Author Archives: Michael Piehler

About Michael Piehler

Institute of Marine Sciences

Streaming coastal streams

We can stream music and movies to our devices, but what about streaming live data from streams? Monitoring flow and water quality in streams has typically been expensive and labor intensive, but the advent of “smart” technology is making stream monitoring more accessible. For this project, we are using low-cost, open-source technology such as Arduino-based dataloggers, water quality sensors, and cell modems to monitor streams and transmit data in real-time. The low cost of this technology (<10% of typical monitoring equipment) and the ability to transmit data in real-time allows us to create much larger stream monitoring networks and collect more/better data. We have utilized resources from EnviroDIY.org (a Stroud Water Research Center initiative) to build, program, and deploy stream monitoring stations, but this work also aligns with a broader initiative within the scientific community to make stream and environmental monitoring more accessible. Scott Ensign (Piehler lab alum and Assistant Director of the Stroud Water Research Center) recently wrote about the EnviroDIY initiative for AGU’s EOS: https://eos.org/project-updates/a-digital-mayfly-swarm-is-emerging

Visit our project website to view the documentation for our stream gauges: https://ims-stream-gauges.netlify.com/

Wrapping up a fantastic project in Wilson Bay

We are excited to have completed a great collaborative project with the City of Jacksonville, NOAA, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, and the North Carolina Sentinel Site Cooperative that was funded by North Carolina Sea Grant and the Kenan Institute for Engineering, Technology and Science.  Want to learn more about the project?  Have a look at this feature produced by Frank Graff at UNC TV!

Piehler Lab – know your roots!

Hans Paerl’s oyster roast is always a great time.  Charles Goldman was among the honored guests this year.  It was great to get this picture with Hans and Chancellor Carol Folt (2 of Charles’ more than 100 graduate students!) and several members of the Paerl branch of the Goldman academic tree.