Output 3 - Visualisation dashboard to show sensor data - mobile and web-based app
Extended IO3 report available here
To enable experienced-based environmental awareness learning activities, in TEASPILS we have developed a dashboard that visualizes data captured by sensors located in plants (smartIoT planters, IO2) available in learning spaces. The design and development have been led by UPF, and all partners have participated in co-design work sessions and have provided reviews and feedback on design proposals.
UPF has also conducted co-design workshops with teachers and external experts to inform the final design and the prioritization of features developed. To achieve its aims, the formulation of the co-design workshops included brainstorming about learning activities that could be supported by the dashboard. The possibilities for learning activities using smart planters can be diverse (plant care, ambient or emotional implications, data analysis, etc.) and its design can influence the shape of desirable dashboard features. The approach followed has offered an answer for such a type of dashboard design based on a human-centered methodology that involves stakeholders (experts and practitioners) in its co-design.
The results show insights related to what are the types of learning activities supported by smart planters that can be especially valuable to educators (in alignment with the SDGs) and what design principles should be considered in the creation of the supporting dashboard. Resulting representative proposals for activities include plant monitoring, correlation of sensed data and observations, and collaborative tasks. Key values perceived by participants include expected high levels of student engagement, critical thinking, and familiarity with the scientific method. The results of the conducted workshops led to an identification of design principles and features for a supporting dashboard that included the use of a traffic light metaphor or the enabling of data collection that could serve for contrasting variables and observations at a moment in time and across time.
The TEASPILS Visualisation Dashboard
The TEASPILS visualisation dashboard was developed as a responsive web application (http://teaspils.upf.edu/teaspils/) including these features. Figure 1 shows how data is visualised, enabling possibilities for comparing the variables over time and between each other. Data is presented using a time-based shared axis plot to easiness the tracking of the interaction between variables. The dashboard enables users to monitor the most common plant variables of interest such as environment temperature, soil temperature, soil humidity, light, and Co2. It also has an interface to perform a bi-variate analysis among the measures.
Figure 1- Data visualisation tool.
A snapshot of the status of the plant at a given time could be displayed (Figure 2) by navigating through the points in the timeline. This screen also shows if the plant requirements are being addressed properly or not. Colors act as alerts and their thresholds can be configured.
Figure 2- Instant snapshot of the status of the plant.
Furthermore, an observation module is available to register additional comments and insights made by users about their interactions and to contextualize what’s happening with the plant. These observations could be made at two different levels, at the plant level, registering the overall progress of the plant experiment, and at a given point in time, enabling users to register their ideas over punctual events and moments in the experiment.
Figure 3. Observations module (at plant level)
Figure 4. Administration module.
The platform has available an administration module to configure and explore the data from the dashboard as seen in Figure 3. The administration module serves as a powerful tool for managing various aspects of the platform. Users can create, edit, and delete plants through this module, allowing them to customize their experiments according to specific needs. Additionally, the administration module enables users to explore plant- and measure-level observations, providing valuable insights into the data collected from the smart IoT planters. To configure a new plant, users must create a new Experiment (associated with a center) or use existing ones. The module also allows users to explore data, such as plant-level observations made by users and user groups associated with individual plants. Overall, the administration module offers comprehensive tools to effectively manage and oversee the TEASPILS system, promoting a seamless and efficient learning experience for all involved.
A User Manual[PDF] [video] was designed as part of the deliverables of the project. It provides an extensive guide on how to utilize the TEASPILS system for environmental education purposes. The manual covers an introduction to the administration module and includes instructions on accessing the user module for the visualization of the sensor data, as well as the instruction for custom dataset loading. Furthermore, the manual offers guidance on navigating the single-measure view, single-measure observation, and displaying plant observations, enabling users to easily interact with the platform.
