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SIMACE - System for monitoring of environmental conditions in hostile conditions

Obiettivo

​The project titled "Monitoring of nanoclimatic parameters in cryptoendolithic Antarctic communities" awarded funds by the National Plan for Research in Antarctica (PNRA) and it is coordinated by the University of La Tuscia, Department of Ecological and Biological Science.

The Antarctica endolithic microbial communities represent the extreme adaptation of life to the constraints of the continent being still present, in some sites, also in rocks. The complete genetic and geographic isolation and strong environmental pressures, have led to the evolution of unique and extremely resistant microorganisms. Although some new taxa have been described, biodiversity of these communities is still largely unknown and nothing is known about the effect on the community itself of different nano-environmental parameters as water availability, temperature and light. This project aims at setting up a monitoring system of micro-climate on the long term to have a clear picture of the conditions that microbial communities are normally exposed to. The data, integrated with lithological analysis of the bedrock and a first survey of total biodiversity of the communities, will improve the general understanding of adaptation and evolution at the limits for life and will provide a tool for predicting the effect of possible climate change. 

Attività nel progetto CIRA

CIRA activities support the measurements in Antarctica. To remotely monitor such measurements CIRA was involved to define a satellite-based data transmission system.

Main CIRA tasks are the following:

  1. Identification of the system operating conditions.
  2. Identification of the satellite constellation for data transmission. Evaluation of the area coverage and availability of commercial off the shelf products for the radiomodem, compatible with the operating conditions.
  3. By basing on the sensor types defined by the project partners, architectural and physical design of the measurement stations made up of two main components: the data acquisition system (datalogger) and the data transmission system.
  4. Development of possible sw modules for data handling.
  5. Electro-mechanical integration of datalogger and communication system and measurement station functional tests in lab.
  6. Support to the installation in Antarctica.
  7. Support to retrieve by means of a host computer, data remotely generated. 

Programma

​Project funded by Italian Ministry of University and Research (MIUR) through the National Program for Research in Antarctica (PNRA).

  • data inizio: Friday, November 27, 2015
  • durata: 65.00
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
78
Wednesday, July 14, 2021
SIMACE
Electronics and Communications, Space - Technology Integration and Flight Demostrators, Territory, Environment and Cultural Heritage
Comprehension of development mechanisms for microbial communities in hostile environments envisages the monitoring of microclimatic conditions in particular Antarctic sites. The satellite-based communication system to remotely monitor the environmental conditions is the CIRA task in this project.
Systems Engineering, Application Development
Electronics Lab, Space Qualification Laboratory

 

 

SIMACE - System for monitoring of environmental conditions in hostile conditions<img />https://www.cira.it/en/aeronautics/aeromobili-pilotati-da-remoto-e-non-pilotati/simace/SIMACE - System for monitoring of environmental conditions in hostile conditionsSIMACE - System for monitoring of environmental conditions in hostile conditions<p style="text-align:justify;">​The project titled "<em>Monitoring of nanoclimatic parameters in cryptoendolithic Antarctic communities</em>" awarded funds by the National Plan for Research in Antarctica (PNRA) and it is coordinated by the University of La Tuscia, Department of Ecological and Biological Science.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">The Antarctica endolithic microbial communities represent the extreme adaptation of life to the constraints of the continent being still present, in some sites, also in rocks. The complete genetic and geographic isolation and strong environmental pressures, have led to the evolution of unique and extremely resistant microorganisms. Although some new taxa have been described, biodiversity of these communities is still largely unknown and nothing is known about the effect on the community itself of different nano-environmental parameters as water availability, temperature and light. This project aims at setting up a monitoring system of micro-climate on the long term to have a clear picture of the conditions that microbial communities are normally exposed to. The data, integrated with lithological analysis of the bedrock and a first survey of total biodiversity of the communities, will improve the general understanding of adaptation and evolution at the limits for life and will provide a tool for predicting the effect of possible climate change. </p><p>​Project funded by Italian Ministry of University and Research (MIUR) through the National Program for Research in Antarctica (PNRA).</p><p>CIRA activities support the measurements in Antarctica. To remotely monitor such measurements CIRA was involved to define a satellite-based data transmission system.</p><p>Main CIRA tasks are the following:</p><ol><li>Identification of the system operating conditions.</li><li>Identification of the satellite constellation for data transmission. Evaluation of the area coverage and availability of commercial off the shelf products for the radiomodem, compatible with the operating conditions.</li><li>By basing on the sensor types defined by the project partners, architectural and physical design of the measurement stations made up of two main components: the data acquisition system (datalogger) and the data transmission system.</li><li>Development of possible sw modules for data handling.</li><li>Electro-mechanical integration of datalogger and communication system and measurement station functional tests in lab.</li><li>Support to the installation in Antarctica.</li><li>Support to retrieve by means of a host computer, data remotely generated. </li></ol>2015-11-26T23:00:00Z65.0000000000000

