2. How Data is Collected

Sensors are used to take readings or measurements of their environment at regular intervals.

The sensors could be collecting data on a wide range of things such as :-

• Temperature
• Water currents
• Traffic flow
• Wind speed

The sensors may be either analogue or digital.

If they take analogue readings, an Analogue to Digital Converter (ADC) will be needed to convert the signal into digital data which the computer can understand.

As the sensor takes a reading, the data is sent though a cable or wireless link to the data logger.

The data logger usually stores the data for a period of time before sending it in a large batch to a computer which will process and analyse it.

A data logger is often a hand-held battery-operated device which has a large amount of memory.