Sensorstelle

Sensorstelle, literally a “sensor station,” is a fixed site that houses sensor equipment and related infrastructure for the continuous measurement of physical, chemical, or environmental properties. The term is used across fields to denote a point in a larger sensor network or monitoring system.

A typical Sensorstelle includes sensors or sensing modules, data loggers or measurement instruments, a communications link to transmit data, a power supply (often backup), and a shelter or enclosure to protect equipment. Access for installation, calibration, and maintenance is planned to ensure reliability, with considerations for weather, corrosion, and security. Modern stations often integrate local computing, power management, and secure data transmission.

Sensorstellen are deployed in diverse sectors, including environmental monitoring (weather, air quality, water level, soil moisture), hydrology and flood warning, seismology and vibration monitoring, and radiation or industrial process surveillance. They may form part of national or regional networks that provide real-time or near-real-time data for research, forecasting, risk assessment, or operational decision making.

Data from Sensorstellen are typically timestamped, quality-checked, and stored in central databases. They may be transmitted using standardized protocols to enable interoperability across networks. Metadata, calibration records, and maintenance logs are maintained to ensure data traceability and comparability over time.

See also: weather station, monitoring station, sensor network, environmental monitoring.