 Media gallery

 

 

Test-Setuphttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Test-SetupIntegration test setupTest-Setuptext/html; charset=utf-8 Videohttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Test-Setup/Test-Setup.mp4
Setup dei test d'integrazione - Dettaglio della turbine eolicahttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Test-TurbineIntegration test setup - Detail of the wind turbineSetup dei test d'integrazione - Dettaglio della turbine eolicatext/html; charset=utf-8 Videohttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Test-Turbine/Test-Turbine.mp4
Cassa in camera climaticahttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=1246Case in climatic chamberCase in climatic chamber for functonal testsCassa in camera climaticaImagehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Case+ClimaticChamber-03.jpg
Cassa in camera climaticahttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=1247Case in climatic chamberCase in climatic chamber for functional tests - DetailCassa in camera climaticaImagehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Cassa+CamClim-03.jpg
Cassa contenente le unità elettronichehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=1243Case containing electronic unitsIntegration – case containing the electronic unitsCassa contenente le unità elettronicheImagehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/CassaIntegrata-01.jpg
Dump Loadhttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=1248Dump loadDump load mountend on the poleDump LoadImagehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/DumpLoad.jpg
Antenna satellitarehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=1249Satellite antennaSatellite antenna mounted on the horizontal poleAntenna satellitareImagehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/HorizPole-Antenna.jpg
Sensore PARhttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=1250PAR sensorPAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) sensor mounted on the horizontal poleSensore PARImagehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/HorizPole-PAR.jpg
Schermo da radiazioni per il sensore di temperaturahttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=1251Radiation shield for temperature sensorRadiation shield for temperature sensor mounted on the horizontal poleSchermo da radiazioni per il sensore di temperaturaImagehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/HorizPole-RAD-Shield.jpg
Integrazione delle batteriehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=1252Batteries integrationIntegration of the Lithium cells with the Battery Management System (BMS)Integrazione delle batterieImagehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/IntegrBattery-01.jpg
Integrazione batteriehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=1254Batteries integrationBatteries integrations with the mechanical frameIntegrazione batterieImagehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/IntegrBattery-02.jpg
Montaggio pannelli isolantihttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=1242Mounting of isolating panelsIntegration – mounting of panels for thermal isolationMontaggio pannelli isolantiImagehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/IntegrCassa+News-07-OK.jpg
Integrazione batteriehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=1253Batteries integrationBatteries integration with the mechanical frameIntegrazione batterieImagehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/InterfacePanel-02.jpg
Assieme delle unità elettronichehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=1244Electronic units assemblyIntegration – assembly of the electronic unitsAssieme delle unità elettronicheImagehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Setup-01-OK.jpg
Setup elettronicohttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=1255Electronic setupElectronic units installed on the mechanical frameSetup elettronicoImagehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Setup-02-OK.jpg
Stazione micro-climatica - palohttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=1241Micro-climate station - poleIntegration - pole with air sensors and satellite antennaStazione micro-climatica - paloImagehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Tripode-02.jpg
Batteriehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=1245BatteriesBatterieImagehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Batteries-Detail.jpg
Pannello d'interfacciahttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=1256Interface panelInterface panel to connect the external units with the electronic ones in the casePannello d'interfacciaImagehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/InterfacePanel-06.jpg
Ecosistema endolitico nella rocciahttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=123Cryptoendolithic ecosystem inside rocksEcosistema endolitico nella rocciaImagehttps://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/SIMACE_02.jpg

 Activities

 

 

Completed the micro-climate station prototype that will send data from Antarctica<img alt="" src="https://www.cira.it/PublishingImages/Setup-01-OK.jpg" style="BORDER:0px solid;" />https://www.cira.it/en/aeronautics/aeromobili-pilotati-da-remoto-e-non-pilotati/simace/completato-il-prototipo-della-stazione-microclimatica-che-spedirà-dati-dall’antartide/Completed the micro-climate station prototype that will send data from AntarcticaCompleted the micro-climate station prototype that will send data from AntarcticaIntegration and testing completion of the micro-climate station prototype that will be installed in Antarctica next winter.2017-09-03T22:00:00Z