Transicon modernises world-leading climate change experiment with control system expertise
Shropshire-based engineering specialist Transicon has played a vital role in future-proofing one of the world’s largest climate change experiments.
The Telford company partnered with Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) to develop a new control system for managing the Free-Air-Carbon dioxide Enrichment (FACE) experiment.
Led by the University of Birmingham and based in a mature oak woodland near Gnosall, Staffordshire, the experiment is designed to investigate the impact of elevated CO2 levels – similar to those predicted to be the norm by 2050 – on forest ecosystems.
It is one of only three such research facilities to exist worldwide and is supporting researchers globally to understand how forests respond to environmental change.
Jennifer Hughes, general manager for Transicon, said the project demonstrated the versatility of its automation and control engineering expertise beyond its traditional manufacturing applications.
She said: “It's been absolutely fascinating to be involved in such an exciting and globally significant project.
“We’ve developed control systems for all sorts of uses across the manufacturing sector but developing a system for use in environmental research and so closely linked to sustainability is a real first for us.
“I'm extremely proud of the team, they have done an amazing job. Our new control system will ensure this important experiment is future-proofed for many years to come, supporting researchers worldwide.”
The BIFoR FACE experiment is crucial for understanding how mature forests will respond to climate change, with data shared globally to build robust models for temperate, tropical and subtropical forests, ultimately informing international climate policy.
It relies on a variety of sophisticated instruments and specialist equipment to release carbon dioxide into the woodland to simulate the future atmosphere and collect high resolution data.
The original system controlling the experiment used Turbo Pascal, a text-based programming language dating back to the 1990s that was no longer supported or compatible with the modern instrumentation being used.
Rather than simply updating the code, Transicon used its expertise to re-design and implement industrial platform solution.
“We took legacy text-based software and replaced it with modern Siemens controls platform to provide repeatability and a solution that can be more easily maintained, changed and understood,” explained Jennifer.
The project involved developing sophisticated control systems for a number of forest sensors or arrays, each containing approximately 30 carbon dioxide delivery points positioned at different heights within the woodland.
The system manages valves, gas analysers, wind analysers and other instrumentation, while collecting vital experimental data.
A key innovation was the development of a 3D visualisation engine that allows researchers to see the relative heights of all sensors and view the arrays from different angles – a significant improvement over the previous system's basic interface.
Jennifer added: “The solution we have developed provides a blueprint for reliable, consistent experimental control systems which could be implemented globally should the FACE experiments be expanded to other locations in the future.”
Dr Kris Hart at the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, said: "The Transicon team has transformed our research capabilities with their innovative approach to modernising our control systems.
“Their expertise has enabled us to significantly enhance the precision and reliability of our carbon dioxide delivery system, which is absolutely vital for the integrity of our long-term climate change research.
“Working with a company that understood both the technical requirements and the scientific importance of our work has been invaluable."
