Key Features:

• Real-time Environmental Monitoring:
  Tracks temperature and humidity, crucial for understanding ecosystems vulnerable to climate variability.

• Field-Deployable:
  Operates independently in remote locations and provides data access through Wi-Fi, allowing retrieval on mobile devices (phones, tablets, or laptops).

• No Internet Required:
  Creates its own Wi-Fi hotspot, enabling on-site data download directly to your mobile device.

• Data Storage:
  Automatically stores data on an SD card, offering backup even if the device is not accessed right away.

• Low-Cost, Scalable Solution:
  Affordable and scalable for researchers, schools, environmental groups, and citizen scientists, with the ability to monitor multiple habitats.

• Ideal for Sensitive Microhabitats:
  Perfect for tracking small, vulnerable environments like amphibian nesting sites, reptile burrows, and vernal pools, with versatility for other habitats requiring temperature and humidity monitoring.

How It Works:

1. Deployment:
   Place S.M.A.R.T. in a habitat for monitoring (e.g., salamander breeding area, turtle nesting site).

2. Data Collection:
   The system records temperature and humidity every 15 minutes(adjustable) and stores the data on an SD card.

3. Data Access:
   On-site, connect your mobile device to S.M.A.R.T.'s built-in Wi-Fi to download the collected data.

4. Data Use:
   Downloaded data can be shared, emailed, or analyzed for climate research, wildlife monitoring, and ecosystem health assessments.

Future Expansion (and beyond):

S.M.A.R.T. is currently in Phase One — this is an evolving, field-tested system that will continue to grow as new features, feedback, and real-world challenges shape its development.

This is just the beginning. 

1. Solar-Powered Options:
   Future versions will include solar power for continuous operation in remote locations.

2. Scalable Design:
   Can be deployed across various ecosystems, from wetlands to forests, to track environmental factors in a wide range of habitats.

3. Integration with Research Networks:
   The potential to integrate into broader citizen science or academic research programs for real-time ecological monitoring.

4. Weatherproof boxing

     Cost effective weatherproof boxing for easy deployment and in field management

SMART Sensor Update: Rugged, Waterproof, and Solar Power

This prototype marks a major step forward in autonomous, off-grid environmental sensing.

Built around a 50W solar panel, a 12V lithium-ion battery, and a custom-designed power distribution system, this SMART sensor unit is designed for rugged, real-world field deployment in temperate zones like the Susquehanna Valley.

At its core is an Arduino Rev4 Wi-Fi board running a custom sketch that creates a standalone access point. This allows users to connect directly—without the internet or cellular service—to view environmental readings in real time.

⚙️ Current Capabilities

• Live Wi-Fi Access Point – no external network required
  
  

• Digital Temperature & Humidity Monitoring (inside enclosure)
  
  

• Water Temperature Probe (testing phase)
  
  

• Fully solar-powered with power-efficient design
  
  

• Low consumption (<1W), capable of 5+ days runtime on battery alone
  
  

The 50W solar panel easily sustains daily operations—even under cloudy conditions typical of our region—making this unit viable for year-round monitoring.

🔍 Use Cases

• River and wetland monitoring

• Agricultural microclimate tracking

• Educational field stations

• Remote STEM demonstrations
  
  

🛠️ Built With:

• 50W solar panel

• 12V lithium-ion battery

• DC step-down converter (12V to 5V)

• Arduino Rev4 Wi-Fi

• Waterproof case & sensors
  
  

This project showcases what's possible with open-source hardware, sustainable energy, and purpose-driven design. It’s the beginning of a scalable environmental sensing platform aimed at supporting clean water, ecosystem health, and community-driven science.