Benefits of Using Data Loggers for Environmental Monitoring

Environmental monitoring has been a trending buzzword across every major industry in the market. The global eco-friendly movement aims to foster sustainable use and management of resources and reduce/minimize ecological, health, and human rights damage. The term refers to tools, technologies, and practices specially designed to monitor a specific environment, characterize its quality, and set quantifiable parameters for measuring impact on that environment and managing it accordingly.

This is where data loggers for environmental monitoring come in to allow industries, such as pharmaceuticals, refineries, and food processing, to establish an advanced, automated monitoring system and either mitigate environmental risks or ensure compliance with governing bodies, such as the EPA – Australia.

In this post, we’ll share what environmental data loggers are, their uses, and the main benefits they offer industries.

What is an Environmental Data Logger?

As the name implies, an environmental data logger is an electronic device that collects and stores data from its sensors and sondes. It constantly monitors specified parameters and communicates the collected information through Wi-Fi, USB, hard-wiring, Bluetooth, NFC, and cellular technology to a central location in real-time. This information varies according to the industry’s specific needs; therefore, not every data logger is created equal. However, most high-quality data loggers for environmental monitoring help capture the following data:

• Temperature
• Humidity
• Barometric pressure
• Salinity
• Electric shock/conductivity
• GPS location
• Contamination
• Erosion
• Rain gauges, etc.

Data loggers are reliable, low-cost monitoring devices useful in any application that requires recording certain conditions, from monitoring soil moisture on a local farm in Brisbane to monitoring the temperature of sensitive goods or food in storage facilities. The following are some major industries or departments that use environmental data loggers:

• Pharmaceuticals
• Food & Drink
• Logistics Monitoring
• Agriculture (often included with all-in-one weather stations)
• Remote Storage Monitoring
• Animal Care
• Biotechnology
• Quality Assurance
• Facilities Management

Benefits of Using Environmental Data Loggers

1. Regulatory Compliance

Highly regulated industries, such as healthcare, food, and pharmaceuticals, must follow strict guidelines by governing bodies. Data loggers record information round the clock and can be used as proof of compliance. One great example of this has been the storage of frozen or refrigerated COVID-19 vaccines, which require constant temperature monitoring. Similarly, local and international health departments regulate every phase of a food supply chain from harvesting to processing, distribution, and storage. Therefore, data loggers make a valuable addition at every phase to ensure compliance and proactively discover any issues.

2. Enhanced Efficiency and Accuracy

Data logging is a process that can and has been performed manually for decades by engineers, QA professionals, and technicians through scheduled monitoring and reporting. However, this method is not only time-consuming but extremely prone to errors. With a data logger for environmental monitoring, users can take measurements automatically and precisely at preset intervals. This is perfect for teams working in large facilities where they have to take humidity, temperature, and pressure readings manually.

3. Higher Internal Standards

Modern industries value high internal standards just as their customers and don’t just want to meet regulations. With data loggers, QA teams can eliminate any issues by knowing the precise environmental conditions at any stage of the company’s manufacturing process. Since these devices record temperature, humidity, and other parameters 24/7, the QA team can ensure that everything goes smoothly and fix any minor issues.

4. Simplified Data Analysis and Enhanced Reliability

Extracting data from an environmental data logger is as simple as hooking it up to your computer through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or a cable, etc. Data loggers with cellular connectivity can automatically send data to your location from vast distances. Initially, the data is displayed graphically, but you can also view it in table format. Moreover, you can transfer this information to third-party software for more detailed analysis or changes in the workflow. As far as reliability is concerned, data loggers usually operate without any need for human interaction, so they have long battery life. More importantly, you can restore the data when the battery runs flat.

Final Thoughts

Data loggers for environmental monitoring enable thousands of businesses to create a data logging system that meets their specific needs. Whether you’re monitoring soil moisture and humidity on your commercial farm or the temperature of your cold/hot storage facility, this innovative device will help ensure compliance, improve the quality of products and internal standards.