History

Project History

The Oxford Flood Network emerged out of an idea by Ben Ward to use TV Whitespace technology to build "guerilla sensor networks" - sensors deployed by people, citizens, communities to address their own issues without any top-down involvement. In November 2014 a group of developers got together for Sushack (Sustainability Hackday) and worked on the full technology stack.

Winter 2013-2014 was notable in the UK by the serious storms and flooding which lasted for nearly two months. This gave the project some momentum and various offers of help have been arriving ever since.

The two main contributors are Ben Ward and Andrew Lindsay with invaluable contributions by Nick Kolpin and Nick Burch.

####Sensor device v1 (Jan 2014):

• Ciseco RFu (Cisceco SRF Radio + ATMega 328)
• Ciseco RFu development board
• Donated Grove ultrasonic rangefinder
• Large IP55 case
• **Status: **Deployed successfully x1, recalled due to battery bug & poor RF performance

####Sensor device v2 (Mar 2014):

• Ciseco RFu
• Oxfloodnet custom PCB with temperature compensation
• Maxbotix Rangefinder
• 3D Printed cone to direct rangefinder signal
• **Status: **Test PCBs fabricated & working, need to develop case & RF connection

####Sensor device v3.0 (Jun 2014):

• New IP55 case
• Ciseco RFu
• Oxfloodnet custom PCB with temperature compensation & headers
• Maxbotix IP67 rated Rangefinder with integrated cone
• **Status: **PCB refined, new case & external antenna developed

####Sensor device v3.1 (Jul 2014):

• IP55 case
• Ciseco RFu
• Oxfloodnet custom PCB with temperature compensation & headers
• Maxbotix IP67 rated Rangefinder with integrated cone
• **Status: **PCB refined, ordered batch of 30