded with the sensor in the "egg." The communication system is designed so that it can be modified for other sensors.
*The silicone filling the ping-pong balls that housed the sensors in Phase One never cured. For Phase Two, we made a casting of a ping-pong ball (which is the same size and shape as a turtle egg), and used it to cast solid polyurethane "eggs" around the sensor circuit boards. The polyurethane is fully set in less than a day, does not out-gas, and is very hard and durable.

== Phase Two results==
[[File:2015 - NH003 (7-28 final) sensor AA0006.png|250px|thumb|In 2015 we started to automate the graphing of data, and used the graphs to successfully predict emergence of hatchlings]]
===2014 season===
:''For more detail, see:
* [https://www.dropbox.com/s/g1yrkai0npe0p91/2014%20Turtle%20Sense%20final%20report.pdf?dl=0 National Park Service -- Turtle Sense 2014 final report]
* [[Turtle Sense / Project logs]]

===2015 season===
We successfully monitored nests at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. For a record of predictions please go to [https://groups.google.com/forum/?pli=1#!forum/turtlesense our Google Group]

For graphs of the nests that were monitored see: [[Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results]]

==Phase Three Description==
''See also: [[Turtle Sense/Phase Three]]
===Phase Three Goals===
Work on phase three began after the end of the 2014 season. The goals of Phase Three are:
*To refine our hardware so that it is easier and cheaper to manufacture, more reliable, and easier to maintain.
*Extend the firmware so that it has better error handling, can be updated in the field, and offers more features and usable data.
*Create a working, somewhat complete website which does the following: automates the process of predicting hatching, reports predation events and over-washes; generates alerts for users; centralizes necessary data entry; and, allows open access of data for researchers and wildlife managers.
*Test the equipment and features in several different environments.
*Attend conferences to publicize our work and find additional organizations to team up with, and find additional volunteers to assist the project.
*Create a plan to get the technology included in protocols that are acceptable to the US Fish and Wildlife service.

Most of the technical work to make this happen will be done during 2015. The phase two equipment will be used until the phase three equipment is ready.

==Phase Three Progress==
Work is underway modifying the Turtle Sense hardware and software.
===Hardware===
* A moisture detector is being added to the smart sensor "egg".
* The power supply of the unit is changing from 8 AA rechargeable batteries that just last for a season to a solar cell that will charge 3 AAA batteries. Preliminary tests indicate that this will be cheaper to produce, and last for many years -- as long as the life of the batteries -- before needing servicing. Initial testing is very positive. There is enough light on a very overcast day to keep the units running, and even without any light the units will continue running for several weeks.
* Connections between the comm unit and the sensors will be made with coax cable. This will allow the connections to be modified and repaired in the field, greatly reduce the expense and time involved in creating the devices, and allow multiple sensors to be connected to the same comm unit. Power and two way communication will all use the same wire.
* Expansion ports will be added for USB/SD support, Bluetooth and other wireless capabilities, and auxiliary connections for controlling and interfacing with other field equipment.
* Since the batteries will not need annual servicing, the comm units will only have one sealed chamber instead of two. This will simplify the construction and installation of the devices
* Upgraded microprocessors will expand available memory from 16K to 64K while lowering power usage.

===Software===
* Expanded memory provides space for better error handling, increased data storage, and user code.
* A protocol will be developed for interfacing with multiple sensors
* Tools and libraries will be help others customize the hardware and software for other applications

==Data==
[[File:Screenshot 2014-07-03 01.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Data from the first report of the 2014 season]]
The Turtle Sense units constantly monitor and analyze motion to create a profile of its magnitude over time. The motion detector measures the change in acceleration (or "jolt") multiple times per second. The magnitude is squared and summed. After six minutes, the results are stored in a record along with a temperature and orientation reading, and the process starts over. The sum that results is roughly the total energy recorded in the nest during the period. This process allows us to compress several thousand readings into approximately 32 bytes of information. We lose but we suspect that those details are not important. The 240 records created each day give us a very good idea of what is happening in the nest. Once 40 days have passed, we restart the process of summing every minute to get more detailed data.

There has been some research that indicates that before emerging from the nest in a "boil," turtles that have hatched congregate underground near the top of the nest. It is thought that this motion stimulates the hatching of the turtles that haven't yet emerged. Our sensors, situated at the top of the nest, were able to record some noticeable disturbances several days before the turtles boil. We were able to see these disturbances in the data in almost all of the nests that we monitored in the 2014 season and were able to predict the date of the boil within a window of a few days.

Predictions from the data in 2014 were made by human observation of graphed data. We will be generating algorithms to predict hatching from our data and refining them to come up with a reliable automated process for predicting hatching a few days in advance.

==Funding and Impact==
[[File:NH007-Post Hurr Arthur-exclosure (2) cropped small.jpg|thumb|left|300px|A few days after the first units of Phase Two were installed, Hurricane Arthur hit. The units reported regularly before and after the storm without any problems. This picture was taken the day after the storm. Notice how all the text was sandblasted off the sign in the forefront. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is just behind the dune.]]
The National Park Service has been funding the project since it began. Labor is being provided by NerdsWithoutBorder.net volunteers. Additional support has come from:
* [http://ibm.com IBM -- grants]
* [http://www.janus-rc.com/ Janus Remote Communications -- a generous discount on their M2M plug-in boards]
* [http://www.screamingcircuits.com/ Screaming Circuits -- a donation of the labor toward the production of circuit prototypes]
* [http://www.telit.com Telit -- publicity]
* [http://www.fte.com Frontline Test Equipment, Inc. -- a donation of communications testing equipment]
* [http://www.corun.com/ent Hunan Corun New Energy Co.,LTD -- a donation of rechargeable NiMH batteries]

We are seeking funding and volunteers to expand the program.

Success in this project would provide widespread, international advantages. As noted above, the stress could be lessened between the protection agencies and the fishing industry, recreational users, and tourism advocates, all of whom desire more beach access. More effective international protection will be available, since the protection resources can be concentrated close to the hatch date instead of being stretched over six weeks. With a tighter hatching schedule, the public would have the opportunity to observe the hatchlings heading for the sea, an observation available only randomly now. This would improve the public support of the turtles. NPS will use the hatch dates in on-site announcements and information centers, and the Hatteras Island Ocean Center will disseminate the information in their programs. Much of the research on sea turtle eggs and hatchlings in the world could benefit from more accurate predictions of the hatch date. For example, studies that require capturing hatchlings for research could be done with much greater efficiency. Also, the sensor/cell network could be adapted for measurements of other species, including birds. Given its modest cost and energy efficiency (long battery life), it may have other uses in environmental studies. All the design information will be available to the public on the wiki http://nerdswithoutborders.net. If the project is successful equipment will be made available at cost or perhaps below cost if sponsors come forward.

[[Image:Britta2013.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Britta Muiznieks, a wildlife biologist at the NPS Cape Hatteras Seashore in NC with a protected turtle nest. The 4" PVC pipe assembly tower was used in the 2013 testing. A smaller 3" structure holds the 2014 package because the electronics are smaller and AA rechargeable batteries have replaced D cells. Vandal-proofing is one aspect of the design. Britta does the field research for the NPS.]]

==Press==
===Radio===
*NPR's Here & Now:
**[http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/08/25/turtles-outer-banks Part One (Aug 2014)]
**[http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/11/04/sea-turtles-sensors Part Two (Nov 2014)]

===Print===
* [http://hamptonroads.com/2014/08/plan-hatched-could-help-keep-beaches-open Article at PilotOnline.com (Virginia-Pilot) (August 2014)]
* [http://islandfreepress.org/2014Archives/08.21.2014-ItMakesTurtleSenseGivingCellPhonesToTurtles.html Article in Island Free Press(Aug 2014)]
* [http://outerbanksvoice.com/2013/08/29/high-tech-could-help-predict-sea-turtle-hatches/ Article in Outer Banks Voice (August 2013)]
* [http://outerbanksvoice.com/2014/08/10/small-ocean-center-incorporates-an-expansive-natural-theater/ Another mention at the Outer Banks Voice]
===Web===
* [http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/13/north-carolina-sea-turtles/?ncid=rss_truncated Engadget.com]
* [http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/geek-life/hands-on/technologists-hatch-turtle-sense-system-with-ecology-and-economy-in-mind Tech-talk at IEEE Spectrum]
* [http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-green-mind/201409/sensing-turtles Article at PsychologyToday.com]
* [http://hackaday.com/page/8/ Blog at hackaday.com]
* [http://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2014/08/remote-sensors-mean-more-sea-turtles-fewer-beach-closures-hatteras/90545/ Article at nextgov.com (August 2014)]
* [http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140515-910765.html Telit press release in the Wall Street Journal (May 2014)]
* [http://www.iotworld.com/author.asp?section_id=3153&doc_id=563269 Blog at iotworld.com]

==Links==
*[http://www.hioceancenter.org/ Hatteras Island Ocean Center website]
*[http://hackaday.io/project/2264-Turtle-Sense Entry for the Hackaday Prize at hackaday.io]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_bWmOsYJz4 Video about the project at YouTube]
*[[Turtle Sense/People]] -- People involved in this project.

==Contact us==
If you would like to help with this project, make suggestions, or offer a critique, please email: admin@nerdswithoutborders.net.

Thank You!

Turtle Sense/Phase Three

2016-07-02T21:41:28Z

Sam: /* Commercial options */ remove sections

==Overview==
When nests are discovered by park personnel, they are uncovered, the eggs counted, and a DNA sample is taken. At that time, a smart sensor the size of a turtle egg is placed on top of the turtle nest before the excavated sand is filled back in to cover the site. The smart sensor measures motion and temperature in the nest, and the data collected is used to predict when hatching is imminent. The smart sensor is connected to a communications tower which sends out regular reports on the activity in the nest using M2M technology. The text file reports are FTP'd to a website directly from the communications tower. During Phase Two we created test units, one registration units, 8 communications towers and 24 smart sensors for installation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina startin in the Spring of 2014. Many of the sensors can be used in more than one nest per season, so Data can be collected from roughly 40 nests per season. The data is analyzed as it is collected to attempt to predict imminent hatching.

==Hardware components==
===Smart Sensor===
The Phase One design used plastic ping-pong balls (not good ping-pong balls, but cheap plastic knock offs) and a temperature/motion sensor pre-installed on a small circuit board ([https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11446 Qty 1 Price=$14.95]). Assembly involved cutting a small slot in a ball, putting in some silicone caulk, inserting a sensor board attached to a cable into the caulk, and then filling the rest of the ball with caulk. A ball cut in half covered the slot and makes a thorough seal with the silicone. This design was abandoned for several reasons. The silicone did not fully set, even after a few months in the field. The sensor was unreliable, which may have been because it was connected directly to the microprocessor via the long Cat 5 cable and communications were using a very slow bit-banged SPI connection. To improve communications we decided to put transceivers on both sides of the cable. By adding a microprocessor to the sensor, most of the processing could happen in the sensor assembly. The transceivers are on for just a few seconds a day, for the upload of information from the sensor to the comm tower. This results in a Smart Sensor with very small power requirements.

The Smart Sensor has a 3-axis motion sensor (accelerometer) and temperature sensor connected to a very low power TI MSP430FR series microprocessor. There is also a moisture sensing circuit connected to the microprocessor, which measures changes in the capacitance of the moist or dry sand surrounding the sensor ball. A coax transceiver circuit connects to the communications tower via a RG6U cable. The smart sensor can be programmed to take readings 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 or 400 times every second. Each reading is compared with the previous reading to determine the change in acceleration -- or "jolt". Rather than record each jolt, the sensor counts how many readings have reached approximately 25 different magnitude levels. These magnitude levels (which we call "bins counters") are in a logarithmic scale. Each bin is the square root of 2 larger than the previous one. We keep count for a variable amount of time (between 1 and 6 minutes) and then start a new set record with a new set of bins. This allows us to track how much motion there was at multiple magnitudes over time.

===Communications tower board===
Since it is not possible to make telemetry connections under wet salty sand, the smart sensors are connected to a communications tower. The design is based around creating a custom processing mother board connected to an off-the-shelf telemetry board. The communications board has a very low power TI MSP430FR series microprocessor which controls and monitors the activity of the smart sensor and controls the telemetry board. There is also a power supply, a solar cell control circuit for recharging three onboard AAA cells, a coax transceiver circuit, and connectors for future expansion. The electronics are mounted inside a 3 inch PVC pipe and fittings. The PVC pipe is anchored in a bucket filled with concrete. The concrete base and RG6 coax cable are buried in the sand. The The tower sends text reports to our web space via an FTP connection using the telemetry board. The frequency of the reports starts out a one a day when the nests are new and not very active. Later the frequency increases to 6 times a day as the nest becomes more active. Since the communications tower only makes one to 6 reports a day, The microprocessor turns the telemetry board on and off, so that it consumes no power when it is not being used.

====Telemetry board====
We are using [http://www.janus-rc.com/terminuscf.html plug in Terminus boards] made by Janus. One board works with AT&T, T-mobile and many international GSM networks. Another works with Verizon. The boards are interchangeable so both will plug into our motherboard. The cost is roughly $140 qty 1 and are [http://www.janus-rc.com/terminuscf.html available from the manufacturer, Janus]. Janus has generously offered us a discount on their boards.

===Hand-held registration unit===

===Other components===
The only other components necessary are the RG6 coax cable and connector for the turtle egg sensor, and one cell antenna for the communications tower. The units should be able to operate continuously running on three low self-discharge NiMH Batteries, which are kept charged by a small solar cell in the top of the PVC enclosure. Also, anyone creating these devices will need the hardware necessary for programming the microprocessors.

==Cellular service==
We arranged for cellular service through m2mAIR which is part of TELIT, the manufacture of the cellular modules used in the Janus plug-in boards. This service is cost effective for hosting a large number of devices, as they can all be in the same account with one monthly fee. The devices are also charged for the data used by each device, but the quota is pooled (shared) between all the devices, and the data rate charges can be modified month by month. During periods of little or no activity, the data plans can be throttled back to keep the fees to a minimum.

==Web design and Database==
All reports are uploaded to our web-space. The reports are comma separated text files with headings and labels, so they can be read by people as well as computers. We are beginning work on a database to store all the data. When reports are uploaded, the communications units also check the webspace for a new parameter file and download it if it is found. The parameter file has settings that effect the behavior of the devices. Here are some of the things that can be changed:

*The frequency of reporting during inactive days
*The frequency of reporting during active days
*The number of inactive days
*The number of records per report
*How frequently samples are read by the sensor (12.5, 25, 50,100, 200 or 400 times per second)
*All of the other settings possible for the sensor
*Whether reports are verbose (labels on all the fields) or just data
*Whether temperatures are calibrated

Work has started on designing a database to collect all the data in the reports, and a website to give people access to the data. This work is just in its preliminary stages in anticipation of Phase 3.
* [[Turtle Sense/Website design]]
* [[Turtle Sense/Database design]]

==Embedded code==
There are essentially three devices that need embedded code. The smart sensor, the communications tower units, and the hand-held registration units. All three of these devices use the same microprocessor, and two of them use the same circuit board. A good deal of the embedded code is shared in the three applications..

