Getting Started

1: Set up an FTP server

2: Write data to your FTP server

3: Have access to digital sensors

We use an FTP server as it is a simple and safe way to provide the information needed for the platform. You keep control of what data is seen and used.

1: Set up a space / folder / directory on an internet server with two folders – “Folder A” with write permissions enabled and “Folder B” with read-only permissions enabled.

2: Create a first user that will be used to write files in “Folder A“

3: Create a second user with access only to “Folder B“

Note. this is done as many servers only let you control folder permissions rather than user permissions regarding “Read-Only” status. If your server allows users to be made “Read-Only”, you may use the same folder.

4: Create a script to write .csv data files from your sensors into “Folder A” on your FTP server – this script should add lines, and create new files or append to the old one at a set time interval

5: Create a script to periodically copy files from “Folder A” into “Folder B” based on your sensor upload rate (e.g. every 5, 10, 60 seconds, minutes) – often called a chron job

Note: The format of the files are simple text based / CSV in the form where each sensor generates a column, and this column has data added to at a time interval.

To create an account simply register via the Login page with an email and password.

From here you can access Dashboards, Monitors, and FTP connections.

To visualise data you will need to create a “Monitor” – this will group together data points for what you are monitoring.

1: On the “Monitors” page select “+ NEW”

• You will be brought to the “New Monitor page”, here you can:Create and name a new Monitor with data inputs (known as “Maps”)
• Save your Monitor and Mapping
• Select a specific sub-directory under the “Data Directory” section – this dropdown is generated from your FTP structure
• Assign an FTP / access FTP settings – IMPORTANT this can only be adjusted after giving a name to your new monitor and saving it
• Adjust alert settings – this determines whom receives email alerts when your data meets your predetermined alert threshold

2: Add a new name to your Monitor (e.g. Sensor group 1)

• Select “+ NEW MAP” and rename your New Map Note. each map will be represented by a different graph on the Dashboard
• Click the blue arrow on the same row as your New Map to open up the Map’s settings:Here you will see 2 sections – “Column Mappings” and “Alerts”
• Adjust your X and Y axis settings by selecting each category under input / output / etc. – IMPORTANT – Your “Input” determines which column the data comes from, this must match your CSV file’s column headings – e.g. “Time”, “Sensor1Temperature” – this is independent of column order

3: Alerts can be generated by adding values and rules in the “Alerts” section (e.g. when your data value is greater than “20” units)

4: To add additional follow the process from Step 1