Instrumentation and Field Methods (360-0-01)

Instructors

Patricia A Beddows
847.491.7460
Tech F295
Office Hours: By appointment

Meeting Info

Technological Institute F285: Tues, Thurs 3:30PM - 4:50PM

Overview of class

Theory and practicum on electronic instrumentation for monitoring and measurement in earth and environmental sciences, including data loggers, conceptual design and construction of electronic sensors, signal processing, data management, and network design. This is a very hands-on course, with balanced content between learning to solder and construct data logging instruments and sensing circuits, coding in C++ using the Arduino IDE (integrated Development environment), and undertaking experiments to collect primary data of earth and environmental systems.

Registration Requirements

3 STEM courses at the 300 level, which may in EARTH, ENVR_SCI, BIOL_SCI, PHYSICS, CHEM, COMP_SCI, engineering, or aligned STEM disciplines. Or, email the instructor for consideration.

Teaching Method

Lecture: 2 x 80 minutes

Weekly Labs - starting in Week 1: The scheduled lab time is a fixed 50 minutes to start the labs with the introduction and demonstration, although most labs take 2-4 hours to complete. Students are welcome to step out for other scheduled classes (outside the enrolled 50-minute slot) and then return to the class lab Tech F389. Enrolled students will be asked to affirm they will commit the necessary time through Wednesday, with the class lab remaining open until at least 7 pm.

Evaluation Method

Quizlets on Canvas.

Satisfactory completion and submission of lab assignments.

Final Project, with submission of formal report.

Class Materials (Required)

There are no required class materials to purchase.

Class Materials (Suggested)

All materials provided, including all tools/components used in the construction of data loggers and sensing systems. Students keep their data loggers at the conclusion of the course. For some student final projects, you may elect to purchase some additional components that typically cost $10-30.

Class Notes

The scheduled lab time is a fixed 50 minutes to start the labs, although most labs take 2-4 hours to complete. Enrolled students will be asked to affirm they will commit the necessary time through Wednesday, with the class lab remaining open until at least 7 pm.

Class Attributes

SoC Mathematics, Science, and Technology Distro

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Prerequisite: Students must have completed 3 units of any STEM credits

Associated Classes

LAB - Technological Institute F389: Wed 11:00AM - 11:50AM

LAB - Technological Institute F389: Wed 12:00PM - 12:50PM

LAB - Technological Institute F389: Wed 2:00PM - 2:50PM