Using Digital Imaging to Assess Water Quality

Presented by Presented by Amy Biddle

Dave Reckhow

Using Digital Imaging to Assess Water Quality

Natural organic matter … is removed by waterleaches into water… treatment measures

http://www.floridasbestwater.com

Leaf Litter

Soil Runoff

Human Sources

Filtration

CoagulationAnimal Sources

Experimental Overview

Using Digital Imaging to Assess Water Quality

Plant material is added to water sample

Natural organic matter leachesover time

Treatment Ideas: Alum Alum + Calcium carbonate

Activated charcoal Filtration

Water treatment strategiesare applied

Experimental Overview

Using Digital Imaging to Assess Water Quality

Plant material is added to water sample

Natural organic matter leachesover time

Treatment IdeasAlum Alum + Calcium carbonate

Activated charcoal Filtration

Digital images used to track leaching process

Water treatment strategiesare applied

Digital images used to track treatment progress

Using Digital Imaging to Assess Water Quality

Images of light through water during leaching

Time: 0 hours

Data Collection

Using Digital Imaging to Assess Water Quality

Images of light through water during leaching

Time 0 hours: Leaves added

Data Collection

Using Digital Imaging to Assess Water Quality

Images of light through water during leaching

Time: 20 hours

Data Collection

Using Digital Imaging to Assess Water Quality

Images of light through water during leaching

Time: 43 hours

Data Collection

Using Digital Imaging to Assess Water Quality

Data Collection

Images of light through water during leaching

Time: 97 hours

Using Digital Imaging to Assess Water Quality

Data Analysis

Analyzing Digital Images Software

How do patterns of RGB values change during leaching?

Using Digital Imaging to Assess Water Quality

Data Analysis

Analyzing Digital Images Software

How do patterns of RGB values change during treatment?

Using Digital Imaging to Assess Water Quality

Massachusetts Science and Engineering/Technology Curriculum Framework

Biology Earth and Space Science Ecology Earth Processes and Cycles

InquiryStudent designed experiments exploring…

Factors influencing the leaching process: types of leaves, conditions, water properties

Factors influencing the treatment process:comparison of different strategies