Wireless Sensor Network Installed on the Space Needle
During the winter quarter, lab member Jack Hochschild deployed his newly-developed absolute pressure sensors to the Space Needle in Seattle.
Full-scale pressure measurements from dozens of these sensors will be used to compare wind tunnel and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model predictions. These comparisons will help evaluate the efficacy of CFD predictions and aid the development of computational tools engineers can use to accurately characterize wind loads on high-rise buildings.
These sensors are wirelessly connected and designed to be unobtrusive, low-cost, and low-profile (aerodynamic). Instead of differential pressure sensors, which are susceptible to variability caused by changes in reference pressure, the sensors use absolute pressure transducers to measure wind data.
In addition to the low-profile pressure sensors on the Space Needle, Jack also deployed anemometers to the roof of the nearby Pacific Science Center.
These anemometers will be used to collect wind data for the environment surrounding the Space Needle.
Thank you to the Space Needle crew who helped deploy the sensors, and congrats on a successful deployment!
