This document discusses a project to monitor beehives using low-cost sensors and a Raspberry Pi computer. It describes how the presenter got involved with studying declining bee populations and working with a researcher who wanted hive monitoring. An inexpensive system was built using a Raspberry Pi, temperature and humidity sensors, solar power, and Ruby programming. The system provides online access to hive data. The presenter encourages others to get involved in open source projects that support social causes like bee research.

1. Saving the World with Ruby on
Rails
Sean Marcia
@seanmarcia

2. Everyone is awesome!

3. This Talk
1. The history of the project
2. The technology used
3. How you can get involved
3

4. This is a story about bees

5. My own story with bees began
when I was 6 years old...

7. Fast forward to today.

9. Bees are awesome and interesting!

10. They are dying :(

12. German is studying Colony Collapse Disorder

13. Possible Causes of CCD
• Pesticides
• Mites
• Disease
• Genetic factors
• Habitat change
• Electromagnetic radiation
• Immunodeficiencies
• Java Programmers
13

14. I wanted to help.

15. Turns out that German already has
some beehives at GMU
and they are on top of a parking garage
15

17. German Would Love Insight Into:
• Hive Temperature
• Hive Weight
• Outside Humidity
• Outside Temperature
17

19. Challenges:
• Open to the elements
• No power
• Very Limited Budget
• Must be easy to repair/maintain
19

20. Challenge #1: No Power

22. Issue #2: Limited Budget

23. Solution:
1. Raspberry Pi (first 3 were free)
2. Raspberry Pi specific devices (free)
3. SD Cards (3 for $20)
4. Wire/cables (free)
5. Temperature Probe ($8)
6. Solar Setup ($140)
7. Macgyver like ability to figure out solutions (free)
23

24. Not perfect but we have a start.
Including twitter.

25. ...and the results?

33. TATFT

34. TATFT

37. Then things started happening really fast.

43. Now for the interesting stuff (The Technology Behind It)

44. Raspberry Pi's

47. gpio, pi_piper, wiringpi-ruby

48. So as to saving the world with Ruby and Rails...

49. Turns out I lied.

50. I'm using Ruby and Sinatra

58. Other Stuff Used
• Phusion Passenger
• isc-dhcp-server (linux package)
• hostapd (linux package)
• iw (linux package)
58

59. Pretty simple, eh?

60. So simple that anyone here could do it.

61. In fact, I'd like everyone to go out and do this.

62. Everyone here is amazing and has something to offer.

64. Educators need our help.

65. It's easy to get involved.

66. What's in it for you?

68. Easy Gateway into Open Source

69. Lots of intangible benefits.
• You will hear bee puns on a daily basis
• Warm fuzzy feeling inside
• Learn interesting things
• Great Conversation Starter
• FUN!
69

71. If this kind of thing interests you...

72. rubyforgood.com
• Weekend Hackfest in Washington DC
• Aug 1-3 (free to come early/leave late)
• Stay in the Dorms at GMU
• Hack on Open Source Social Good Projects
• 72 People (18 teams of 4)
• ~$200
• Training sessions on Aug 2nd.
72

73. Thank you so much for your time.