Enhancing Geodetic Education with Serial Port Monitor: A Use Case from Germany

By Electronic Team Updated on:  

This case study highlights how Serial Port Monitor can bridge the gap between theory and practice, empowering students to excel in technical fields. At Hochschule Neubrandenburg – University of Applied Sciences, the Geodetic and Measurement Engineering department has been utilizing Serial Port Monitor to give students a deeper understanding of communication protocols in geodetic instruments. Here’s a glimpse into how this innovative tool has transformed learning in the geodetic field.

Martin Kiskemper, a faculty member at Hochschule Neubrandenburg, explains:

“Most of our surveying instruments have a serial port to communicate with a field controller or PC. I show our students the commands and responses between these two components. Serial Port Monitor works perfectly for this purpose.”

Serial Port Monitor has proven indispensable in classroom demonstrations, helping students visualize and comprehend the flow of commands and responses between devices. The setup includes projecting the software’s interface onto a beamer (projector) in the classroom, allowing students to follow the live communication streams in real time.

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This hands-on demonstration not only makes lectures more engaging but also prepares students to troubleshoot real-world scenarios they may encounter in their careers.

Beyond the Classroom: Practical Applications

In addition to classroom demonstrations, Serial Port Monitor was integrated into a project for fifth-semester students. The assignment required students to:

  1. Write a Python script to communicate with a leveling instrument.
  2. Record the staff readings in an Excel file.
  3. Analyze the facade expansion of a building due to temperature changes.
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The Serial Port Monitor played a critical role in the project. It allowed students to verify communication between the devices and troubleshoot issues in their scripts. This practical experience gave students confidence and real-world skills in serial communication and programming.

Martin Kiskemper reflects on the software’s impact:

“Serial Port Monitor allowed our students to better understand communication protocols. From classroom demonstrations to hands-on projects, it’s an essential tool for teaching geodetics.”

We want to thank Martin for the case study and wish his students good luck in their professional lives!