• Data logging stands for collection and recording of information.
  
  
• It can be can be manual, where you have to take each reading yourself or automated, where you get a computer or machine to take readings as often as you choose.
  
  
• Data logging normally makes use of sensors - these are devices that take measurements and feed the data back to the computer.

The advantages of having automated data logging is that you can measure data over a long period of time without having to be there. You can set a computer to take a reading as often as you wish and can collect the data when you are ready.

An automated weather station is a good example of a data logger. The computer takes readings of the weather (such as the temperature, wind, sunshine or rainfall) using special sensors.

The data is then passed to the computer where it is stored in the memory. Then, when you are ready, you can view the results. You might produce tables, graphs or charts to display the results.

There are many types of sensors for measuring different things; temperature, pressure, light intensity, wind speed, altitude and so on.

An automatic data logger is a portable computer controlled device. It can be programmed to take readings automatically over a period of time. It could take readings every minute, every hour or every day. The data is stored inside the data logger in memory. To record the data, the data logger will be connected to different types of sensor.

Temperature sensor

This is used to measure the outside temperature.

The sensor contains a thermometer that constantly measures the temperature.

The data logger will record the temperature periodically. The user can decides how often the readings are taken.

A temperature sensor can also be known as a thermistor.

Wind meter

This measures both the speed and direction of the wind.

The weather Vane at the top indicates the wind direction.

The Anemometer at the bottom spins at different speeds according to the wind speed. The example shown here also has a solar panel to power itself!

Rainfall Counter

This measures how much rain has fallen over a period of time.

The ‘bucket’ fills up as it rains and will fill more quickly if it rains harder or more often.

This data is then recorded using the digital counter - passing data about rainfall levels over time.