June 17, 2016

Today's messages are brought to you by the letter: S
Guest Appearances from: Justin Keister, and Dr. Forrest Stonedahl

We started the day off by visiting the dog group. They explained their protocol and practiced it on a few members of the SRI.

Abu

Then Dr. Stonedahl and Nicole collected data from the Nicole permeameter. After each run we have to wait an hour before we can collect data again. In the meantime, Dr. Stonedahl and Nicole collected today's data from the falling head permeameter test. Before lunch Dr. Stonedahl and Nicole collected the second set of data from the Nicole permeameter and set it up to run the hour during the lunch break. Tragically, when we returned from lunch we realized that the constant head flow was interrupted. Some sand ended up partially drying out because of the lack of constant flow of water through the permeameter, ending our data collection for the day.

Dr. Stonedahl and Justin

Caleb continued to work on his computer program. Dr. Forrest Stonedahl visited and was able to help Caleb with his program. Caleb also consumed three ice cream cones today during the course of two hours. Dr. Stonedahl came in second with eating two ice cream cones.

Dr. Forrest Stonedahl and Caleb

To do:
Collect more data
Start presentation
Get more literature

June 16, 2016

Today's messages are brought to you by the letter: a
Guest Appearances from: Justin Keister, and Dr. Opar.

Today we began with setting up a table to write down data for our falling head tests, so that we could begin taking measurements. Caleb also began working more on his program, and eventually we had to go to lunch to meet with other groups at the SRI. At the lunch each group shared updates of the progress they have made on their respective projects. After lunch, we began taking measurements with the falling head tests and recording data. Our first run of measurements with it seem to be matching with previous runs, but we haven't done enough tests to be sure of it, yet. The constant head permeameter was also set up, and measurements were taken from it. At the end of the day we set both the falling head and constant head permeameters up so more tests can be run tomorrow.

Setting up for second falling head test

For tomorrow:
Continue working on computer program
Take measurements from both permeameters.
Fix constant head spreadsheet by adding meters to h
send permeameter back

Working on program

June 15, 2016

Today's messages are brought to you by the letter s
Guest Appearances from:
Dr. Forrest Stonedahl, Dr. Yang, Dr. Eikleberry, Cole Epping, and Justin Keister

Today Nicole and Dr. Stonedahl started the day off by noticing that the permeameter had leaked all night. We searched all over for the leak and found out that it might have been leaking in many places. The major leak was coming from a piece that we added a screen to this year to try to stop the flow of sand into other portions of the permeameter. It might have been from the piece being extremely hard to screw together and not having a tight enough seal. We also re-puttied the other pieces and that helped contain the leak. Nicole and Dr. Stonedahl also finished the permeameter today by adding a ruler. The permeameter is ready for business tomorrow.

permeameter

Nicole and Dr. Stonedahl also put together the Hvorslev falling head permeameter test. It will be ready for testing tomorrow.

Nicole adding sand to the Hvorslev falling head permeameter test

Caleb spent the first half of the day beginning a program to compare the blue dye from the simulated and physical runs last year. After some amount of time working on it, he realized that he chose the wrong image to select the coordinates from (it was a picture from before the camera was adjusted), so he had to go back and re-do the coordinates that will at some point be plugged into the program along with the time lapse pictures.

Dr. Forrest Stonedahl and Caleb

For Tomorrow:

Collect first data from the Falling Head Permeameter and the Nicole Method

Mail Back Permeameter

Make a list of supplies for putting together the permeameter

Caleb can continue working on program

Present to other groups at lunch

Remove Herobrine

June 14, 2016

Brought to you by the letter: u

Today Caleb began working on marking pixel coordinates from one of last year's runs, so we can begin working on a program to compare the simulated and timelapse runs. Nicole and Dr. Stonedahl finished the design of the permeameter --- including designing new pieces to secure and keep the permeameter level. Sean, Noah, and Kris from galvin helped cut the pieces for it.

Drilling holes into wood

After setting up the permeameter, we found a small leak from the bottom. Rulers will still need to be attached to the tubing of the permeameter.

For tomorrow:

Wake up

Send permeameter back

Add rulers and levels to permeameter

Starting falling head permeameter measurements

Get started on programs for comparing simulated/physical runs from last year

Dr. Stonedahl is supposed to bring the Heaven Piercing Giga-drill.

June 13, 2016

These messages were brought to you by the letter: S
Guest Appearances from Natalie Woodhurst, Justin, and Bing Bong

Today was the beginning of the USRI. Caleb and Nicole started the day off right by both showing up late. Natalie also attended orientation and might be joining us. We started by testing Nicole's permeameter that we built before the school year ended. We are proud to announce that there were NO LEAKS!!! Then we went to Subway. After Subway we took a trip to Menards. We got the final materials for Nicole's permeameter today. Fun fact: If you ask a Menards worker where something is located they will most likely know the exact isle. Caleb glued the final PVC pipe pieces together. We then set up computers for the summer. We also attempted to put together the very expensive permeameter. It did not come with instructions :). When we called the company the worker thought we were stupid for asking for instructions. We are pretty sure that we ordered the wrong tube even though Dr. Stonedahl thought it might be wrong in the first place but still ordered it.

Notes
Write a blog post
Put the drain in permeameter
Start falling head test
Figure out permeameter's stand
Finish Nicole's permeameter
Start marking coordinates from previous runs

Computers are hard

We got an electric outlet installed today!

The hydrology lab got an outlet, goodbye orange extension cord!

4/13/2016

Today was our third research meeting. It was just Dr. Stonedahl and me because the Calebs were busy. We made some decisions today. After scribbling equations all over the board we decided that we were going to use 2 inch PVC pipe this year in our permeameter design. We also put our carpenter skills to use. Lets just say today was good practice for the beauties that we will be crafting this summer. After replacing a few screws, adding brackets in carefully calculated spots (kidding), and adding a nice block a wood we were able to stabilize the stand from last year. A whole lot of noise and saw dust later our experiment is back on track. Next meeting we are planning to buy more materials for this summer's project.

Very nice stand. Would recommend.