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Digitalization supports climate research in the UK

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Some 200 years ago, oaks were planted in this forest in Staffordshire to supply timber for Britain’s wooden ship fleet. Then came the industrial revolution. Steel replaced wood, and the forest was forgotten. Left to grow undisturbed, it now serves a very different purpose: as a research site for the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment experiment, or BIFoR FACE. Here, scientists expose mature trees to elevated levels of CO2 to study how forests might respond to a changing climate.

Dr. Kris Hart, who holds a PhD in soil biogeochemistry and now serves as the Head of Operations at BIFoR FACE, explains: “We want to understand how the relatively sudden rise in atmospheric CO2, driven by fossil fuel emissions, is affecting the structure and function of the forest ecosystem. To do that, we’re exposing sample sections of the forest to the CO2 levels expected by 2050 and studying everything from tree physiology and disease to understory plants, soils, and insects – basically every level you could think of.”

This comprehensive approach relies on precise control and consistent delivery of CO2, along with the collection of high-quality data. Central to both is our industrial automation hardware and software.

A future-proof update

Within the forest, trees are grouped into six so-called arrays, each surrounded by open towers that allow wind, rain, and insects to move freely through the site. Three of the arrays are regularly exposed to elevated levels of CO2 in a highly pure form, which is sourced as a byproduct of the anaerobic digestion of food waste. In each of these arrays, around 30 delivery points positioned at varying heights release the CO2. The remaining three arrays serve as control plots for comparison.

When the project launched in 2017, a text-based programming language operating on PCs was chosen to control the instruments responsible for releasing CO2 into the arrays. Over time, the system began to show its age and limitations, prompting the team at BIFoR FACE to search for a more robust and flexible alternative – which led them to system integrator Transicon.

“We started by listening closely to the researchers’ needs,” says Jennifer Hughes, General Manager at Transicon. “It quickly became clear that the most effective and future-proof solution would be an industrial control system built around Siemens technologies.”

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It quickly became clear that the most effective and future-proof solution would be an industrial control system built around Siemens technologies.
Jennifer Hughes, General Manager, Transicon

Easy integration, fast commissioning

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Engineers at Transicon assembled a comprehensive package of Siemens technologies to manage the network of valves, gas analyzers, wind sensors, and other instruments at the BIFoR FACE site, and to collect vital data. At the core is the Simatic S7-1200 programmable logic controller (PLC). As the system’s brain, it processes real-time data – such as wind patterns, rainfall, and sun exposure to determine how much CO2 to release to maintain the specified levels. Simulation PLC function blocks were also developed in Siemens’ TIA (Totally Integrated Automation) portal to replicate real world operating conditions to support system testing.

Sensors and actuators across the site are connected to the PLC via the Simatic ET 200SP, a modular I/O system that enables reliable data collection and command execution in the field. Thanks to its solid-state switching, the system is exposed to less mechanical wear, making it more robust and less prone to failure. Plus, modules can be hot-swapped without interrupting operations.

Siemens WinCC, a SCADA platform, oversees the entire process, providing researchers at BIFoR FACE with a clear, real-time view of system status. Maintenance needs are now easier to identify, enabling faster and more targeted troubleshooting. A key innovation was the development of a 3D visualization engine, which allows researchers to see the relative heights of all sensors and view the arrays from multiple angles – a significant improvement over the previous system’s basic interface.

Thanks to the Digital Twin capabilities integrated in TIA Portal, Transicon’s engineers were able to simulate and test the system before installation. This streamlined the integration process and shortened commissioning time by reducing the need for on-site adjustments. And if they needed assistance along the way, they could turn to the engineers at Siemens for support.

A model for other research institutes

The new setup is just what Dr. Kris Hart and his team needed. “Transicon’s 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,” he says. What’s more, the installation can be replicated to other sites around the world studying the impact of higher concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere.

That was by design, says Jennifer Hughes: “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.” Because if the findings from BIFoR FACE are to shape global climate policy, they will need to be supported by data from other mature forests around the world.

Company profiles

BIFoR FACE

Since 2017, the Birmingham Institute of Forest Research, Free Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment, or BIFoR FACE, has been simulating the predicted 2050 atmosphere by pumping CO₂ around mature oak trees. By mimicking the future environment, researchers can understand how woodlands can be expected to respond to a changing environment. BIFoR FACE is one of only three such facilities globally and has been celebrated for its eco-friendly design.

BIFoR FACE - University of Birmingham

Transicon

Founded in 1967 and based at Queensway Business Park in Telford, UK, Transicon has built a strong reputation in designing and manufacturing bespoke control systems. The company’s expertise covers AC, DC, and servo drives, as well as PLC and SCADA systems. Transicon serves a wide range of industrial clients, working across the UK and internationally.

System Integration & Industrial Automation Specialists | Transicon