About NextMAG
NextMAG is an innovative and affordable magnetometer designed to empower students and researchers worldwide with hands-on experience in magnetic field measurement and data analysis.
Built around the Raspberry Pi, NextMAG provides a robust yet accessible platform producing highly precise scientific data for educational and experimental purposes in all types of environments.
Sensor Specifications
Sensor Type: Magneto-Inductive
- Measurement Range: +/- 1100uT
- Sensitivity: 8.7nT @ 40Hz, 2.7nT @ 1Hz
- Noise: 4 pT/√Hz
- Operating Temperature: -40°C to +85°C
- Linearity Over +/- 200uT: 0.50%
- Temperature Calibrated Data
Web-Based Data Repository
- User friendly Data Explorer
- Upload data from anywhere on Earth
- Real time B-field and peripheral sensor data
- Latitude, longitude and altitude for each station on Earth
- World-wide collaboration among many different groups
What’s Inside the NextMAG Kit?
- Three-axis magneto-inductive magnetic field sensor – delivers accurate, science-grade magnetic field strength and direction data
- Built-in GPS – provides precise time and location stamping for each data point
- Gyroscope and accelerometer – tracks device orientation and motion for accurate data interpretation
- Thermistor – calibrates temperature-induced data variations with a high-precision temperature sensor
- Single-board computer – manages all core data processing, device control, and communication
- Collaborative online database platform – enables users to view, share, and explore data in a global database of magnetic field measurements
- Educator-developed instructional materials – supports formal and informal learners to engage with NextMAG through materials designed by teachers
Why NextMAG?
Traditional magnetometers can cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. They require specialized infrastructure, demand substantial energy, and have regular maintenance needs. As a result, only about 400 scientific-grade ground magnetometer stations exist worldwide.
NextMAG is designed to change that by offering a portable, low-maintenance solution that delivers accuracy at a fraction of the cost. Weighing just a few hundred grams and roughly the size of a small shoebox, it provides three-dimensional magnetic field measurements while running on a power source as simple as a portable phone charger.
Its affordability and precision make magnetic field data collection scalable, reliable, and accessible anywhere on Earth, unlocking opportunities to dramatically expand global monitoring across classrooms, research labs, and even remote field sites.
Beyond Education: Real Scientific Applications
Originally developed for education and public outreach, NextMAG is now recognized as a powerful and versatile tool for both academic and industry use. Its precision, portability, and ease of deployment make it ideal for a wide range of applications from monitoring space weather and tracking solar activity to studying earthquakes, power grid research, archaeological sites, and even oil exploration.
Despite its compact size, NextMAG delivers the performance of professional-grade research equipment. It allows users to collect high-quality magnetic field data that supports real-time monitoring of Earth’s magnetic field, solar storms, and geomagnetic activity while also advancing research in areas such as environmental change, navigation systems, infrastructure resilience, and disaster preparedness. Flexible by design, NextMAG can be applied in ways limited only by your imagination.
Thanks to its affordability and accessibility, NextMAG is ushering in a new era of grassroots scientific participation. It offers a unique opportunity for individuals, classrooms, and institutions to join a growing network of magnetometer stations dramatically expanding the reach and impact of magnetic field data collection worldwide.
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