All the code was written in C using TI's Code Composer Studio which is free for developers of code that is smaller than 16K.

The code is fully documented and can be seen on GITHUB:
*[https://github.com/NerdsWithoutBorders/Turtle-Sense-Smart-Sensor Smart Sensor embedded code]
*[https://github.com/NerdsWithoutBorders/TurtleSense-Comm-Head Communications tower embedded code]
*[https://github.com/NerdsWithoutBorders/TurtleSense-HandHeld-communicator Registration unit embedded code]

==Parts lists==
* [https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26861868/Turtle%20Sense%20Public%20Files/Turtle%20Sense%20Comm%20Unit%200.43%20--%20Bill%20of%20Materials%20--%20Completely%20filled%20PCB.xls Turtle Sense Communications 0.43 board parts]
* [https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26861868/Turtle%20Sense%20Public%20Files/Smart%20Sensor%200.46%20--%20Bill%20of%20Materials%20--%20PCB%20Assembly%20only.xls Turtle Sense Smart Sensor 0.46 board parts]
* [[Turtle Sense Other parts]]

==Schematics and System design==
* [[Block Diagram of Phase 3 System]]
* [[Turtle Sense Smart Sensor PCB Schematic v.0.46|Smart Sensor PCB 0.46 schematic]]
* [[Turtle Sense Smart Sensor board v.0.46|Smart Sensor PCB 0.46 description]]
* [[Turtle Sense Communications PCB Schematic v.0.44|Communications PCB 0.44 schematic]]
* [[Turtle Sense communications board v.0.44|Communications PCB 0.44 description]]

==Circuit Board Fabrication==
* [[Turtle Sense -- Manufacturing the Communicator and Smart Sensor printed circuit boards|Manufacturing the Communicator and Smart Sensor printed circuit boards]]

==Assembly Instructions==
* [[Turtle Sense cable assembly instructions|Cable assembly instructions]]
* [[Turtle Sense casting instructions for Smart Sensor and connectors|Casting instructions for Smart Sensor and connectors]]
* [[Turtle Sense communicator PVC housing assembly instructions|Communicator PVC housing assembly instructions]]
* [[Turtle Sense communicator housing final assembly|Communicator housing final assembly]]
==User Guide ==
* [[Turtle Sense nest site installation instructions|Nest site installation instructions]]
* [[Turtle Sense nest monitoring instructions|Nest site monitoring instructions]]
* [[Turtle Sense equipment maintenance instructions|Equipment maintenance instructions]]

Turtle Sense/Phase Three

2016-07-02T21:40:12Z

Sam: /* People */ remove section

==Overview==
When nests are discovered by park personnel, they are uncovered, the eggs counted, and a DNA sample is taken. At that time, a smart sensor the size of a turtle egg is placed on top of the turtle nest before the excavated sand is filled back in to cover the site. The smart sensor measures motion and temperature in the nest, and the data collected is used to predict when hatching is imminent. The smart sensor is connected to a communications tower which sends out regular reports on the activity in the nest using M2M technology. The text file reports are FTP'd to a website directly from the communications tower. During Phase Two we created test units, one registration units, 8 communications towers and 24 smart sensors for installation in the Outer Banks of North Carolina startin in the Spring of 2014. Many of the sensors can be used in more than one nest per season, so Data can be collected from roughly 40 nests per season. The data is analyzed as it is collected to attempt to predict imminent hatching.

===Commercial options===
Before developing the system, other commercially available data recording systems were evaluated to see if anything that would meet our requirements was available. None of the options we found were not low enough power to fit our needs, and none provided the data we were hoping to collect. The closest matches we found would have required as much or almost as much custom engineering on our part to make it work, and there was no cost benefit to going that route.
*[[Chuck's research on data recorders]]

==Hardware components==
===Smart Sensor===
The Phase One design used plastic ping-pong balls (not good ping-pong balls, but cheap plastic knock offs) and a temperature/motion sensor pre-installed on a small circuit board ([https://www.sparkfun.com/products/11446 Qty 1 Price=$14.95]). Assembly involved cutting a small slot in a ball, putting in some silicone caulk, inserting a sensor board attached to a cable into the caulk, and then filling the rest of the ball with caulk. A ball cut in half covered the slot and makes a thorough seal with the silicone. This design was abandoned for several reasons. The silicone did not fully set, even after a few months in the field. The sensor was unreliable, which may have been because it was connected directly to the microprocessor via the long Cat 5 cable and communications were using a very slow bit-banged SPI connection. To improve communications we decided to put transceivers on both sides of the cable. By adding a microprocessor to the sensor, most of the processing could happen in the sensor assembly. The transceivers are on for just a few seconds a day, for the upload of information from the sensor to the comm tower. This results in a Smart Sensor with very small power requirements.

The Smart Sensor has a 3-axis motion sensor (accelerometer) and temperature sensor connected to a very low power TI MSP430FR series microprocessor. There is also a moisture sensing circuit connected to the microprocessor, which measures changes in the capacitance of the moist or dry sand surrounding the sensor ball. A coax transceiver circuit connects to the communications tower via a RG6U cable. The smart sensor can be programmed to take readings 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 200 or 400 times every second. Each reading is compared with the previous reading to determine the change in acceleration -- or "jolt". Rather than record each jolt, the sensor counts how many readings have reached approximately 25 different magnitude levels. These magnitude levels (which we call "bins counters") are in a logarithmic scale. Each bin is the square root of 2 larger than the previous one. We keep count for a variable amount of time (between 1 and 6 minutes) and then start a new set record with a new set of bins. This allows us to track how much motion there was at multiple magnitudes over time.

===Communications tower board===
Since it is not possible to make telemetry connections under wet salty sand, the smart sensors are connected to a communications tower. The design is based around creating a custom processing mother board connected to an off-the-shelf telemetry board. The communications board has a very low power TI MSP430FR series microprocessor which controls and monitors the activity of the smart sensor and controls the telemetry board. There is also a power supply, a solar cell control circuit for recharging three onboard AAA cells, a coax transceiver circuit, and connectors for future expansion. The electronics are mounted inside a 3 inch PVC pipe and fittings. The PVC pipe is anchored in a bucket filled with concrete. The concrete base and RG6 coax cable are buried in the sand. The The tower sends text reports to our web space via an FTP connection using the telemetry board. The frequency of the reports starts out a one a day when the nests are new and not very active. Later the frequency increases to 6 times a day as the nest becomes more active. Since the communications tower only makes one to 6 reports a day, The microprocessor turns the telemetry board on and off, so that it consumes no power when it is not being used.

====Telemetry board====
We are using [http://www.janus-rc.com/terminuscf.html plug in Terminus boards] made by Janus. One board works with AT&T, T-mobile and many international GSM networks. Another works with Verizon. The boards are interchangeable so both will plug into our motherboard. The cost is roughly $140 qty 1 and are [http://www.janus-rc.com/terminuscf.html available from the manufacturer, Janus]. Janus has generously offered us a discount on their boards.

===Hand-held registration unit===

===Other components===
The only other components necessary are the RG6 coax cable and connector for the turtle egg sensor, and one cell antenna for the communications tower. The units should be able to operate continuously running on three low self-discharge NiMH Batteries, which are kept charged by a small solar cell in the top of the PVC enclosure. Also, anyone creating these devices will need the hardware necessary for programming the microprocessors.

==Cellular service==
We arranged for cellular service through m2mAIR which is part of TELIT, the manufacture of the cellular modules used in the Janus plug-in boards. This service is cost effective for hosting a large number of devices, as they can all be in the same account with one monthly fee. The devices are also charged for the data used by each device, but the quota is pooled (shared) between all the devices, and the data rate charges can be modified month by month. During periods of little or no activity, the data plans can be throttled back to keep the fees to a minimum.

==Web design and Database==
All reports are uploaded to our web-space. The reports are comma separated text files with headings and labels, so they can be read by people as well as computers. We are beginning work on a database to store all the data. When reports are uploaded, the communications units also check the webspace for a new parameter file and download it if it is found. The parameter file has settings that effect the behavior of the devices. Here are some of the things that can be changed:

*The frequency of reporting during inactive days
*The frequency of reporting during active days
*The number of inactive days
*The number of records per report
*How frequently samples are read by the sensor (12.5, 25, 50,100, 200 or 400 times per second)
*All of the other settings possible for the sensor
*Whether reports are verbose (labels on all the fields) or just data
*Whether temperatures are calibrated

Work has started on designing a database to collect all the data in the reports, and a website to give people access to the data. This work is just in its preliminary stages in anticipation of Phase 3.
* [[Turtle Sense/Website design]]
* [[Turtle Sense/Database design]]

==Embedded code==
There are essentially three devices that need embedded code. The smart sensor, the communications tower units, and the hand-held registration units. All three of these devices use the same microprocessor, and two of them use the same circuit board. A good deal of the embedded code is shared in the three applications..

All the code was written in C using TI's Code Composer Studio which is free for developers of code that is smaller than 16K.

The code is fully documented and can be seen on GITHUB:
*[https://github.com/NerdsWithoutBorders/Turtle-Sense-Smart-Sensor Smart Sensor embedded code]
*[https://github.com/NerdsWithoutBorders/TurtleSense-Comm-Head Communications tower embedded code]
*[https://github.com/NerdsWithoutBorders/TurtleSense-HandHeld-communicator Registration unit embedded code]

==Parts lists==
* [https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26861868/Turtle%20Sense%20Public%20Files/Turtle%20Sense%20Comm%20Unit%200.43%20--%20Bill%20of%20Materials%20--%20Completely%20filled%20PCB.xls Turtle Sense Communications 0.43 board parts]
* [https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/26861868/Turtle%20Sense%20Public%20Files/Smart%20Sensor%200.46%20--%20Bill%20of%20Materials%20--%20PCB%20Assembly%20only.xls Turtle Sense Smart Sensor 0.46 board parts]
* [[Turtle Sense Other parts]]

==Schematics and System design==
* [[Block Diagram of Phase 3 System]]
* [[Turtle Sense Smart Sensor PCB Schematic v.0.46|Smart Sensor PCB 0.46 schematic]]
* [[Turtle Sense Smart Sensor board v.0.46|Smart Sensor PCB 0.46 description]]
* [[Turtle Sense Communications PCB Schematic v.0.44|Communications PCB 0.44 schematic]]
* [[Turtle Sense communications board v.0.44|Communications PCB 0.44 description]]

==Circuit Board Fabrication==
* [[Turtle Sense -- Manufacturing the Communicator and Smart Sensor printed circuit boards|Manufacturing the Communicator and Smart Sensor printed circuit boards]]

==Assembly Instructions==
* [[Turtle Sense cable assembly instructions|Cable assembly instructions]]
* [[Turtle Sense casting instructions for Smart Sensor and connectors|Casting instructions for Smart Sensor and connectors]]
* [[Turtle Sense communicator PVC housing assembly instructions|Communicator PVC housing assembly instructions]]
* [[Turtle Sense communicator housing final assembly|Communicator housing final assembly]]
==User Guide ==
* [[Turtle Sense nest site installation instructions|Nest site installation instructions]]
* [[Turtle Sense nest monitoring instructions|Nest site monitoring instructions]]
* [[Turtle Sense equipment maintenance instructions|Equipment maintenance instructions]]

Turtle Sense Smart Sensor PCB Schematic v.0.24

2016-06-22T21:46:01Z

Sam: Undo revision 529 by Dave (talk)

*[[Turtle Sense Smart Sensor board v.0.24|Circuit description]]
[[File:Smart_Sensor_0.25_schematic.jpg|795px|Smart Sensor 0.25.]]

Turtle Sense Smart Sensor PCB Schematic v.0.46

2016-06-22T21:44:56Z

Sam: new page

*[[Turtle Sense Smart Sensor board v.0.46|Circuit description]]
[[File:Smart Sensor 0.46.jpg|795px]]

File:2015 - NH161R sensor AA0029.png

2016-01-23T10:08:30Z

Sam:

File:2015 - NH158R sensor AA0011.png

2016-01-23T10:07:17Z

Sam:

File:2015 - NH157 sensor AA0013.png

2016-01-23T10:06:13Z

Sam:

Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results

2016-01-23T10:05:25Z

Sam: /* Graphs of monitored nests */ fixes

We monitored nests at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore during 2015. For detailed day-by-day records of our predictions, please go to [https://groups.google.com/forum/?pli=1#!forum/turtlesense our Google Group]

==Prediction methodology==
Data was uploaded to our server every 4 hours after 40 days of incubation. An automated process creates graphs of the data. Predictions were made by Samuel Wantman by manually looking at those graphs. The data was typically interpreted only once a day, at the end of the day (around Midnight PST or 3AM local time). If frequent wide fluctuations in the data had been observed for the preceding day (usually following a large dip in the data), nestlings were predicted to emerge 5 days after the start of the activity. This was typically 4 days after the observation. Sometimes a day of looking at the data was missed so a prediction might only be for 3 days after. If 60 days went by without any signs of hatching activity a prediction was made that the nest would be unproductive.

