Enhancing a Successful Meteorological Monitoring Network to Stimulate Agro-Meteorological and Environmental Applications

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The Applied Geomatics Research Group (AGRG) has been monitoring meteorological conditions in South West Nova Scotia (SWNS) for over a decade. Initially our network was deployed throughout the Annapolis Valley area and consisted of 15 weather stations acquired from Campbell Scientific Inc. and 80 temperature data loggers from Hoskin Scientific Limited. This initial work was conducted in collaboration with the Grape Growers Association of Nova Scotia (GGANS) and many of the data loggers were deployed in existing vineyards. The temperature data loggers were in place for eight years during which time the network provided GGANS with monthly temperature summaries, made available through an interactive map-based website, and customized annual reports for each participating grower. The resulting information has been recognized as extremely valuable in attracting new growers into the region. Based on the success of these monitoring efforts, we were approached by the Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC) on the South Shore of the province who was in need of a similar meteorological monitoring program to support and attract agricultural activity in their area. In 2011 we began a three-year project with the CBDC who provided the AGRG with the necessary funding to deploy and maintain 42 stations within the South Shore geography. A previous NSERC ARTI award allowed us to deployed 18 similar stations throughout the Annapolis Valley geography. This combined network of 60 stations, plus our 15 Campbell Scientific stations, resulted in our current network of 75 stations which spans the entire South West Nova Scotia geography. The CBDC project has been considered to be so successful that a multi-year extension is in the final stages of being awarded. This project extension is designed to extend the life of the project and enhance the 42 South Shore stations with additional wind, rain, and relative humidity sensors for increased application development. The equipment requested in this proposal will allow us to maintain a similar sensor configuration at all stations in our network and thereby continue to explore new applications and stimulate new business opportunities throughout our entire study area.