Instrument driver provides access to SDI-12 sensor data

Using the SDI-12 protocol it possible to communicate with a wide variety of sensors and recorders commonly used in environmental data acquisition applications such as climate change tracking, water quality and testing, ecological research, soil monitoring, agriculture and weather analysis. Using the LabVIEW SDI-12 API, researchers, engineers and scientists can connect traditional environmental data with the wide variety of I/O that works with LabVIEW, making it a comprehensive and flexible environmental data-logging product.

John Hanks, Vice President of Data Acquisition and Control at National Instruments, says: "National Instruments makes green engineering possible by providing measurement and automation hardware and software to measure and understand real-world data and then to correct or fix the problem. Now, with the National Instruments LabVIEW SDI-12 API environmental sensor software, engineers can shorten their development time when designing data-logging and data acquisition applications that use common sensors from leading environmental companies."

In combination with an RS232 to SDI-12 converter and any computer or NI-programmable automation controller with a serial port, the LabVIEW SDI-12 API can be used to make environmental measurements in a laboratory setting or to deploy standalone systems into remote locations. The LabVIEW SDI-12 API can be downloaded for free from the NI Instrument Driver Network at www.ni.com/idnet. Readers can also view the Building an Environmental Monitoring System for SDI-12 Devices white paper at www.ni.com/devzone for more information.

Go to www.ni.com/greenengineering for information on how NI products are being used in various environmental monitoring applications. Alternatively, use the form on this page to request a callback or more information.