==Graphs of monitored nests==
''Note: The x-axis is the number of days since the nest was discovered. This number is likely off by a few hours. Nests are discovered during turtle patrol and a sensor is installed in the nest at that time and registered in the database. Since the nest was laid sometime during the previous night, the exact incubation time might be off. Similarly, the date that emergence was first observed is often the morning after when the turtle patrol notes tracks in the sand. Both of these errors tend to cancel each other out. Note that NH002 is off by 8 days because it was not registered until 8 days after the nest was discovered. Activity several days after emergence at the right edge of charts is from excavation of the nests.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! style="text-align:left;" class="unsortable"|   
! style="text-align:left;" data-sort-type="number"|NPS code
! style="text-align:left;"|Sensor
! style="text-align:left;"|Day of Prediction
! style="text-align:center;"| Day that was Predicted
! style="text-align:center;"|Day 1st Observed
! style="text-align:left;" class="unsortable"|Notes;
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH007R after emergence.png|250px]]||NH007R||AA0009||---||---||51|| There was too much noise in this nest to be able to make any predictions. This was a very early nest -- day 51. No obvious explanation for all the noise. The sensor had moved from its installation position in the nest. Might be a faulty sensor.
|-
|[[File:2015 - AA0005 after emergence (7-22).png|250px]]||NH002||AA0005||48 (56) revised next day ||52 (60)||52 (60)||(''Note, the days listed in the x-axis of this chart is off by 8 days. Add 8 to the numbers you see.'') Emergence was predicted for Tuesday evening, July 21st. Turtle patrol reported 1 hatching track and a depression on 07/22. (More might have come out, there was a severe rain storm the previous night.)
|-
|[[File:2015_-_NH004_after_emergence_(7-24)_sensor_AA0007.png|250px]]||NH004||AA0007||52 ||55||54||Emergence was predicted for Thursday evening, July 23rd. The first 15 or so were observed the evening before. The turtle patrol observed tracks for over 25 hatchlings on the 23rd.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH003 (7-28 final) sensor AA0006.png|250px]]||NH003||AA0006|| 56||60||59||Emergence was predicted for Friday evening, July 24th. The first few hatchlings were observed the evening before. There was a boil on the 25th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH014 (7-28) sensor AA0013.png|250px]]||NH014||AA0013||50 ||54||54|| There was a boil the night of the 26th, sometime after 9PM and before 6:30AM the next morning, with too many tracks to count.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH015 (7-31) sensor AA0011.png|250px]]||NH015||AA0011|| 54||57||56|| Three hatchlings emerged on the 29th and there was a boil on the 30th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH022 (7-31) sensor AA0016.png|250px]]||NH022||AA0016||48 ||51||51|| There was minimal data to use to generate a prediction, but even so the prediction was accurate. 30+ hatchlings emerged on the 29th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH023 (8-11) sensor AA0017.png|250px]]||NH023||AA0017|| 53 ||58 || 57 || The morning of 8/7 a hatchling was found wandering near the dunes. Rain washed out the tracks so it is not certain how many emerged the evening of 8/6. There was a record of 9 hatchlings on the 9th and 5 on the 10th. A total of 85 eggshells were counted. It seems likely that most of the hatchlings left on Thursday evening (8/6).
|-
||[[File:2015 - NH024 (8-10) sensor AA0025.png|250px]]||NH024||AA0025|| 50 || 55 || 56 || More than 20 tracks were counted the morning of the 8th. On 8/9 the activity recorded was from the nest being washed out. Very few hatched or unhatched were found after the washout, so it is unclear exactly what happened.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH013 (8-12) sensor AA0010.png|250px]]||NH013||AA0010|| --- || --- || --- || This nest was thought to be infertile, and it was. Excavated on Aug 12
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH036 (8-13) sensor AA0024.png|250px]]||NH036||AA0024||53 || 57 || 58|| 20+ tracks noticed by Turtle Patrol on 8/13. Only about 1/4 of the eggs hatched.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH055R (8-16) sensor AA0026.png|250px]]||NH055R||AA0026|| --- || --- || 50|| Only 7 of 129 eggs were viable. No hatching activity noticed in data.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH041 (8-16) sensor AA0020.png|250px]]||NH041||AA0020|| 52|| 56 or 57 || 59|| Unusually long period of hatching activity. Nest boiled at 10:48 PM on Aug 15th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH056 (8-17) sensor AA0027.png|250px]]||NH056||AA0027||50 || 54 || 55 || 132 turtles hatched. 8 eggs didn't make it.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH058 (8-17) sensor AA0028.png|250px]]||NH058||AA0028||51 || 55 || 55 || The graph is from August 17th (day 53). data quieted on Tuesday the 18th. There were still 28 hatchlings in the nest when excavated on the 21st.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH074 sensor AA0029.png|250px]]||NH074||AA0029||48|| 52 || 55 || 7 predated eggs may have caused premature prediction.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH078 sensor AA0014.png|250px]]||NH078||AA0014||50 || 54 or 55 || 59 || 75 hatchlings rescued from compacted sand and overwashes. High tides were approaching and data showed that the hatchlings emergence was delayed. Hatchlings likely would have died from the high tides. 20 unhatched eggs were reburied but non hatched. All were leucystic.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH085 sensor AA0008.png|250px]]||NH085||AA0008||52 || 56 || 58 || hard crust may have delayed emergence.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH094 sensor AA0015.png|250px]]||NH094||AA0015||51 || 55 || 56 || Patrol examined the nest on day 52 after 14 overwashes and confirmed there was a live hatchling.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH105 sensor AA0018.png|250px]]||NH105||AA0018||--- || --- || --- || lots of overwashes seen in data. No prediction made. No live hatchlings.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH134R sensor AA0019.png|250px]]||NH134R||AA0019||58 || 61 or later || 65 || roughly half hatched and emerged. Later nests seem to emerge longer than 5 days after hatching activity noticed in data.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH138 sensor AA0009.png|250px]]||NH138||AA0009||54 || 58 or later || 61 || Excavated on day 61 due to overwash. Earlier traces of emergence may not have been seen.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH139R sensor AA0005.png|250px]]||NH139R||AA0005||54 || 58 or later || 59 ||
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH142R sensor AA0021.png|250px]]||NH142R||AA0021||53 || 56 or later || 57? || Signs of emergence obliterated by high tides. Nest check on day 57 revealed hatchlings. 6 hatchlings remained when excavated on day 59.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH143R sensor AA0006.png|250px]]||NH143R||AA0006||--- || --- || 57? || Unit stopped reporting on day 45. No prediction made.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH151R sensor AA0007.png|250px]]||NH151R||AA0007||--- || --- || --- || No predictions. Only 2 live hatchlings (one emerged). Major disturbances to nest from Hurricane Joaquin.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH157 sensor AA0013.png|250px]]||NH157||AA0013||--- || --- || --- || Nest and equipment completely washed away by severe weather. Heavy erosion and scarping.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH158R sensor AA0011.png|250px]]||NH158R||AA0011||--- || --- || --- || No predictions. Nest excavated due to severe sand accumulation and compaction. No eggs hatched.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH161R sensor AA0029.png|250px]]||NH161R||AA0029||--- || --- || --- || Nest and equipment completely washed away by severe weather.
|}

File:2015 - NH151R sensor AA0007.png

2016-01-23T10:03:27Z

Sam:

File:2015 - NH143R sensor AA0006.png

2016-01-23T10:02:02Z

Sam:

File:2015 - NH142R sensor AA0021.png

2016-01-23T09:59:59Z

Sam:

File:2015 - NH139R sensor AA0005.png

2016-01-23T09:58:42Z

Sam:

File:2015 - NH138 sensor AA0009.png

2016-01-23T09:55:07Z

Sam:

Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results

2016-01-23T09:54:23Z

Sam: /* Graphs of monitored nests */ fix typo

We monitored nests at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore during 2015. For detailed day-by-day records of our predictions, please go to [https://groups.google.com/forum/?pli=1#!forum/turtlesense our Google Group]

==Prediction methodology==
Data was uploaded to our server every 4 hours after 40 days of incubation. An automated process creates graphs of the data. Predictions were made by Samuel Wantman by manually looking at those graphs. The data was typically interpreted only once a day, at the end of the day (around Midnight PST or 3AM local time). If frequent wide fluctuations in the data had been observed for the preceding day (usually following a large dip in the data), nestlings were predicted to emerge 5 days after the start of the activity. This was typically 4 days after the observation. Sometimes a day of looking at the data was missed so a prediction might only be for 3 days after. If 60 days went by without any signs of hatching activity a prediction was made that the nest would be unproductive.

==Graphs of monitored nests==
''Note: The x-axis is the number of days since the nest was discovered. This number is likely off by a few hours. Nests are discovered during turtle patrol and a sensor is installed in the nest at that time and registered in the database. Since the nest was laid sometime during the previous night, the exact incubation time might be off. Similarly, the date that emergence was first observed is often the morning after when the turtle patrol notes tracks in the sand. Both of these errors tend to cancel each other out. Note that NH002 is off by 8 days because it was not registered until 8 days after the nest was discovered. Activity several days after emergence at the right edge of charts is from excavation of the nests.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! style="text-align:left;" class="unsortable"|   
! style="text-align:left;" data-sort-type="number"|NPS code
! style="text-align:left;"|Sensor
! style="text-align:left;"|Day of Prediction
! style="text-align:center;"| Day that was Predicted
! style="text-align:center;"|Day 1st Observed
! style="text-align:left;" class="unsortable"|Notes;
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH007R after emergence.png|250px]]||NH007R||AA0009||---||---||51|| There was too much noise in this nest to be able to make any predictions. This was a very early nest -- day 51. No obvious explanation for all the noise. The sensor had moved from its installation position in the nest. Might be a faulty sensor.
|-
|[[File:2015 - AA0005 after emergence (7-22).png|250px]]||NH002||AA0005||48 (56) revised next day ||52 (60)||52 (60)||(''Note, the days listed in the x-axis of this chart is off by 8 days. Add 8 to the numbers you see.'') Emergence was predicted for Tuesday evening, July 21st. Turtle patrol reported 1 hatching track and a depression on 07/22. (More might have come out, there was a severe rain storm the previous night.)
|-
|[[File:2015_-_NH004_after_emergence_(7-24)_sensor_AA0007.png|250px]]||NH004||AA0007||52 ||55||54||Emergence was predicted for Thursday evening, July 23rd. The first 15 or so were observed the evening before. The turtle patrol observed tracks for over 25 hatchlings on the 23rd.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH003 (7-28 final) sensor AA0006.png|250px]]||NH003||AA0006|| 56||60||59||Emergence was predicted for Friday evening, July 24th. The first few hatchlings were observed the evening before. There was a boil on the 25th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH014 (7-28) sensor AA0013.png|250px]]||NH014||AA0013||50 ||54||54|| There was a boil the night of the 26th, sometime after 9PM and before 6:30AM the next morning, with too many tracks to count.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH015 (7-31) sensor AA0011.png|250px]]||NH015||AA0011|| 54||57||56|| Three hatchlings emerged on the 29th and there was a boil on the 30th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH022 (7-31) sensor AA0016.png|250px]]||NH022||AA0016||48 ||51||51|| There was minimal data to use to generate a prediction, but even so the prediction was accurate. 30+ hatchlings emerged on the 29th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH023 (8-11) sensor AA0017.png|250px]]||NH023||AA0017|| 53 ||58 || 57 || The morning of 8/7 a hatchling was found wandering near the dunes. Rain washed out the tracks so it is not certain how many emerged the evening of 8/6. There was a record of 9 hatchlings on the 9th and 5 on the 10th. A total of 85 eggshells were counted. It seems likely that most of the hatchlings left on Thursday evening (8/6).
|-
||[[File:2015 - NH024 (8-10) sensor AA0025.png|250px]]||NH024||AA0025|| 50 || 55 || 56 || More than 20 tracks were counted the morning of the 8th. On 8/9 the activity recorded was from the nest being washed out. Very few hatched or unhatched were found after the washout, so it is unclear exactly what happened.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH013 (8-12) sensor AA0010.png|250px]]||NH013||AA0010|| --- || --- || --- || This nest was thought to be infertile, and it was. Excavated on Aug 12
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH036 (8-13) sensor AA0024.png|250px]]||NH036||AA0024||53 || 57 || 58|| 20+ tracks noticed by Turtle Patrol on 8/13. Only about 1/4 of the eggs hatched.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH055R (8-16) sensor AA0026.png|250px]]||NH055R||AA0026|| --- || --- || 50|| Only 7 of 129 eggs were viable. No hatching activity noticed in data.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH041 (8-16) sensor AA0020.png|250px]]||NH041||AA0020|| 52|| 56 or 57 || 59|| Unusually long period of hatching activity. Nest boiled at 10:48 PM on Aug 15th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH056 (8-17) sensor AA0027.png|250px]]||NH056||AA0027||50 || 54 || 55 || 132 turtles hatched. 8 eggs didn't make it.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH058 (8-17) sensor AA0028.png|250px]]||NH058||AA0028||51 || 55 || 55 || The graph is from August 17th (day 53). data quieted on Tuesday the 18th. There were still 28 hatchlings in the nest when excavated on the 21st.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH074 sensor AA0029.png|250px]]||NH074||AA0029||48|| 52 || 55 || 7 predated eggs may have caused premature prediction.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH078 sensor AA0014.png|250px]]||NH078||AA0014||50 || 54 or 55 || 59 || 75 hatchlings rescued from compacted sand and overwashes. High tides were approaching and data showed that the hatchlings emergence was delayed. Hatchlings likely would have died from the high tides. 20 unhatched eggs were reburied but non hatched. All were leucystic.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH085 sensor AA0008.png|250px]]||NH085||AA0008||52 || 56 || 58 || hard crust may have delayed emergence.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH094 sensor AA0015.png|250px]]||NH094||AA0015||51 || 55 || 56 || Patrol examined the nest on day 52 after 14 overwashes and confirmed there was a live hatchling.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH105 sensor AA0018.png|250px]]||NH105||AA0018||--- || --- || --- || lots of overwashes seen in data. No prediction made. No live hatchlings.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH134R sensor AA0019.png|250px]]||NH134R||AA0019||58 || 61 or later || 65 || roughly half hatched and emerged. Later nests seem to emerge longer than 5 days after hatching activity noticed in data.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH138 sensor AA0009.png|250px]]||NH138||AA0009||54 || 58 or later || 61 || Excavated on day 61 due to overwash. Earlier traces of emergence may not have been seen.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH139R sensor AA0005.png|250px]]||NH139R||AA0005||54 || 58 or later || 59 ||
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH142R sensor AA0021.png|250px]]||NH142R||AA0021||53 || 56 or later || 57? || Signs of emergence obliterated by high tides. Nest check on day 57 revealed hatchlings. 6 hatchlings remained when excavated on day 59.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH143R sensor AA0006.png|250px]]||NH143R||AA0006||--- || --- || 57? || Unit stopped reporting on day 45. No prediction made.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH151R sensor AA0007.png|250px]]||NH056||AA0027||--- || --- || --- || No predictions. Only 2 live hatchlings (one emerged). Major disturbances to nest from Hurricane Joaquin.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH157 sensor AA0013.png|250px]]||NH157||AA0013||--- || --- || --- || Nest and equipment completely washed away by severe weather. Heavy erosion and scarping.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH158R sensor AA0011.png|250px]]||NH158R||AA0011||--- || --- || --- || No predictions. Nest excavated due to severe sand accumulation and compaction. No eggs hatched.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH161R sensor AA0029.png|250px]]||NH161R||AA0029||--- || --- || --- || Nest and equipment completely washed away by severe weather.
|}

File:2015 - NH134R sensor AA0019.png

2016-01-23T09:52:42Z

Sam:

Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results

2016-01-23T09:47:54Z

Sam: /* Graphs of monitored nests */

We monitored nests at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore during 2015. For detailed day-by-day records of our predictions, please go to [https://groups.google.com/forum/?pli=1#!forum/turtlesense our Google Group]

==Prediction methodology==
Data was uploaded to our server every 4 hours after 40 days of incubation. An automated process creates graphs of the data. Predictions were made by Samuel Wantman by manually looking at those graphs. The data was typically interpreted only once a day, at the end of the day (around Midnight PST or 3AM local time). If frequent wide fluctuations in the data had been observed for the preceding day (usually following a large dip in the data), nestlings were predicted to emerge 5 days after the start of the activity. This was typically 4 days after the observation. Sometimes a day of looking at the data was missed so a prediction might only be for 3 days after. If 60 days went by without any signs of hatching activity a prediction was made that the nest would be unproductive.

