Projects
The Lottig Lab pursues research across four active projects — spanning long-term ecological monitoring, large-scale data synthesis, open-source sensor development, and citizen lake sensing technology.
North Temperate Lakes Long-Term Ecological Research
NTL–LTER · University of Wisconsin–Madison
The NTL-LTER program investigates how lakes respond to long-term environmental change. Our research uses cutting-edge technologies to understand lake dynamics across all seasons — with particular focus on shoulder seasons that are frequently overlooked yet play a pivotal role in ecosystem function. Through decades of field data collection in Wisconsin, we examine the effects of climate, land use, and invasive species on freshwater ecosystems to advance scientific knowledge, inform policy, and support effective lake stewardship.
LAGOS — Advancing the Study of Lakes at Scale
Multi-scale Lake Database · Open Access
LAGOS is a multi-scale, open-access database that integrates water quality, land use, and climate data from thousands of lakes across the United States. This comprehensive dataset empowers scientists to conduct large-scale ecological research, investigating how freshwater systems respond to environmental change. The Lottig Lab contributes to LAGOS development and uses these resources to advance broad-scale research and discovery across spatial and temporal gradients.
NeXT-GENeration Data Collection Platform
NXT-GEN-DCP · Open Source
The NXT-GEN-DCP is an open-source, affordable data collection platform for aquatic ecosystems. Designed for real-time monitoring and broad accessibility, the platform supports researchers, educators, and community partners by making high-quality environmental sensing more widely available across Wisconsin and beyond. Development is ongoing — check back for updates as the platform matures.
Project page coming soon.
AquaSens / DockSensIQ
IoT Lake Water Temperature Monitoring · aquasens.io
AquaSens delivers real-time lake water temperature data through DockSensIQ — a dock-mounted sensor platform built on ESP32 hardware with a cloud backend. Designed for lake associations, property owners, and researchers, DockSensIQ makes high-quality environmental monitoring accessible and affordable for lakes across Wisconsin and beyond. Data is accessible via a web dashboard and open API.