Proposed Budget (592-551Mod4)

7/29/2019 Proposed Budget (592-551Mod4)

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Budget and Budget Details: Grant for Digital Probesand Sensors

The following budget and details are prepared as part of a program tobring modern digital probes and sensors into my high school in

Southern Maine. The probes are manufactured by Vernier Products ofBeaverton, Oregon. The prices shown are from prices listed in theirproduct listing, from their website: vernier.com .

Proposed Budget - Science ProbesProbe/Sensor Quantity Item Cost Total CostMini Gas Chromatograph 1 $1,749 $1,749

GC Syringes 10 $63 $630

GC Septa 4 $25 $100

Ion-Selective Electrodes

Chloride 2 $179 $358

Ammonium 2 $179 $358

Ntrate 2 $179 $358

Supplies 6 $42 $252

Conductivity Probes 2 $95 $190

Supplies 2 $138 $276

pH Sensors 2 $99 $198

Supplies 2 $20 $40

Dissolved Oxygen 2 $209 $418

Supplies 2 $152 $304

GPS Sensor 2 $64 $128

LabQuest 2 $329 $658Supplies 2 $305 $610

LabQuest Mini 2 $149 $298

Assorted Manuals, etc 2 $48 $96

Total $7,021

Training/Support $2,020

Project Total $9,041

The single largest and most expensive piece of equipment presented isfor a single Mini Gas Chromatograph. A real gas chromatograph (GC)

is a sophisticated laboratory bench instrument that detects, identifiesvolatile compounds and quantifies its concentration. While this deviceis considerably smaller than a bench instrument, it is still complex andis best suited for being in one location. If used for a pure screeningdevice (presence or absence of volatile compounds) the device mightbe transported closer to the sampling location but quantitative resultswould be questionable.


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Our intent is to collect samples and bring them back to the schoollaboratory for analysis. Therefore only one unit is required.Additionally, syringes are required for collecting samples (primarilywater quality samples) and running the appropriate blanks andstandards. Syringes are reusable and can be cleaned appropriately.

Septa are also required for introducing samples into the device. Theydo eventually do need replacement after numerous analysis.Screening information collected with other probes might eliminateanalyzing every sample collected and therefore reducing analysis time.

As class size is always large, two sets of all probes are required. This isalso valuable if one probe is not working or unavailable, a second setgives you at least one set. All costs are based upon two sets forprobes and associated equipment.

Due to the likely use of all these probes to look at water quality issuesassociated with an abandoned municipal landfill located within one

mile of the school on the Saco River. Water that leaches through thelandfill cover, mixing and discharging at the toe of the landfill slopecreates a toxic leachate. As potential wastes are dissolved in water,ions of certain parameters are often a valuable tool in assessing thetoxicity of leachate samples. Ion-specific probes measure the ionpotential of these specific indicators and can be semi-quantified. Themost logical leachate parameters would be chlorine, ammonium andnitrates.

Additionally materials for the cleaning, storage liquid containers(probes must be submerged for storage in a buffering solution) and

calibration solutions must be purchased. Calibration fluids can bepurchased and diluted later for calibration of the equipment.

Two other screening probes are pH and Specific Conductance.Conductance probes measure bulk or combined ions for a variety ofions in liquids. This bulk or total conductance gives a semi-quantitativevalue used to locate and screen future sampling locations. It is quickand easy but in non-ion specific.

Another valuable tool is a pH probe. The acidity levels of leachatesamples is famous. This screening probe requires similar solutions for

the same reasons presented for the conductance probe. pH probescan be ruined if not keep in a buffer solution.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is a vital requirement for healthy waters foraquatic life. Low DO values indicate great risk to sensitive fauna, inparticular and are used to correlate general water quality. DO probesrequire a similar solutions and standards as the above probes.

A GPS sensor is essential when trying to locate seep locations around


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the perimeter of a large landfill. Knowing the exact location of seeps inrelation to the affected receptors is essential in establishing risk. Therelatively inexpensive sensor is attached to any data collector and canbe superimposed on top of Google Maps for presentation purposes.

Data collection in a field setting is crucial. If data is lost or invalid,additional trips back to the sampling site is required. To eliminate this,two LabQuest units are budgeted. These handheld devices perform allthe functionality of a laptop computer in about one fifth the size andweight. The LabQuest unit has multiple ports for various probes (andused together for the same sampling event) and sensors. Real timedata is collected and the data is displayed on a small LCD screen. Thedata can be verified before it is saved and transported back to theclassroom. The units even perform simple analysis of data on location.

Two LabQuest Minis are required to down load data from the LabQuestunit to a computer in the classroom. This unit accepts up to 5 probes

at once and can be used in nearly every experiment. They arepowered from the computer and can be used in a field situation.

Lastly manuals for equipment operation are required. However one ofthe best features of Vernier products is that they have developedmanuals and experiments that can be performed by the students tosupport each application. The experiments were developed for thestudent and have all been tested prior to inclusion in the manual.They are available for each science sub-area.

Finally a line item for training and support is presented. This is based

mostly upon a figure obtained from Vernier for the cost of having aregional representative for a day of training and calibrating ofequipment. Nearly 75% of the cost is for this single visit (mostly forthe calibration of the GC). Luckily all of the high science staff has usedsimilar probes at one time or more often. There is essentially no timerequired for training of staff. The only other cost involves one staffmember spending an entire day receiving, setting up the equipmentand testing before putting the probes away.

There are no costs included for contracts or services plans. Vernierhas a long and comprehensive warranty that covers nearly everything.

Any travel costs are built into the vendor representative costs.This equipment allows students to collect data in a simple tounderstand manner. The data once on the computer can be handled,manipulated, analyzed and presented smartly with minimal effort.Once students see the ease of use and how simply they can control thedata, more complex use of the system is possible. Students overcometheir fears and concerns to start creating their own solutions tocomplex problems.


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Documents

Proposed Budget (592-551Mod4)