==Graphs of monitored nests==
''Note: The x-axis is the number of days since the nest was discovered. This number is likely off by a few hours. Nests are discovered during turtle patrol and a sensor is installed in the nest at that time and registered in the database. Since the nest was laid sometime during the previous night, the exact incubation time might be off. Similarly, the date that emergence was first observed is often the morning after when the turtle patrol notes tracks in the sand. Both of these errors tend to cancel each other out. Note that NH002 is off by 8 days because it was not registered until 8 days after the nest was discovered. Activity several days after emergence at the right edge of charts is from excavation of the nests.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! style="text-align:left;" class="unsortable"|   
! style="text-align:left;" data-sort-type="number"|NPS code
! style="text-align:left;"|Sensor
! style="text-align:left;"|Day of Prediction
! style="text-align:center;"| Day that was Predicted
! style="text-align:center;"|Day 1st Observed
! style="text-align:left;" class="unsortable"|Notes;
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH007R after emergence.png|250px]]||NH007R||AA0009||---||---||51|| There was too much noise in this nest to be able to make any predictions. This was a very early nest -- day 51. No obvious explanation for all the noise. The sensor had moved from its installation position in the nest. Might be a faulty sensor.
|-
|[[File:2015 - AA0005 after emergence (7-22).png|250px]]||NH002||AA0005||48 (56) revised next day ||52 (60)||52 (60)||(''Note, the days listed in the x-axis of this chart is off by 8 days. Add 8 to the numbers you see.'') Emergence was predicted for Tuesday evening, July 21st. Turtle patrol reported 1 hatching track and a depression on 07/22. (More might have come out, there was a severe rain storm the previous night.)
|-
|[[File:2015_-_NH004_after_emergence_(7-24)_sensor_AA0007.png|250px]]||NH004||AA0007||52 ||55||54||Emergence was predicted for Thursday evening, July 23rd. The first 15 or so were observed the evening before. The turtle patrol observed tracks for over 25 hatchlings on the 23rd.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH003 (7-28 final) sensor AA0006.png|250px]]||NH003||AA0006|| 56||60||59||Emergence was predicted for Friday evening, July 24th. The first few hatchlings were observed the evening before. There was a boil on the 25th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH014 (7-28) sensor AA0013.png|250px]]||NH014||AA0013||50 ||54||54|| There was a boil the night of the 26th, sometime after 9PM and before 6:30AM the next morning, with too many tracks to count.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH015 (7-31) sensor AA0011.png|250px]]||NH015||AA0011|| 54||57||56|| Three hatchlings emerged on the 29th and there was a boil on the 30th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH022 (7-31) sensor AA0016.png|250px]]||NH022||AA0016||48 ||51||51|| There was minimal data to use to generate a prediction, but even so the prediction was accurate. 30+ hatchlings emerged on the 29th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH023 (8-11) sensor AA0017.png|250px]]||NH023||AA0017|| 53 ||58 || 57 || The morning of 8/7 a hatchling was found wandering near the dunes. Rain washed out the tracks so it is not certain how many emerged the evening of 8/6. There was a record of 9 hatchlings on the 9th and 5 on the 10th. A total of 85 eggshells were counted. It seems likely that most of the hatchlings left on Thursday evening (8/6).
|-
||[[File:2015 - NH024 (8-10) sensor AA0025.png|250px]]||NH024||AA0025|| 50 || 55 || 56 || More than 20 tracks were counted the morning of the 8th. On 8/9 the activity recorded was from the nest being washed out. Very few hatched or unhatched were found after the washout, so it is unclear exactly what happened.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH013 (8-12) sensor AA0010.png|250px]]||NH013||AA0010|| --- || --- || --- || This nest was thought to be infertile, and it was. Excavated on Aug 12
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH036 (8-13) sensor AA0024.png|250px]]||NH036||AA0024||53 || 57 || 58|| 20+ tracks noticed by Turtle Patrol on 8/13. Only about 1/4 of the eggs hatched.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH055R (8-16) sensor AA0026.png|250px]]||NH055R||AA0026|| --- || --- || 50|| Only 7 of 129 eggs were viable. No hatching activity noticed in data.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH041 (8-16) sensor AA0020.png|250px]]||NH041||AA0020|| 52|| 56 or 57 || 59|| Unusually long period of hatching activity. Nest boiled at 10:48 PM on Aug 15th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH056 (8-17) sensor AA0027.png|250px]]||NH056||AA0027||50 || 54 || 55 || 132 turtles hatched. 8 eggs didn't make it.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH058 (8-17) sensor AA0028.png|250px]]||NH058||AA0028||51 || 55 || 55 || The graph is from August 17th (day 53). data quieted on Tuesday the 18th. There were still 28 hatchlings in the nest when excavated on the 21st.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH074 sensor AA0029.png|250px]]||NH074||AA0029||48|| 52 || 55 || 7 predated eggs may have caused premature prediction.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH078 sensor AA0014.png|250px]]||NH078||AA0014||50 || 54 or 55 || 59 || 75 hatchlings rescued from compacted sand and overwashes. High tides were approaching and data showed that the hatchlings emergence was delayed. Hatchlings likely would have died from the high tides. 20 unhatched eggs were reburied but non hatched. All were leucystic.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH085 sensor AA0008.png|250px]]||NH085||AA0008||52 || 56 || 58 || hard crust may have delayed emergence.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH094 sensor AA0015.png|250px]]||NH094||AA0015||51 || 55 || 56 || Patrol examined the nest on day 52 after 14 overwashes and confirmed there was a live hatchling.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH105 sensor AA0018.png|250px]]||NH105||AA0018||--- || --- || --- || lots of overwashes seen in data. No prediction made. No live hatchlings.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH134R sensor AA0019.png|250px]]||NH135R||AA0019||58 || 61 or later || 65 || roughly half hatched and emerged. Later nests seem to emerge longer than 5 days after hatching activity noticed in data.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH138 sensor AA0009.png|250px]]||NH138||AA0009||54 || 58 or later || 61 || Excavated on day 61 due to overwash. Earlier traces of emergence may not have been seen.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH139R sensor AA0005.png|250px]]||NH139R||AA0005||54 || 58 or later || 59 ||
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH142R sensor AA0021.png|250px]]||NH142R||AA0021||53 || 56 or later || 57? || Signs of emergence obliterated by high tides. Nest check on day 57 revealed hatchlings. 6 hatchlings remained when excavated on day 59.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH143R sensor AA0006.png|250px]]||NH143R||AA0006||--- || --- || 57? || Unit stopped reporting on day 45. No prediction made.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH151R sensor AA0007.png|250px]]||NH056||AA0027||--- || --- || --- || No predictions. Only 2 live hatchlings (one emerged). Major disturbances to nest from Hurricane Joaquin.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH157 sensor AA0013.png|250px]]||NH157||AA0013||--- || --- || --- || Nest and equipment completely washed away by severe weather. Heavy erosion and scarping.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH158R sensor AA0011.png|250px]]||NH158R||AA0011||--- || --- || --- || No predictions. Nest excavated due to severe sand accumulation and compaction. No eggs hatched.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH161R sensor AA0029.png|250px]]||NH161R||AA0029||--- || --- || --- || Nest and equipment completely washed away by severe weather.
|}

File:2015 - NH105 sensor AA0018.png

2016-01-23T09:44:20Z

Sam:

File:2015 - NH094 sensor AA0015.png

2016-01-23T09:41:54Z

Sam:

File:2015 - NH085 sensor AA0008.png

2016-01-23T09:40:47Z

Sam:

File:2015 - NH078 sensor AA0014.png

2016-01-23T09:39:22Z

Sam:

File:2015 - NH074 sensor AA0029.png

2016-01-23T09:37:55Z

Sam:

Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results

2016-01-23T09:35:49Z

Sam: completed chart

We monitored nests at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore during 2015. For detailed day-by-day records of our predictions, please go to [https://groups.google.com/forum/?pli=1#!forum/turtlesense our Google Group]

==Prediction methodology==
Data was uploaded to our server every 4 hours after 40 days of incubation. An automated process creates graphs of the data. Predictions were made by Samuel Wantman by manually looking at those graphs. The data was typically interpreted only once a day, at the end of the day (around Midnight PST or 3AM local time). If frequent wide fluctuations in the data had been observed for the preceding day (usually following a large dip in the data), nestlings were predicted to emerge 5 days after the start of the activity. This was typically 4 days after the observation. Sometimes a day of looking at the data was missed so a prediction might only be for 3 days after. If 60 days went by without any signs of hatching activity a prediction was made that the nest would be unproductive.

==Graphs of monitored nests==
''Note: The x-axis is the number of days since the nest was discovered. This number is likely off by a few hours. Nests are discovered during turtle patrol and a sensor is installed in the nest at that time and registered in the database. Since the nest was laid sometime during the previous night, the exact incubation time might be off. Similarly, the date that emergence was first observed is often the morning after when the turtle patrol notes tracks in the sand. Both of these errors tend to cancel each other out. Note that NH002 is off by 8 days because it was not registered until 8 days after the nest was discovered.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! style="text-align:left;" class="unsortable"|   
! style="text-align:left;" data-sort-type="number"|NPS code
! style="text-align:left;"|Sensor
! style="text-align:left;"|Day of Prediction
! style="text-align:center;"| Day that was Predicted
! style="text-align:center;"|Day 1st Observed
! style="text-align:left;" class="unsortable"|Notes;
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH007R after emergence.png|250px]]||NH007R||AA0009||---||---||51|| There was too much noise in this nest to be able to make any predictions. This was a very early nest -- day 51. No obvious explanation for all the noise. The sensor had moved from its installation position in the nest. Might be a faulty sensor.
|-
|[[File:2015 - AA0005 after emergence (7-22).png|250px]]||NH002||AA0005||48 (56) revised next day ||52 (60)||52 (60)||(''Note, the days listed in the x-axis of this chart is off by 8 days. Add 8 to the numbers you see.'') Emergence was predicted for Tuesday evening, July 21st. Turtle patrol reported 1 hatching track and a depression on 07/22. (More might have come out, there was a severe rain storm the previous night.)
|-
|[[File:2015_-_NH004_after_emergence_(7-24)_sensor_AA0007.png|250px]]||NH004||AA0007||52 ||55||54||Emergence was predicted for Thursday evening, July 23rd. The first 15 or so were observed the evening before. The turtle patrol observed tracks for over 25 hatchlings on the 23rd.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH003 (7-28 final) sensor AA0006.png|250px]]||NH003||AA0006|| 56||60||59||Emergence was predicted for Friday evening, July 24th. The first few hatchlings were observed the evening before. There was a boil on the 25th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH014 (7-28) sensor AA0013.png|250px]]||NH014||AA0013||50 ||54||54|| There was a boil the night of the 26th, sometime after 9PM and before 6:30AM the next morning, with too many tracks to count.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH015 (7-31) sensor AA0011.png|250px]]||NH015||AA0011|| 54||57||56|| Three hatchlings emerged on the 29th and there was a boil on the 30th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH022 (7-31) sensor AA0016.png|250px]]||NH022||AA0016||48 ||51||51|| There was minimal data to use to generate a prediction, but even so the prediction was accurate. 30+ hatchlings emerged on the 29th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH023 (8-11) sensor AA0017.png|250px]]||NH023||AA0017|| 53 ||58 || 57 || The morning of 8/7 a hatchling was found wandering near the dunes. Rain washed out the tracks so it is not certain how many emerged the evening of 8/6. There was a record of 9 hatchlings on the 9th and 5 on the 10th. A total of 85 eggshells were counted. It seems likely that most of the hatchlings left on Thursday evening (8/6).
|-
||[[File:2015 - NH024 (8-10) sensor AA0025.png|250px]]||NH024||AA0025|| 50 || 55 || 56 || More than 20 tracks were counted the morning of the 8th. On 8/9 the activity recorded was from the nest being washed out. Very few hatched or unhatched were found after the washout, so it is unclear exactly what happened.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH013 (8-12) sensor AA0010.png|250px]]||NH013||AA0010|| --- || --- || --- || This nest was thought to be infertile, and it was. Excavated on Aug 12
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH036 (8-13) sensor AA0024.png|250px]]||NH036||AA0024||53 || 57 || 58|| 20+ tracks noticed by Turtle Patrol on 8/13. Only about 1/4 of the eggs hatched.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH055R (8-16) sensor AA0026.png|250px]]||NH055R||AA0026|| --- || --- || 50|| Only 7 of 129 eggs were viable. No hatching activity noticed in data.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH041 (8-16) sensor AA0020.png|250px]]||NH041||AA0020|| 52|| 56 or 57 || 59|| Unusually long period of hatching activity. Nest boiled at 10:48 PM on Aug 15th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH056 (8-17) sensor AA0027.png|250px]]||NH056||AA0027||50 || 54 || 55 || 132 turtles hatched. 8 eggs didn't make it.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH058 (8-17) sensor AA0028.png|250px]]||NH058||AA0028||51 || 55 || 55 || The graph is from August 17th (day 53). data quieted on Tuesday the 18th. There were still 28 hatchlings in the nest when excavated on the 21st.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH074 sensor AA0029.png|250px]]||NH074||AA0029||48|| 52 || 55 || 7 predated eggs may have caused premature prediction.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH078 sensor AA0014.png|250px]]||NH078||AA0014||50 || 54 or 55 || 59 || 75 hatchlings rescued from compacted sand and overwashes. High tides were approaching and data showed that the hatchlings emergence was delayed. Hatchlings likely would have died from the high tides. 20 unhatched eggs were reburied but non hatched. All were leucystic.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH085 sensor AA0008.png|250px]]||NH085||AA0008||52 || 56 || 58 || hard crust may have delayed emergence.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH094 sensor AA0015.png|250px]]||NH094||AA0015||51 || 55 || 56 || Patrol examined the nest on day 52 after 14 overwashes and confirmed there was a live hatchling.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH105 sensor AA0018.png|250px]]||NH105||AA0018||--- || --- || --- || lots of overwashes seen in data. No prediction made. No live hatchlings.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH134R sensor AA0019.png|250px]]||NH135R||AA0019||58 || 61 or later || 65 || roughly half hatched and emerged. Later nests seem to emerge longer than 5 days after hatching activity noticed in data.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH138 sensor AA0009.png|250px]]||NH138||AA0009||54 || 58 or later || 61 || Excavated on day 61 due to overwash. Earlier traces of emergence may not have been seen.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH139R sensor AA0005.png|250px]]||NH139R||AA0005||54 || 58 or later || 59 ||
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH142R sensor AA0021.png|250px]]||NH142R||AA0021||53 || 56 or later || 57? || Signs of emergence obliterated by high tides. Nest check on day 57 revealed hatchlings. 6 hatchlings remained when excavated on day 59.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH143R sensor AA0006.png|250px]]||NH143R||AA0006||--- || --- || 57? || Unit stopped reporting on day 45. No prediction made.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH151R sensor AA0007.png|250px]]||NH056||AA0027||--- || --- || --- || No predictions. Only 2 live hatchlings (one emerged). Major disturbances to nest from Hurricane Joaquin.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH157 sensor AA0013.png|250px]]||NH157||AA0013||--- || --- || --- || Nest and equipment completely washed away by severe weather. Heavy erosion and scarping.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH158R sensor AA0011.png|250px]]||NH158R||AA0011||--- || --- || --- || No predictions. Nest excavated due to severe sand accumulation and compaction. No eggs hatched.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH161R sensor AA0029.png|250px]]||NH161R||AA0029||--- || --- || --- || Nest and equipment completely washed away by severe weather.
|}

Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results

2016-01-23T08:36:35Z

Sam: updated data

Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results

2016-01-23T04:18:30Z

Sam: Prediction methodology

Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results

2016-01-23T04:00:20Z

Sam: Note and start of conversions

We monitored nests at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore during 2015. For detailed day-by-day records of our predictions, please go to [https://groups.google.com/forum/?pli=1#!forum/turtlesense our Google Group]

==Graphs of monitored nests==
''Note: The x-axis is the number of days since the nest was discovered. This number is likely off by a few hours. Nests are discovered during turtle patrol and a sensor is installed in the nest at that time and registered in the database. Since the nest was laid sometime during the previous night, the exact incubation time might be off. Similarly, the date that emergence was first observed is often the morning after when the turtle patrol notes tracks in the sand. Both of these errors tend to cancel each other out. Note that NH002 is off by 8 days because it was not registered until 8 days after the nest was discovered.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! style="text-align:left;" class="unsortable"|   
! style="text-align:left;" data-sort-type="number"|NPS code
! style="text-align:left;"|Sensor
! style="text-align:left;"|Day of Prediction
! style="text-align:center;"| Day that was Predicted
! style="text-align:center;"|Day 1st Observed
! style="text-align:left;" class="unsortable"|Notes;
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH007R after emergence.png|250px]]||NH007R||AA0009||---||---||July 20|| There was too much noise in this nest to be able to make any predictions. Very early -- day 51. 20+ emerged the following day. No obvious explanation for all the noise. The sensor had moved from its installation position in the nest. Might be a faulty sensor.
|-
|[[File:2015 - AA0005 after emergence (7-22).png|250px]]||NH002||AA0005||48 (56) revised next day ||52 (60)||52 (60)||(''Note, the days listed in the x-axis of this chart is off by 8 days. Add 8 to the numbers you see.'') Emergence was predicted for Tuesday evening, July 21st. Turtle patrol reported 1 hatching track and a depression on 07/22. (More might have come out, there was a severe rain storm the previous night.)
|-
|[[File:2015_-_NH004_after_emergence_(7-24)_sensor_AA0007.png|250px]]||NH004||AA0007||52 ||55||54||Emergence was predicted for Thursday evening, July 23rd. The first 15 or so were observed the evening before. The turtle patrol observed tracks for over 25 hatchlings on the 23rd.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH003 (7-28 final) sensor AA0006.png|250px]]||NH003||AA0006|| 56||60||59||Emergence was predicted for Friday evening, July 24th. The first few hatchlings were observed the evening before. There was a boil on the 25th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH014 (7-28) sensor AA0013.png|250px]]||NH014||AA0013||50 ||54||54|| There was a boil the night of the 26th, sometime after 9PM and before 6:30AM the next morning, with too many tracks to count.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH015 (7-31) sensor AA0011.png|250px]]||NH015||AA0011|| 54||57||56|| Three hatchlings emerged on the 29th and there was a boil on the 30th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH022 (7-31) sensor AA0016.png|250px]]||NH022||AA0016||48 ||51||51|| There was minimal data to use to generate a prediction, but even so the prediction was accurate. 30+ hatchlings emerged on the 29th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH023 (8-11) sensor AA0017.png|250px]]||NH023||AA0017|| 53 ||58 || 57 || The morning of 8/7 a hatchling was found wandering near the dunes. Rain washed out the tracks so it is not certain how many emerged the evening of 8/6. There was a record of 9 hatchlings on the 9th and 5 on the 10th. A total of 85 eggshells were counted. It seems likely that most of the hatchlings left on Thursday evening (8/6).
|-
||[[File:2015 - NH024 (8-10) sensor AA0025.png|250px]]||NH024||AA0025|| || Aug 6 || Aug 7 || More than 20 tracks were counted the morning of the 8th. On 8/9 the activity recorded was from the nest being washed out. Very few hatched or unhatched were found after the washout, so it is unclear exactly what happened.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH013 (8-12) sensor AA0010.png|250px]]||NH013||AA0010|| --- || --- || --- || This nest was thought to be infertile, and it was. Excavated on Aug 12
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH036 (8-13) sensor AA0024.png|250px]]||NH036||AA0024|| || Aug 12 || Aug 12|| 20+ tracks noticed by Turtle Patrol on 8/13. Only about 1/4 of the eggs hatched.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH055R (8-16) sensor AA0026.png|250px]]||NH055R||AA0026|| --- || --- || Aug 12|| Only 7 of 129 eggs were viable. No hatching activity noticed in data.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH041 (8-16) sensor AA0020.png|250px]]||NH041||AA0020|| || Aug 13 or Aug 14 || Aug 15|| Unusually long period of hatching activity. Nest boiled at 10:48 PM on the 15th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH056 (8-17) sensor AA0027.png|250px]]||NH056||AA0027|| || Aug 17 || Aug 17 || 132 turtles hatched. 8 eggs didn't make it.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH058 (8-17) sensor AA0028.png|250px]]||NH058||AA0028|| || Aug 18 or Aug 19 || Aug 18 || The graph is from the 17th. data quieted on Tuesday the 18th. There were still 28 hatchlings in the nest when excavated on the 21st.
|}

Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results

2016-01-23T02:34:48Z

Sam: update chart to use day instead of date (dates need to be converted)

We monitored nests at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore during 2015. For detailed day-by-day records of our predictions, please go to [https://groups.google.com/forum/?pli=1#!forum/turtlesense our Google Group]

Here are graphs of nests that were monitored:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! style="text-align:left;" class="unsortable"|   
! style="text-align:left;" data-sort-type="number"|NPS code
! style="text-align:left;"|Sensor
! style="text-align:left;"|Day of Prediction
! style="text-align:center;"| Day that was Predicted
! style="text-align:center;"|Day 1st Observed
! style="text-align:left;" class="unsortable"|Notes;
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH007R after emergence.png|250px]]||NH007R||AA0009||---||---||July 20|| There was too much noise in this nest to be able to make any predictions. Very early -- day 51. 20+ emerged the following day. No obvious explanation for all the noise. The sensor had moved from its installation position in the nest. Might be a faulty sensor.
|-
|[[File:2015 - AA0005 after emergence (7-22).png|250px]]||NH002||AA0005|| ||July 21||July 21||(''Note, the days listed in the x-axis of this chart is off by 8 days. Add 8 to the numbers you see.'') Emergence was predicted for Tuesday evening, July 21st. Turtle patrol reported 1 hatching track and a depression on 07/22. (More might have come out, there was a severe rain storm the previous night.)
|-
|[[File:2015_-_NH004_after_emergence_(7-24)_sensor_AA0007.png|250px]]||NH004||AA0007|| ||July 23||July 22||Emergence was predicted for Thursday evening, July 23rd. The first 15 or so were observed the evening before. The turtle patrol observed tracks for over 25 hatchlings on the 23rd.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH003 (7-28 final) sensor AA0006.png|250px]]||NH003||AA0006|| ||July 24||July 23||Emergence was predicted for Friday evening, July 24th. The first few hatchlings were observed the evening before. There was a boil on the 25th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH014 (7-28) sensor AA0013.png|250px]]||NH014||AA0013|| ||July 26||July 26|| There was a boil the night of the 26th, sometime after 9PM and before 6:30AM the next morning, with too many tracks to count.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH015 (7-31) sensor AA0011.png|250px]]||NH015||AA0011|| ||July 30||July 29|| Three hatchlings emerged on the 29th and there was a boil on the 30th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH022 (7-31) sensor AA0016.png|250px]]||NH022||AA0016|| ||July 29||July 29|| There was minimal data to use to generate a prediction, but even so the prediction was accurate. 30+ hatchlings emerged on the 29th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH023 (8-11) sensor AA0017.png|250px]]||NH023||AA0017|| ||Aug 7 || Aug 6 || The morning of 8/7 a hatchling was found wandering near the dunes. Rain washed out the tracks so it is not certain how many emerged the evening of 8/6. There was a record of 9 hatchlings on the 9th and 5 on the 10th. A total of 85 eggshells were counted. It seems likely that most of the hatchlings left on Thursday evening (8/6).
|-
||[[File:2015 - NH024 (8-10) sensor AA0025.png|250px]]||NH024||AA0025|| || Aug 6 || Aug 7 || More than 20 tracks were counted the morning of the 8th. On 8/9 the activity recorded was from the nest being washed out. Very few hatched or unhatched were found after the washout, so it is unclear exactly what happened.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH013 (8-12) sensor AA0010.png|250px]]||NH013||AA0010|| --- || --- || --- || This nest was thought to be infertile, and it was. Excavated on Aug 12
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH036 (8-13) sensor AA0024.png|250px]]||NH036||AA0024|| || Aug 12 || Aug 12|| 20+ tracks noticed by Turtle Patrol on 8/13. Only about 1/4 of the eggs hatched.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH055R (8-16) sensor AA0026.png|250px]]||NH055R||AA0026|| --- || --- || Aug 12|| Only 7 of 129 eggs were viable. No hatching activity noticed in data.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH041 (8-16) sensor AA0020.png|250px]]||NH041||AA0020|| || Aug 13 or Aug 14 || Aug 15|| Unusually long period of hatching activity. Nest boiled at 10:48 PM on the 15th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH056 (8-17) sensor AA0027.png|250px]]||NH056||AA0027|| || Aug 17 || Aug 17 || 132 turtles hatched. 8 eggs didn't make it.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH058 (8-17) sensor AA0028.png|250px]]||NH058||AA0028|| || Aug 18 or Aug 19 || Aug 18 || The graph is from the 17th. data quieted on Tuesday the 18th. There were still 28 hatchlings in the nest when excavated on the 21st.
|}

Turtle Sense

2015-12-30T00:35:17Z

Sam: /* Hardware */ 64K

;Using high tech sensors and cell phone networks to protect sea turtle hatchlings
[[File:HIOC turtle sense logo.jpg|right]]

==Background==
[[File:Hawaii turtle 2.JPG|400px|right]]
Sea turtles have existed for 100 million years, but in the last century, the impacts of man through accidental capture in fishing nets, habitat destruction, pollution, and plastics in the ocean have significantly reduced populations by as much as 95%. Six of the seven species nest in the warmer beaches of the US, and all of these are protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Although volunteer groups and park personnel can identify egg-laying sites almost immediately, the hatching date (when they emerge onto the beach) cannot be predicted—it will happen sometime in a six-week period beginning 50 days after the eggs are laid. All 100 to 150 of the sea turtle hatchlings in a nest usually appear simultaneously (mostly at night) on some unpredictable date during that six-week period. The hatchlings “boil” out of the sand and begin a dash to the ocean, one of the most touching sights in nature.

Beginning at 50 days after the eggs are laid, the National Park Service (NPS) at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore fences off a lane from the nest to the ocean and forbids other access to that lane until either the hatchlings appear or the 100 days has elapsed. This long protection period creates conflicts with other uses for beach access, such as fishing and vehicular movement for recreation and safety. Conflicts are inevitable, often leading to lawsuits.

== Project Objective==
[[File:Baby sea turtles make their way toward the water.jpg|thumb|400px|left|This project is developing technology to help protect sea turtle hatchlings at their first crisis: emerging from the egg and making it to the ocean. Hatching happens on an unpredictable day sometime during a six-week window beginning 50 days after the eggs are laid. Predicting the hatching date to within a few days is the goal of this project.]]
The goal of the project is to develop simple, inexpensive technology for determining when a "boil" will occur with as much accuracy and reliability as possible. The current design employs a sensor that measures egg motion either as the embryos agitate in the egg or as the sea turtle hatchlings begin to pip out of the eggs or both. The results, perhaps including modeling, will hopefully be able to predict hatching dates (arrival on the beach) to a reliable one-to-three-day window, a significant improvement over the current six-week window. Developing a reliable technology for predicting hatching will allow the NPS to create a new protocol for protecting the nests, thus freeing up access to the beaches for a significantly longer time.

There are several possible beneficial side effects of the technology:
* The technology can be used to help develop ecotourism around the hatching of sea turtles. Once people (especially young people) experience the hatching of these creatures, they may be much more likely to think positively about the welfare of sea turtles in the future.
* If local people can develop an income around this ecotourism activity, they may be less averse to the obstructions to beach vehicles and foot traffic.
* The technology might be useful for scientists studying sea turtles and might be adaptable for the study of other egg-laying species.

All the designs and software code will be published on this website and will be available for use worldwide. All data created by the system will be made available to researchers worldwide.

== History ==
The device began with an idea from Eric Kaplan, founder of a company that develops Bluetooth wireless technology test equipment. Kaplan sold his company to his employees and later founded the Hatteras Island Ocean Center (www.hioceancenter.org), a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) ecology education center on Hatteras Island in North Carolina. Kaplan saw the need for this technology and approached his childhood friend Tom Zimmerman, an IBM Research–Almaden (San Jose, CA) electrical engineer for assistance. Zimmerman designed the sensor package in 2013 as a public service commitment from IBM. Tom recruited his college buddy, Samuel Wantman a retired software designer, and they worked on developing the first phase of the design with support from IBM and from the National Park Service. Britta Muiznieks, a biologist with the NPS has been coordinating the Park's involvement. The first phase of the project was a very quick and inexpensive hack of cell phones with a simple custom circuit board to test the viability of the project. The devices were tried in a few nests in 2013, but unfortunately it was too late in the season to get any data from viable nests. Even so, there was enough learned to make everyone involved in the project believe that there was the potential to make the technology work.

