Sensiplicity System Web Interface Description
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The heart of the Sensiplicity sensor system is the controller, a device based on a Raspberry Pi single-board computer. The controller gathers data from connected sensors and makes it available via a web interface. Ethernet or wifi can be used to connect the controller to the local network. Anyone on the same network as the controller can access the web interface using a standard web browser. (If a VPN is used, the controller can be accessed anywhere in the world.) No special software is required on the user's computer.

The web interface allows users to retrieve data and configure sensors. Data can be viewed in the form of plots or tables and can be downloaded in several formats. Sensor configuration is performed in a password-protected administration area.

To protect samples and personnel, the controller can be configured to alert emergency contacts if a temperature sensor exceeds a certain range or if an emergency alarm button is triggered.


The Sensiplicity web interface is divided into five areas, accessed using the navigation bar at the top of each page.

-Soil and Temperature Plots
  Displays graphs of data from sensors. Plots can be enabled/disabled on a per-sensor basis in the administration area. The sensor and time period (hour, day, week, month, year) are selected with drop-down boxes at the top of the page. 
-Raw Data
  Displays a table with current data from sensors. The page automatically refreshed to keep the display up to date.
-Download Data
  Allows raw data from individual sensors to be downloaded in text, XML, CSV, or Sensatronics format. For CSV and XML formats, the start date of the data file can be selected before download.
-About System
  Displays information about the controller, including the model, firmware version, manufacturer, firmware release date, serial number, and manufacturer website.
-Admin Pages (password protected)
  Allows sensor and controller configuration. This page has several sub-pages:
  -Manage/List All Sensors
    Displays a list of all sensors that the controller is aware of. A "Find Sensors" button causes the controller to detect new sensors and add them to the list. For each sensor, the unique ID, bus, given name, state (enables/disabled), presence (connected/disconnected), type, and group are displayed in a table. Each row contains a link to enable/disable the sensor, reset it to default values, or visit the sensor configuration page.
    
    The sensor configuration page allows the administrator to configure the sensor type, given name, group, state (enables/disabled), physical location (geo-tag), calibration factor, temperature limits, and comment (description). (If the temperature limits are exceeded, the emergency contact is notified via email or text message.) Buttons at the bottom of the table allow a user to apply changes, reset the sensor to default values, or remove the sensor from the system.
  -Manage Data/Plot Settings
    Displays the sensor ID, sensor name, state (enabled/disabled), type, and plot state in a table. Each row contains a link to enable/disable plotting and a link to visit the sensor configuration page.
  -Manage Group Settings
    Displays a list of all sensor groups in a table. Groups allow related sensors to be gathered together. For example, all sensors in the same room could be placed in the same group. A button next to each group allows that group to be removed. New groups can be added by entering a name in a text box at the bottom of the table.
  -Manage System/Main Setting
    Allows the controller hostname, temperature unit, default temperature limits, time zone, and password to be configured.
  -Manage Network/Email Setting
    Allows the SMTP (outgoing email server), emergency contact email, and emergency contact text message address to be configured.
  -MySQL Access
    A link to a phpMyAdmin instance running on the controller, allowing MySQL to be configured.
  -Reset All Sensors/Reset All Data
    Contains a button that clears all existing sensors and data from the system. This provides a clean slate when the sensor configuration needs to be drastically changed.
  -Turn Off Sensor System
    Shuts down the controller so that it can be safely unplugged.