Traffic survey data logger

Cam 1: Gwneud

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Use your BBC micro:bit as a data-logger to survey things you see, like different kinds of traffic or wildlife, or answers to questions.

At the press of a button, the micro:bit records what you have seen and stores the data in a table so you can analyse it later.

Data stays on your micro:bit even if you disconnect the batteries or USB cable, so you can study it when you're back at your computer.

Beth sydd ei angen arnoch

• a micro:bit V2
• a computer and micro USB cable for coding the micro:bit and viewing your data
• micro:bit battery pack (optional but recommended)
• our data logging guide may be useful

Gather data

• Transfer the program below to your micro:bit.
• You can record data anywhere if you unplug the micro:bit from your computer and connect a battery pack.
• A tick appears to show it's ready to start logging.
• Any previous data is erased when you transfer new code to your micro:bit, but you can also delete any old data by pressing buttons A and B together.
• Press button A to record when you see a car, button B when you see a bus and press the gold touch logo when you see a truck.
  TIP: Make sure you hold your micro:bit by the edges so you don't record any data by accident.

Analyse your data

• When you've collected your data, plug the micro:bit into a computer. The micro:bit appears like a USB drive called MICROBIT.
• Open the MY_DATA file to see a table of all the traffic you recorded in your web browser:

• The times recorded in the table show the amount of time that passed since your micro:bit was powered on.

You can:

• Add up the total of each column to make your own column or bar chart to visualise your survey data.
• Press the copy button to copy the data so you can paste it straight into a spreadsheet. Use the spreadsheet's sum function to count the total number of each kind of vehicle.
• Download the data as a CSV (comma separated values) file which you can also import into a spreadsheet.

Cam 2: Codio

Cam 3: Gwella

• Remix the code to count different things:
  • different kinds of wildlife in your area
  • do a litter patrol to count recycling, compost and normal rubbish
  • carry out a survey of how people get to school, for example, walk, bus or bike
  • survey people's votes for choices of activities
• Analyse your data, write up your findings and present it back to people in your area. Can you motivate them to change behaviour around modes of transport or recycling litter?