UPDATE 12/13/17

I have ordered the sensor.  It is the MaxBotix MB7374 HRXL-MaxSonar-WRST7.  It is an ultrasonic sensor with both analog and digital serial outputs.  I will be using the digital serial ouput.  It has been specifically designed for snow depth measurement.  Hopefully it works!

If interested, you can read about the sensor HERE.

I have also ordered the micro-computer that will be used to read the data from the sensor and send it to the website.  The computer is a Raspberry Pi 3, model B.  The computer in it’s case is about the size of a deck of cards.  I will be configuring it to run Raspbian Linux (not Ubuntu) and the program that retrieves the data will be written in Python.

You can see the version I ordered HERE.

FYI, the Raspberry Pi kit that I ordered is not complete in that it does not include the SD card with operating system installed.  I will be making using a card I already have available.

See original post below.

ORIGINAL POST:

I’ve been thinking of doing this for years and an email I received today triggered a series of discoveries that may finally make it a reality…

ULTRASONIC SNOW DEPTH MEASUREMENT

This would automatically update a snow depth display on BigTreesTech as long as we continue to have power, internet, and…. SNOW!

Between the sensor, a micro-computer to read it, and various other pieces of hardware required it would cost somewhere between $200 and $300.  If enough BigTreesTech participants are interested (as indicated by use of the Donate button) I would start a blog on BigTreesTech about the physical hardware, the programming, and the website modifications needed to integrate the measurements.

So, if you are interested, comment in the forum.  If you want to see it happen, click the Donate button and also comment in the forum.