The eHive project

Short overview

BeeBIT e.V. is a registered non-profit association that supervices a network of sensor-augmented beehives. These so called eHives collect temperature and humidity data from inside the hive, detect the hive's weight and record environmental parameters like outside temperature, rainfall, sun radiation and wind. The environmental data is collected using an included weather station. By combining and comparing data from many eHives in different locations, the behaviour of bee populations under different conditions can be investigated.

Learning materials in seven different european languages are supplied for students and teachers. These materials convey natural science problems in a use-oriented fashion. The collected data from the eHives can be accessed for free with our graphical diagram interface in real time.

In the following educational video, the features of an eHive as well as their application in class are shown. (Only available in German language. Nevertheless, the pictures tell a story on their own.)



FAQ (Frequently asked questions)

What is BeeBIT? What is an eHive?

BeeBIT is a registered non-profit association, that is supervising and spreading the idea of the eHive project. More about the association and its members can be found here.

An eHive is a sensor-peppered beehive, that can be used to research the life of bee colonies. Concurrently the collected data provides the possibility to desgin more interesting class lessons as well as sensibilise young people for the protection of nature and species.

During development, multiple versions of the eHive were build and shipped. An overview of the different versions and corresponding CAD models can be found in this blog post.

Which kind of data is collected? Where to find the data?

At each eHive the following data is captured:

The collected data is stored on a SD card and transmitted multiple times per hour to BeeBIT's server via the mobile communications network. The server stores the data inside a database, which is accessed by our self-developed diagram viewer. Alternatively, the data can be downloaded as a .csv file or can be accessed via SQL directly from the database. In each case, the diagram viewer is the user interface.

More information about the flow of data and the techical background (microcontroller programming & diagram viewer) can be found in this blog post. Details about the eHive's sensors and their precision in measurement are described in this article.

As an institution of education, how to profit?

In the context of a so called Erasmus-Plus project learning materials in seven different european languages were developed. The materials are based on the eHives data and cover all educational levels from kindergarden to high school. The design of the learning materials was supported by the chair of didactic in biology of the Ludwig-Maximilian-Universität München (LMU Munich). Propositions for classes can be downloaded here for free. You can download an article on how the eHive can be used in school classes here (only available in German).

How do I get an eHive? How much do I have to pay for it?

There exist two possibilities for setting up an eHive at your institution:

As a non-profit association BeeBIT does not pursue economic interests. You can be shure that the price for development and built of the eHive and the allocation and maintenance of the server architecture is adequate. If you or your institution do not posses the necessary financial means, you could try to find a sponsor. We would be happy to help you by providing needed information or presentation materials.

If you think about buying or renting an eHive please contact us. We then inform you individually about the further procedure.

What to consider when mounting an eHive?

For operating an eHive a standard power connection (230 V, 50 Hz) is needed. The data transfer is done via mobile communication. The necessary SIM card is provided by us and will be payed for a restricted amount of time (~ 2 years) by our association.

Of course, a beekeeper or someone with knowledge about bees is needed. The beekeeping activities are managed by the responsible people on site.

I want to know more. Who to ask?

If you became interested in the project, please contact us. We happily answer your questions and are thankful for your ideas and useful feedback.