Wantman took over management of the project in 2014, as Zimmerman had to return to other commitments at IBM. Additional volunteers were recruited, including David Hermeyer a retired electrical engineer and Charles Wade a retired IBM Research manager. Phase Two of the project involves developing a more robust custom sensor embedded in a plastic sphere the same size and shape as a turtle egg, with industry standard technology for transmitting data over cell phone networks. Installation has begun on multiple sensors that the NPS is funding for field testing in 2014. The project inspired Samuel Wantman to start Nerdswithoutborders.net to help organize the project, recruit volunteers, and inspire other projects. All of the Turtle Sense project members, with the exception of the NPS employees, donate their time. The Hatteras Island Ocean Center is the sponsoring non-profit institution that administers receipt and disbursement of funds for materials and other expenses.

==Phase One (2013 Turtle Season)==
[[file:PingPongSensor.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A ping-pong ball sensor assembly placed in a sea turtle nest (field tests 2013). The cable coming from the sensor leads to the communications tower for the cell phone connection.]]
Phase One was a proof-of-concept field test undertaken during the 2013 turtle season. A motion-and-temperature sensor (Analog Devices ADLX362, 3-Axil, Digital Output MEMS accelerometer), soldered to a Sparkfun “breakout board,” was soldered to a CAT5 cable. The board was sealed in a Ping-Pong ball by filling it with “aquarium safe” silicone caulk. The Ping-Pong ball, about the size and shape of the sea turtle eggs, was placed in the sea turtle nest by National Park Service (NPS) rangers. The other end of the cable attached to the "egg" assembly was electrically connected to a hacked cell phone that was programmed with a very small, low-powered TI MSP430 microprocessor. The phone sent out text messages with the motion and temperature data every two hours. The cell phone was protected from the elements by a communications tower made from 4" PVC pipe and pipe fittings.

Turtle eggshells are thick and leathery, so the hatchlings need considerable effort to emerge from the egg. After leaving the egg, the hatchlings remain in the nest for two-to-four days before exiting (usually) as a group onto the beach. All the resulting motions should activate the accelerometer sensor and thus provide data to the phone network. Though the first device had its problems, field tests done at Hatteras in October 2013 were positive. The signal from the sensor close to a single hatchling was eight times larger than the background signal, giving hope for more extensive tests planned for 2014.

==Phase Two Description==
''See also: [[Turtle Sense/Phase Two]]

Planning for Phase Two began during the implementation of Phase One. Samuel Wantman and David Hermeyer began working on the design for a more robust solution in the Fall of 2013. Units were installed by the NPS starting in June of 2014. About a dozen nests were monitored and predictions were made as to when the hatchlings would emerge.

Several problems were identified during Phase One that we tried to address in Phase Two:
*The sensors had reliability problems communicating with the cell phones because of the long distance between the sensor and the microprocessor in the communications unit. This is being addressed in two ways. The sensor was mounted on a very small (1 inch by 1 inch) circuit board inside the "egg" that goes in the nest. The board also contains a microprocessor and a RS485 transceiver that allows reliable communication over very long cable lengths.
[[file:PhaseTwoCommBoard.jpg|left|400px|thumb|The 2014 communications assembly contains the circuit board, power supply, a microprocessor, an M2M cell phone board and RS485 transceiver. Inset is a quarter for size reference.]]
*The cell phone, having been designed with a human interface, was often unpredictable. Occasionally messages would pop up prompting a human reply (like a notification that the phone was charging). This made programming the device difficult because of all of the possible messages and the timing of their appearance are not predictable. At one point, the devices stopped working because the cellular service provider required all its users to upload new operating software. An appropriate user response was not possible in field-installed pre-programmed units. Because of this problem, we adopted industry standard M2M (Machine to Machine) methods of sending data over a cellular network.
*Text messages and disposable cell phones were not a cost-effective way to send large amounts of data. Phase Two uses FTP protocols with devices and data plans that have much less expensive data charges.
*Hacked cell phones would be difficult to mass produce, so the new design uses off-the-shelf, plug-in cell phone boards and custom circuitry that can be mass produced.
*Phase One used single-use D cell alkaline batteries. Phase Two uses rechargeable NiMH AA batteries and achieves longer battery life, as the package is carefully designed for low energy needs.
*Most of the turtle-specific calculations are now done in the microprocessor embedded with the sensor in the "egg." The communication system is designed so that it can be modified for other sensors.
*The silicone filling the ping-pong balls that housed the sensors in Phase One never cured. For Phase Two, we made a casting of a ping-pong ball (which is the same size and shape as a turtle egg), and used it to cast solid polyurethane "eggs" around the sensor circuit boards. The polyurethane is fully set in less than a day, does not out-gas, and is very hard and durable.

== Phase Two results==
[[File:2015 - NH003 (7-28 final) sensor AA0006.png|250px|thumb|In 2015 we started to automate the graphing of data, and used the graphs to successfully predict emergence of hatchlings]]
===2014 season===
:''For more detail, see:
* [https://www.dropbox.com/s/g1yrkai0npe0p91/2014%20Turtle%20Sense%20final%20report.pdf?dl=0 National Park Service -- Turtle Sense 2014 final report]
* [[Turtle Sense / Project logs]]

===2015 season===
We successfully monitored nests at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. For a record of predictions please go to [https://groups.google.com/forum/?pli=1#!forum/turtlesense our Google Group]

For graphs of the nests that were monitored see: [[Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results]]

==Phase Three Goals==
Work on phase three began after the end of the 2014 season. The goals of Phase Three are:
*To refine our hardware so that it is easier and cheaper to manufacture, more reliable, and easier to maintain.
*Extend the firmware so that it has better error handling, can be updated in the field, and offers more features and usable data.
*Create a working, somewhat complete website which does the following: automates the process of predicting hatching, reports predation events and over-washes; generates alerts for users; centralizes necessary data entry; and, allows open access of data for researchers and wildlife managers.
*Test the equipment and features in several different environments.
*Attend conferences to publicize our work and find additional organizations to team up with, and find additional volunteers to assist the project.
*Create a plan to get the technology included in protocols that are acceptable to the US Fish and Wildlife service.

Most of the technical work to make this happen will be done during 2015. The phase two equipment will be used until the phase three equipment is ready.

==Phase Three Progress==
Work is underway modifying the Turtle Sense hardware and software.
===Hardware===
* A moisture detector is being added to the smart sensor "egg".
* The power supply of the unit is changing from 8 AA rechargeable batteries that just last for a season to a solar cell that will charge 3 AAA batteries. Preliminary tests indicate that this will be cheaper to produce, and last for many years -- as long as the life of the batteries -- before needing servicing. Initial testing is very positive. There is enough light on a very overcast day to keep the units running, and even without any light the units will continue running for several weeks.
* Connections between the comm unit and the sensors will be made with coax cable. This will allow the connections to be modified and repaired in the field, greatly reduce the expense and time involved in creating the devices, and allow multiple sensors to be connected to the same comm unit. Power and two way communication will all use the same wire.
* Expansion ports will be added for USB/SD support, Bluetooth and other wireless capabilities, and auxiliary connections for controlling and interfacing with other field equipment.
* Since the batteries will not need annual servicing, the comm units will only have one sealed chamber instead of two. This will simplify the construction and installation of the devices
* Upgraded microprocessors will expand available memory from 16K to 64K while lowering power usage.

===Software===
* Expanded memory provides space for better error handling, increased data storage, and user code.
* A protocol will be developed for interfacing with multiple sensors
* Tools and libraries will be help others customize the hardware and software for other applications

==Data==
[[File:Screenshot 2014-07-03 01.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Data from the first report of the 2014 season]]
The Turtle Sense units constantly monitor and analyze motion to create a profile of its magnitude over time. The motion detector measures the change in acceleration (or "jolt") multiple times per second. The magnitude is squared and summed. After six minutes, the results are stored in a record along with a temperature and orientation reading, and the process starts over. The sum that results is roughly the total energy recorded in the nest during the period. This process allows us to compress several thousand readings into approximately 32 bytes of information. We lose but we suspect that those details are not important. The 240 records created each day give us a very good idea of what is happening in the nest. Once 40 days have passed, we restart the process of summing every minute to get more detailed data.

There has been some research that indicates that before emerging from the nest in a "boil," turtles that have hatched congregate underground near the top of the nest. It is thought that this motion stimulates the hatching of the turtles that haven't yet emerged. Our sensors, situated at the top of the nest, were able to record some noticeable disturbances several days before the turtles boil. We were able to see these disturbances in the data in almost all of the nests that we monitored in the 2014 season and were able to predict the date of the boil within a window of a few days.

Predictions from the data in 2014 were made by human observation of graphed data. We will be generating algorithms to predict hatching from our data and refining them to come up with a reliable automated process for predicting hatching a few days in advance.

==Funding and Impact==
[[File:NH007-Post Hurr Arthur-exclosure (2) cropped small.jpg|thumb|left|300px|A few days after the first units of Phase Two were installed, Hurricane Arthur hit. The units reported regularly before and after the storm without any problems. This picture was taken the day after the storm. Notice how all the text was sandblasted off the sign in the forefront. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is just behind the dune.]]
The National Park Service has been funding the project since it began. Labor is being provided by NerdsWithoutBorder.net volunteers. Additional support has come from:
* [http://ibm.com IBM -- grants]
* [http://www.janus-rc.com/ Janus Remote Communications -- a generous discount on their M2M plug-in boards]
* [http://www.screamingcircuits.com/ Screaming Circuits -- a donation of the labor toward the production of circuit prototypes]
* [http://www.telit.com Telit -- publicity]
* [http://www.fte.com Frontline Test Equipment, Inc. -- a donation of communications testing equipment]
* [http://www.corun.com/ent Hunan Corun New Energy Co.,LTD -- a donation of rechargeable NiMH batteries]

We are seeking funding and volunteers to expand the program.

Success in this project would provide widespread, international advantages. As noted above, the stress could be lessened between the protection agencies and the fishing industry, recreational users, and tourism advocates, all of whom desire more beach access. More effective international protection will be available, since the protection resources can be concentrated close to the hatch date instead of being stretched over six weeks. With a tighter hatching schedule, the public would have the opportunity to observe the hatchlings heading for the sea, an observation available only randomly now. This would improve the public support of the turtles. NPS will use the hatch dates in on-site announcements and information centers, and the Hatteras Island Ocean Center will disseminate the information in their programs. Much of the research on sea turtle eggs and hatchlings in the world could benefit from more accurate predictions of the hatch date. For example, studies that require capturing hatchlings for research could be done with much greater efficiency. Also, the sensor/cell network could be adapted for measurements of other species, including birds. Given its modest cost and energy efficiency (long battery life), it may have other uses in environmental studies. All the design information will be available to the public on the wiki http://nerdswithoutborders.net. If the project is successful equipment will be made available at cost or perhaps below cost if sponsors come forward.

[[Image:Britta2013.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Britta Muiznieks, a wildlife biologist at the NPS Cape Hatteras Seashore in NC with a protected turtle nest. The 4" PVC pipe assembly tower was used in the 2013 testing. A smaller 3" structure holds the 2014 package because the electronics are smaller and AA rechargeable batteries have replaced D cells. Vandal-proofing is one aspect of the design. Britta does the field research for the NPS.]]

==Press==
===Radio===
*NPR's Here & Now:
**[http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/08/25/turtles-outer-banks Part One (Aug 2014)]
**[http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/11/04/sea-turtles-sensors Part Two (Nov 2014)]

===Print===
* [http://hamptonroads.com/2014/08/plan-hatched-could-help-keep-beaches-open Article at PilotOnline.com (Virginia-Pilot) (August 2014)]
* [http://islandfreepress.org/2014Archives/08.21.2014-ItMakesTurtleSenseGivingCellPhonesToTurtles.html Article in Island Free Press(Aug 2014)]
* [http://outerbanksvoice.com/2013/08/29/high-tech-could-help-predict-sea-turtle-hatches/ Article in Outer Banks Voice (August 2013)]
* [http://outerbanksvoice.com/2014/08/10/small-ocean-center-incorporates-an-expansive-natural-theater/ Another mention at the Outer Banks Voice]
===Web===
* [http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/13/north-carolina-sea-turtles/?ncid=rss_truncated Engadget.com]
* [http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/geek-life/hands-on/technologists-hatch-turtle-sense-system-with-ecology-and-economy-in-mind Tech-talk at IEEE Spectrum]
* [http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-green-mind/201409/sensing-turtles Article at PsychologyToday.com]
* [http://hackaday.com/page/8/ Blog at hackaday.com]
* [http://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2014/08/remote-sensors-mean-more-sea-turtles-fewer-beach-closures-hatteras/90545/ Article at nextgov.com (August 2014)]
* [http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140515-910765.html Telit press release in the Wall Street Journal (May 2014)]
* [http://www.iotworld.com/author.asp?section_id=3153&doc_id=563269 Blog at iotworld.com]

==Links==
*[http://www.hioceancenter.org/ Hatteras Island Ocean Center website]
*[http://hackaday.io/project/2264-Turtle-Sense Entry for the Hackaday Prize at hackaday.io]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_bWmOsYJz4 Video about the project at YouTube]
*[[Turtle Sense/People]] -- People involved in this project.

==Contact us==
If you would like to help with this project, make suggestions, or offer a critique, please email: admin@nerdswithoutborders.net.

Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results

2015-12-30T00:16:01Z

Sam:

We monitored nests at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore during 2015. For detailed day-by-day records of our predictions, please go to [https://groups.google.com/forum/?pli=1#!forum/turtlesense our Google Group]

Here are graphs of nests that were monitored:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! style="text-align:left;" class="unsortable"|   
! style="text-align:left;" data-sort-type="number"|NPS code
! style="text-align:left;"|Sensor
! style="text-align:center;"| Date Predicted
! style="text-align:center;"|Date Observed
! style="text-align:left;" class="unsortable"|Notes;
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH007R after emergence.png|250px]]||NH007R||AA0009||---||July 20|| There was too much noise in this nest to be able to make any predictions. Very early -- day 51. 20+ emerged the following day. No obvious explanation for all the noise. The sensor had moved from its installation position in the nest. Might be a faulty sensor.
|-
|[[File:2015 - AA0005 after emergence (7-22).png|250px]]||NH002||AA0005||July 21||July 21||(''Note, the days listed in the x-axis of this chart is off by 8 days. Add 8 to the numbers you see.'') Emergence was predicted for Tuesday evening, July 21st. Turtle patrol reported 1 hatching track and a depression on 07/22. (More might have come out, there was a severe rain storm the previous night.)
|-
|[[File:2015_-_NH004_after_emergence_(7-24)_sensor_AA0007.png|250px]]||NH004||AA0007||July 23||July 22||Emergence was predicted for Thursday evening, July 23rd. The first 15 or so were observed the evening before. The turtle patrol observed tracks for over 25 hatchlings on the 23rd.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH003 (7-28 final) sensor AA0006.png|250px]]||NH003||AA0006||July 24||July 23||Emergence was predicted for Friday evening, July 24th. The first few hatchlings were observed the evening before. There was a boil on the 25th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH014 (7-28) sensor AA0013.png|250px]]||NH014||AA0013||July 26||July 26|| There was a boil the night of the 26th, sometime after 9PM and before 6:30AM the next morning, with too many tracks to count.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH015 (7-31) sensor AA0011.png|250px]]||NH015||AA0011||July 30||July 29|| Three hatchlings emerged on the 29th and there was a boil on the 30th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH022 (7-31) sensor AA0016.png|250px]]||NH022||AA0016||July 29||July 29|| There was minimal data to use to generate a prediction, but even so the prediction was accurate. 30+ hatchlings emerged on the 29th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH023 (8-11) sensor AA0017.png|250px]]||NH023||AA0017|| Aug 7 || Aug 6 || The morning of 8/7 a hatchling was found wandering near the dunes. Rain washed out the tracks so it is not certain how many emerged the evening of 8/6. There was a record of 9 hatchlings on the 9th and 5 on the 10th. A total of 85 eggshells were counted. It seems likely that most of the hatchlings left on Thursday evening (8/6).
|-
||[[File:2015 - NH024 (8-10) sensor AA0025.png|250px]]||NH024||AA0025|| Aug 6 || Aug 7 || More than 20 tracks were counted the morning of the 8th. On 8/9 the activity recorded was from the nest being washed out. Very few hatched or unhatched were found after the washout, so it is unclear exactly what happened.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH013 (8-12) sensor AA0010.png|250px]]||NH013||AA0010|| --- || --- || This nest was thought to be infertile, and it was. Excavated on Aug 12
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH036 (8-13) sensor AA0024.png|250px]]||NH036||AA0024|| Aug 12 || Aug 12|| 20+ tracks noticed by Turtle Patrol on 8/13. Only about 1/4 of the eggs hatched.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH055R (8-16) sensor AA0026.png|250px]]||NH055R||AA0026|| --- || Aug 12|| Only 7 of 129 eggs were viable. No hatching activity noticed in data.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH041 (8-16) sensor AA0020.png|250px]]||NH041||AA0020|| Aug 13 or Aug 14 || Aug 15|| Unusually long period of hatching activity. Nest boiled at 10:48 PM on the 15th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH056 (8-17) sensor AA0027.png|250px]]||NH056||AA0027|| Aug 17 || Aug 17 || 132 turtles hatched. 8 eggs didn't make it.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH058 (8-17) sensor AA0028.png|250px]]||NH058||AA0028|| Aug 18 or Aug 19 || Aug 18 || The graph is from the 17th. data quieted on Tuesday the 18th. There were still 28 hatchlings in the nest when excavated on the 21st.
|}

Turtle Sense

2015-12-30T00:12:18Z

Sam: /* 2015 season */ update

;Using high tech sensors and cell phone networks to protect sea turtle hatchlings
[[File:HIOC turtle sense logo.jpg|right]]

==Background==
[[File:Hawaii turtle 2.JPG|400px|right]]
Sea turtles have existed for 100 million years, but in the last century, the impacts of man through accidental capture in fishing nets, habitat destruction, pollution, and plastics in the ocean have significantly reduced populations by as much as 95%. Six of the seven species nest in the warmer beaches of the US, and all of these are protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Although volunteer groups and park personnel can identify egg-laying sites almost immediately, the hatching date (when they emerge onto the beach) cannot be predicted—it will happen sometime in a six-week period beginning 50 days after the eggs are laid. All 100 to 150 of the sea turtle hatchlings in a nest usually appear simultaneously (mostly at night) on some unpredictable date during that six-week period. The hatchlings “boil” out of the sand and begin a dash to the ocean, one of the most touching sights in nature.

Beginning at 50 days after the eggs are laid, the National Park Service (NPS) at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore fences off a lane from the nest to the ocean and forbids other access to that lane until either the hatchlings appear or the 100 days has elapsed. This long protection period creates conflicts with other uses for beach access, such as fishing and vehicular movement for recreation and safety. Conflicts are inevitable, often leading to lawsuits.

== Project Objective==
[[File:Baby sea turtles make their way toward the water.jpg|thumb|400px|left|This project is developing technology to help protect sea turtle hatchlings at their first crisis: emerging from the egg and making it to the ocean. Hatching happens on an unpredictable day sometime during a six-week window beginning 50 days after the eggs are laid. Predicting the hatching date to within a few days is the goal of this project.]]
The goal of the project is to develop simple, inexpensive technology for determining when a "boil" will occur with as much accuracy and reliability as possible. The current design employs a sensor that measures egg motion either as the embryos agitate in the egg or as the sea turtle hatchlings begin to pip out of the eggs or both. The results, perhaps including modeling, will hopefully be able to predict hatching dates (arrival on the beach) to a reliable one-to-three-day window, a significant improvement over the current six-week window. Developing a reliable technology for predicting hatching will allow the NPS to create a new protocol for protecting the nests, thus freeing up access to the beaches for a significantly longer time.

There are several possible beneficial side effects of the technology:
* The technology can be used to help develop ecotourism around the hatching of sea turtles. Once people (especially young people) experience the hatching of these creatures, they may be much more likely to think positively about the welfare of sea turtles in the future.
* If local people can develop an income around this ecotourism activity, they may be less averse to the obstructions to beach vehicles and foot traffic.
* The technology might be useful for scientists studying sea turtles and might be adaptable for the study of other egg-laying species.

All the designs and software code will be published on this website and will be available for use worldwide. All data created by the system will be made available to researchers worldwide.

== History ==
The device began with an idea from Eric Kaplan, founder of a company that develops Bluetooth wireless technology test equipment. Kaplan sold his company to his employees and later founded the Hatteras Island Ocean Center (www.hioceancenter.org), a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) ecology education center on Hatteras Island in North Carolina. Kaplan saw the need for this technology and approached his childhood friend Tom Zimmerman, an IBM Research–Almaden (San Jose, CA) electrical engineer for assistance. Zimmerman designed the sensor package in 2013 as a public service commitment from IBM. Tom recruited his college buddy, Samuel Wantman a retired software designer, and they worked on developing the first phase of the design with support from IBM and from the National Park Service. Britta Muiznieks, a biologist with the NPS has been coordinating the Park's involvement. The first phase of the project was a very quick and inexpensive hack of cell phones with a simple custom circuit board to test the viability of the project. The devices were tried in a few nests in 2013, but unfortunately it was too late in the season to get any data from viable nests. Even so, there was enough learned to make everyone involved in the project believe that there was the potential to make the technology work.

Wantman took over management of the project in 2014, as Zimmerman had to return to other commitments at IBM. Additional volunteers were recruited, including David Hermeyer a retired electrical engineer and Charles Wade a retired IBM Research manager. Phase Two of the project involves developing a more robust custom sensor embedded in a plastic sphere the same size and shape as a turtle egg, with industry standard technology for transmitting data over cell phone networks. Installation has begun on multiple sensors that the NPS is funding for field testing in 2014. The project inspired Samuel Wantman to start Nerdswithoutborders.net to help organize the project, recruit volunteers, and inspire other projects. All of the Turtle Sense project members, with the exception of the NPS employees, donate their time. The Hatteras Island Ocean Center is the sponsoring non-profit institution that administers receipt and disbursement of funds for materials and other expenses.

==Phase One (2013 Turtle Season)==
[[file:PingPongSensor.jpg|right|thumb|300px|A ping-pong ball sensor assembly placed in a sea turtle nest (field tests 2013). The cable coming from the sensor leads to the communications tower for the cell phone connection.]]
Phase One was a proof-of-concept field test undertaken during the 2013 turtle season. A motion-and-temperature sensor (Analog Devices ADLX362, 3-Axil, Digital Output MEMS accelerometer), soldered to a Sparkfun “breakout board,” was soldered to a CAT5 cable. The board was sealed in a Ping-Pong ball by filling it with “aquarium safe” silicone caulk. The Ping-Pong ball, about the size and shape of the sea turtle eggs, was placed in the sea turtle nest by National Park Service (NPS) rangers. The other end of the cable attached to the "egg" assembly was electrically connected to a hacked cell phone that was programmed with a very small, low-powered TI MSP430 microprocessor. The phone sent out text messages with the motion and temperature data every two hours. The cell phone was protected from the elements by a communications tower made from 4" PVC pipe and pipe fittings.

Turtle eggshells are thick and leathery, so the hatchlings need considerable effort to emerge from the egg. After leaving the egg, the hatchlings remain in the nest for two-to-four days before exiting (usually) as a group onto the beach. All the resulting motions should activate the accelerometer sensor and thus provide data to the phone network. Though the first device had its problems, field tests done at Hatteras in October 2013 were positive. The signal from the sensor close to a single hatchling was eight times larger than the background signal, giving hope for more extensive tests planned for 2014.

==Phase Two Description==
''See also: [[Turtle Sense/Phase Two]]

Planning for Phase Two began during the implementation of Phase One. Samuel Wantman and David Hermeyer began working on the design for a more robust solution in the Fall of 2013. Units were installed by the NPS starting in June of 2014. About a dozen nests were monitored and predictions were made as to when the hatchlings would emerge.

Several problems were identified during Phase One that we tried to address in Phase Two:
*The sensors had reliability problems communicating with the cell phones because of the long distance between the sensor and the microprocessor in the communications unit. This is being addressed in two ways. The sensor was mounted on a very small (1 inch by 1 inch) circuit board inside the "egg" that goes in the nest. The board also contains a microprocessor and a RS485 transceiver that allows reliable communication over very long cable lengths.
[[file:PhaseTwoCommBoard.jpg|left|400px|thumb|The 2014 communications assembly contains the circuit board, power supply, a microprocessor, an M2M cell phone board and RS485 transceiver. Inset is a quarter for size reference.]]
*The cell phone, having been designed with a human interface, was often unpredictable. Occasionally messages would pop up prompting a human reply (like a notification that the phone was charging). This made programming the device difficult because of all of the possible messages and the timing of their appearance are not predictable. At one point, the devices stopped working because the cellular service provider required all its users to upload new operating software. An appropriate user response was not possible in field-installed pre-programmed units. Because of this problem, we adopted industry standard M2M (Machine to Machine) methods of sending data over a cellular network.
*Text messages and disposable cell phones were not a cost-effective way to send large amounts of data. Phase Two uses FTP protocols with devices and data plans that have much less expensive data charges.
*Hacked cell phones would be difficult to mass produce, so the new design uses off-the-shelf, plug-in cell phone boards and custom circuitry that can be mass produced.
*Phase One used single-use D cell alkaline batteries. Phase Two uses rechargeable NiMH AA batteries and achieves longer battery life, as the package is carefully designed for low energy needs.
*Most of the turtle-specific calculations are now done in the microprocessor embedded with the sensor in the "egg." The communication system is designed so that it can be modified for other sensors.
*The silicone filling the ping-pong balls that housed the sensors in Phase One never cured. For Phase Two, we made a casting of a ping-pong ball (which is the same size and shape as a turtle egg), and used it to cast solid polyurethane "eggs" around the sensor circuit boards. The polyurethane is fully set in less than a day, does not out-gas, and is very hard and durable.

== Phase Two results==
[[File:2015 - NH003 (7-28 final) sensor AA0006.png|250px|thumb|In 2015 we started to automate the graphing of data, and used the graphs to successfully predict emergence of hatchlings]]
===2014 season===
:''For more detail, see:
* [https://www.dropbox.com/s/g1yrkai0npe0p91/2014%20Turtle%20Sense%20final%20report.pdf?dl=0 National Park Service -- Turtle Sense 2014 final report]
* [[Turtle Sense / Project logs]]

===2015 season===
We successfully monitored nests at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. For a record of predictions please go to [https://groups.google.com/forum/?pli=1#!forum/turtlesense our Google Group]

For graphs of the nests that were monitored see: [[Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results]]

==Phase Three Goals==
Work on phase three began after the end of the 2014 season. The goals of Phase Three are:
*To refine our hardware so that it is easier and cheaper to manufacture, more reliable, and easier to maintain.
*Extend the firmware so that it has better error handling, can be updated in the field, and offers more features and usable data.
*Create a working, somewhat complete website which does the following: automates the process of predicting hatching, reports predation events and over-washes; generates alerts for users; centralizes necessary data entry; and, allows open access of data for researchers and wildlife managers.
*Test the equipment and features in several different environments.
*Attend conferences to publicize our work and find additional organizations to team up with, and find additional volunteers to assist the project.
*Create a plan to get the technology included in protocols that are acceptable to the US Fish and Wildlife service.

Most of the technical work to make this happen will be done during 2015. The phase two equipment will be used until the phase three equipment is ready.

==Phase Three Progress==
Work is underway modifying the Turtle Sense hardware and software.
===Hardware===
* A moisture detector is being added to the smart sensor "egg".
* The power supply of the unit is changing from 8 AA rechargeable batteries that just last for a season to a solar cell that will charge 3 AAA batteries. Preliminary tests indicate that this will be cheaper to produce, and last for many years -- as long as the life of the batteries -- before needing servicing. Initial testing is very positive. There is enough light on a very overcast day to keep the units running, and even without any light the units will continue running for several weeks.
* Connections between the comm unit and the sensors will be made with coax cable. This will allow the connections to be modified and repaired in the field, greatly reduce the expense and time involved in creating the devices, and allow multiple sensors to be connected to the same comm unit. Power and two way communication will all use the same wire.
* Expansion ports will be added for USB/SD support, Bluetooth and other wireless capabilities, and auxiliary connections for controlling and interfacing with other field equipment.
* Since the batteries will not need annual servicing, the comm units will only have one sealed chamber instead of two. This will simplify the construction and installation of the devices
* Upgraded microprocessors will expand available memory from 16K to 128K while lowering power usage.
===Software===
* Expanded memory provides space for better error handling, increased data storage, and user code.
* A protocol will be developed for interfacing with multiple sensors
* Tools and libraries will be help others customize the hardware and software for other applications

==Data==
[[File:Screenshot 2014-07-03 01.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Data from the first report of the 2014 season]]
The Turtle Sense units constantly monitor and analyze motion to create a profile of its magnitude over time. The motion detector measures the change in acceleration (or "jolt") multiple times per second. The magnitude is squared and summed. After six minutes, the results are stored in a record along with a temperature and orientation reading, and the process starts over. The sum that results is roughly the total energy recorded in the nest during the period. This process allows us to compress several thousand readings into approximately 32 bytes of information. We lose but we suspect that those details are not important. The 240 records created each day give us a very good idea of what is happening in the nest. Once 40 days have passed, we restart the process of summing every minute to get more detailed data.

There has been some research that indicates that before emerging from the nest in a "boil," turtles that have hatched congregate underground near the top of the nest. It is thought that this motion stimulates the hatching of the turtles that haven't yet emerged. Our sensors, situated at the top of the nest, were able to record some noticeable disturbances several days before the turtles boil. We were able to see these disturbances in the data in almost all of the nests that we monitored in the 2014 season and were able to predict the date of the boil within a window of a few days.

Predictions from the data in 2014 were made by human observation of graphed data. We will be generating algorithms to predict hatching from our data and refining them to come up with a reliable automated process for predicting hatching a few days in advance.

==Funding and Impact==
[[File:NH007-Post Hurr Arthur-exclosure (2) cropped small.jpg|thumb|left|300px|A few days after the first units of Phase Two were installed, Hurricane Arthur hit. The units reported regularly before and after the storm without any problems. This picture was taken the day after the storm. Notice how all the text was sandblasted off the sign in the forefront. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is just behind the dune.]]
The National Park Service has been funding the project since it began. Labor is being provided by NerdsWithoutBorder.net volunteers. Additional support has come from:
* [http://ibm.com IBM -- grants]
* [http://www.janus-rc.com/ Janus Remote Communications -- a generous discount on their M2M plug-in boards]
* [http://www.screamingcircuits.com/ Screaming Circuits -- a donation of the labor toward the production of circuit prototypes]
* [http://www.telit.com Telit -- publicity]
* [http://www.fte.com Frontline Test Equipment, Inc. -- a donation of communications testing equipment]
* [http://www.corun.com/ent Hunan Corun New Energy Co.,LTD -- a donation of rechargeable NiMH batteries]

We are seeking funding and volunteers to expand the program.

Success in this project would provide widespread, international advantages. As noted above, the stress could be lessened between the protection agencies and the fishing industry, recreational users, and tourism advocates, all of whom desire more beach access. More effective international protection will be available, since the protection resources can be concentrated close to the hatch date instead of being stretched over six weeks. With a tighter hatching schedule, the public would have the opportunity to observe the hatchlings heading for the sea, an observation available only randomly now. This would improve the public support of the turtles. NPS will use the hatch dates in on-site announcements and information centers, and the Hatteras Island Ocean Center will disseminate the information in their programs. Much of the research on sea turtle eggs and hatchlings in the world could benefit from more accurate predictions of the hatch date. For example, studies that require capturing hatchlings for research could be done with much greater efficiency. Also, the sensor/cell network could be adapted for measurements of other species, including birds. Given its modest cost and energy efficiency (long battery life), it may have other uses in environmental studies. All the design information will be available to the public on the wiki http://nerdswithoutborders.net. If the project is successful equipment will be made available at cost or perhaps below cost if sponsors come forward.

[[Image:Britta2013.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Britta Muiznieks, a wildlife biologist at the NPS Cape Hatteras Seashore in NC with a protected turtle nest. The 4" PVC pipe assembly tower was used in the 2013 testing. A smaller 3" structure holds the 2014 package because the electronics are smaller and AA rechargeable batteries have replaced D cells. Vandal-proofing is one aspect of the design. Britta does the field research for the NPS.]]

==Press==
===Radio===
*NPR's Here & Now:
**[http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/08/25/turtles-outer-banks Part One (Aug 2014)]
**[http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/11/04/sea-turtles-sensors Part Two (Nov 2014)]

===Print===
* [http://hamptonroads.com/2014/08/plan-hatched-could-help-keep-beaches-open Article at PilotOnline.com (Virginia-Pilot) (August 2014)]
* [http://islandfreepress.org/2014Archives/08.21.2014-ItMakesTurtleSenseGivingCellPhonesToTurtles.html Article in Island Free Press(Aug 2014)]
* [http://outerbanksvoice.com/2013/08/29/high-tech-could-help-predict-sea-turtle-hatches/ Article in Outer Banks Voice (August 2013)]
* [http://outerbanksvoice.com/2014/08/10/small-ocean-center-incorporates-an-expansive-natural-theater/ Another mention at the Outer Banks Voice]
===Web===
* [http://www.engadget.com/2014/11/13/north-carolina-sea-turtles/?ncid=rss_truncated Engadget.com]
* [http://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/geek-life/hands-on/technologists-hatch-turtle-sense-system-with-ecology-and-economy-in-mind Tech-talk at IEEE Spectrum]
* [http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-green-mind/201409/sensing-turtles Article at PsychologyToday.com]
* [http://hackaday.com/page/8/ Blog at hackaday.com]
* [http://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2014/08/remote-sensors-mean-more-sea-turtles-fewer-beach-closures-hatteras/90545/ Article at nextgov.com (August 2014)]
* [http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20140515-910765.html Telit press release in the Wall Street Journal (May 2014)]
* [http://www.iotworld.com/author.asp?section_id=3153&doc_id=563269 Blog at iotworld.com]

==Links==
*[http://www.hioceancenter.org/ Hatteras Island Ocean Center website]
*[http://hackaday.io/project/2264-Turtle-Sense Entry for the Hackaday Prize at hackaday.io]
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_bWmOsYJz4 Video about the project at YouTube]
*[[Turtle Sense/People]] -- People involved in this project.

==Contact us==
If you would like to help with this project, make suggestions, or offer a critique, please email: admin@nerdswithoutborders.net.

Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results

2015-08-28T06:38:45Z

Sam: 7R update

We are currently monitoring nests at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. For up to date predictions and graphs of data, please go to [https://groups.google.com/forum/?pli=1#!forum/turtlesense our Google Group]

Here are graphs of nests where hatchlings have emerged:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! style="text-align:left;" class="unsortable"|   
! style="text-align:left;" data-sort-type="number"|NPS code
! style="text-align:left;"|Sensor
! style="text-align:center;"| Date Predicted
! style="text-align:center;"|Date Observed
! style="text-align:left;" class="unsortable"|Notes;
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH007R after emergence.png|250px]]||NH007R||AA0009||---||July 20|| There was too much noise in this nest to be able to make any predictions. Very early -- day 51. 20+ emerged the following day. No obvious explanation for all the noise. The sensor had moved from its installation position in the nest. Might be a faulty sensor.
|-
|[[File:2015 - AA0005 after emergence (7-22).png|250px]]||NH002||AA0005||July 21||July 21||(''Note, the days listed in the x-axis of this chart is off by 8 days. Add 8 to the numbers you see.'') Emergence was predicted for Tuesday evening, July 21st. Turtle patrol reported 1 hatching track and a depression on 07/22. (More might have come out, there was a severe rain storm the previous night.)
|-
|[[File:2015_-_NH004_after_emergence_(7-24)_sensor_AA0007.png|250px]]||NH004||AA0007||July 23||July 22||Emergence was predicted for Thursday evening, July 23rd. The first 15 or so were observed the evening before. The turtle patrol observed tracks for over 25 hatchlings on the 23rd.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH003 (7-28 final) sensor AA0006.png|250px]]||NH003||AA0006||July 24||July 23||Emergence was predicted for Friday evening, July 24th. The first few hatchlings were observed the evening before. There was a boil on the 25th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH014 (7-28) sensor AA0013.png|250px]]||NH014||AA0013||July 26||July 26|| There was a boil the night of the 26th, sometime after 9PM and before 6:30AM the next morning, with too many tracks to count.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH015 (7-31) sensor AA0011.png|250px]]||NH015||AA0011||July 30||July 29|| Three hatchlings emerged on the 29th and there was a boil on the 30th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH022 (7-31) sensor AA0016.png|250px]]||NH022||AA0016||July 29||July 29|| There was minimal data to use to generate a prediction, but even so the prediction was accurate. 30+ hatchlings emerged on the 29th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH023 (8-11) sensor AA0017.png|250px]]||NH023||AA0017|| Aug 7 || Aug 6 || The morning of 8/7 a hatchling was found wandering near the dunes. Rain washed out the tracks so it is not certain how many emerged the evening of 8/6. There was a record of 9 hatchlings on the 9th and 5 on the 10th. A total of 85 eggshells were counted. It seems likely that most of the hatchlings left on Thursday evening (8/6).
|-
||[[File:2015 - NH024 (8-10) sensor AA0025.png|250px]]||NH024||AA0025|| Aug 6 || Aug 7 || More than 20 tracks were counted the morning of the 8th. On 8/9 the activity recorded was from the nest being washed out. Very few hatched or unhatched were found after the washout, so it is unclear exactly what happened.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH013 (8-12) sensor AA0010.png|250px]]||NH013||AA0010|| --- || --- || This nest was thought to be infertile, and it was. Excavated on Aug 12
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH036 (8-13) sensor AA0024.png|250px]]||NH036||AA0024|| Aug 12 || Aug 12|| 20+ tracks noticed by Turtle Patrol on 8/13. Only about 1/4 of the eggs hatched.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH055R (8-16) sensor AA0026.png|250px]]||NH055R||AA0026|| --- || Aug 12|| Only 7 of 129 eggs were viable. No hatching activity noticed in data.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH041 (8-16) sensor AA0020.png|250px]]||NH041||AA0020|| Aug 13 or Aug 14 || Aug 15|| Unusually long period of hatching activity. Nest boiled at 10:48 PM on the 15th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH056 (8-17) sensor AA0027.png|250px]]||NH056||AA0027|| Aug 17 || Aug 17 || 132 turtles hatched. 8 eggs didn't make it.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH058 (8-17) sensor AA0028.png|250px]]||NH058||AA0028|| Aug 18 or Aug 19 || Aug 18 || The graph is from the 17th. data quieted on Tuesday the 18th. There were still 28 hatchlings in the nest when excavated on the 21st.
|}

Turtle Sense / 2015 Season Results

2015-08-28T06:32:41Z

Sam: 2 more

We are currently monitoring nests at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. For up to date predictions and graphs of data, please go to [https://groups.google.com/forum/?pli=1#!forum/turtlesense our Google Group]

Here are graphs of nests where hatchlings have emerged:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! style="text-align:left;" class="unsortable"|   
! style="text-align:left;" data-sort-type="number"|NPS code
! style="text-align:left;"|Sensor
! style="text-align:center;"| Date Predicted
! style="text-align:center;"|Date Observed
! style="text-align:left;" class="unsortable"|Notes;
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH007R after emergence.png|250px]]||NH007R||AA0009||---||July 20||The NPS reports that this nest boiled the night of July 20th. There was too much noise in this nest to be able to make any predictions. After the final count we'll know how predated the nest was. If you imagine the data without all the spikes, you can imagine hatching data behind the noise. This nest went very early -- day 51. 20+ emerged the following day
|-
|[[File:2015 - AA0005 after emergence (7-22).png|250px]]||NH002||AA0005||July 21||July 21||(''Note, the days listed in the x-axis of this chart is off by 8 days. Add 8 to the numbers you see.'') Emergence was predicted for Tuesday evening, July 21st. Turtle patrol reported 1 hatching track and a depression on 07/22. (More might have come out, there was a severe rain storm the previous night.)
|-
|[[File:2015_-_NH004_after_emergence_(7-24)_sensor_AA0007.png|250px]]||NH004||AA0007||July 23||July 22||Emergence was predicted for Thursday evening, July 23rd. The first 15 or so were observed the evening before. The turtle patrol observed tracks for over 25 hatchlings on the 23rd.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH003 (7-28 final) sensor AA0006.png|250px]]||NH003||AA0006||July 24||July 23||Emergence was predicted for Friday evening, July 24th. The first few hatchlings were observed the evening before. There was a boil on the 25th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH014 (7-28) sensor AA0013.png|250px]]||NH014||AA0013||July 26||July 26|| There was a boil the night of the 26th, sometime after 9PM and before 6:30AM the next morning, with too many tracks to count.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH015 (7-31) sensor AA0011.png|250px]]||NH015||AA0011||July 30||July 29|| Three hatchlings emerged on the 29th and there was a boil on the 30th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH022 (7-31) sensor AA0016.png|250px]]||NH022||AA0016||July 29||July 29|| There was minimal data to use to generate a prediction, but even so the prediction was accurate. 30+ hatchlings emerged on the 29th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH023 (8-11) sensor AA0017.png|250px]]||NH023||AA0017|| Aug 7 || Aug 6 || The morning of 8/7 a hatchling was found wandering near the dunes. Rain washed out the tracks so it is not certain how many emerged the evening of 8/6. There was a record of 9 hatchlings on the 9th and 5 on the 10th. A total of 85 eggshells were counted. It seems likely that most of the hatchlings left on Thursday evening (8/6).
|-
||[[File:2015 - NH024 (8-10) sensor AA0025.png|250px]]||NH024||AA0025|| Aug 6 || Aug 7 || More than 20 tracks were counted the morning of the 8th. On 8/9 the activity recorded was from the nest being washed out. Very few hatched or unhatched were found after the washout, so it is unclear exactly what happened.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH013 (8-12) sensor AA0010.png|250px]]||NH013||AA0010|| --- || --- || This nest was thought to be infertile, and it was. Excavated on Aug 12
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH036 (8-13) sensor AA0024.png|250px]]||NH036||AA0024|| Aug 12 || Aug 12|| 20+ tracks noticed by Turtle Patrol on 8/13. Only about 1/4 of the eggs hatched.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH055R (8-16) sensor AA0026.png|250px]]||NH055R||AA0026|| --- || Aug 12|| Only 7 of 129 eggs were viable. No hatching activity noticed in data.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH041 (8-16) sensor AA0020.png|250px]]||NH041||AA0020|| Aug 13 or Aug 14 || Aug 15|| Unusually long period of hatching activity. Nest boiled at 10:48 PM on the 15th.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH056 (8-17) sensor AA0027.png|250px]]||NH056||AA0027|| Aug 17 || Aug 17 || 132 turtles hatched. 8 eggs didn't make it.
|-
|[[File:2015 - NH058 (8-17) sensor AA0028.png|250px]]||NH058||AA0028|| Aug 18 or Aug 19 || Aug 18 || The graph is from the 17th. data quieted on Tuesday the 18th. There were still 28 hatchlings in the nest when excavated on the 21st.
|}

File:2015 - NH058 (8-17) sensor AA0028.png

2015-08-28T06:26:59Z

Sam: