1. Design, Operation and Maintenance for Hydromet Stations and Networks
Boyd Bringhurst, Mark Bennett | Campbell Scientific

3. Methods for Telemetric Communications

4. Historical ties between transportation & communication
Messengers
Telegraph
Optical fiber backbone
Urban & transportation corridor cell coverage

5. Radio (spread spectrum and licensed)
IP (Ethernet, cellular, satellite)
Non-IP Satellite (Meteosat, Iridium, ARGOS)

6. Wireless data communication for environmental and infrastructure monitoring
Terrestrial RF
Licensed frequency
Allocated frequency
Cellular (IP)
Meteorburst and ELOS
Satellite
GOES/Metosat
Iridium
INMARSAT (IP)

7. Terrestrial RF – Licensed Frequency
Preferred for mission critical operations
Line of sight
User owns comms infrastructure
Owner responsible for operations and Maintenance
Trend – tighter bands for better spectrum use; DSP improvements for signal sensitivity

8. Terrestrial RF – Allocated Frequency
Some data congestion in urban areas
Line of sight w/ limited amplitude output
User owns comms infrastructure
Owner responsible for operations and Maintenance
Trend – more capable radios for less money

9. Terrestrial RF – Cellular data comms
M2M data plans
Technology advances vs. product life cycle
Cellular networks can overload during a stressful event
Trend – definitely up, but be careful with critical operations
Owner NOT responsible for operations and Maintenance

10. Terrestrial RF – Meteorburst & ELOS
Meteorburst limited bandwidth but long distance
Large antenna
Robust for critical operations
Trend – not a lot of new users because of attractive satellite based alternatives

11. Where do Satellite Comms Fit?
Remote locations where network coverage is an issue (including Northern Latitudes)
When information is critical – and other infrastructure may not be available (such as during an emergency)
Mobile Platforms such as buoys, mobile air quality trailers, storm chasers, etc.

12. Satellite – GOES/Meteosat
Use limited to participating government agencies
Transmit only; low bandwidth
Trend – use growing about 3% per year nationally

13. Satellite – Iridium How does it work?
Iridium’s constellation consists of 66 cross-linked operational satellites, plus six in-orbit spares. The satellites operate in near-circular low-Earth orbits (LEO) about 780 km (483 miles) above the Earth’s surface.
The low-flying satellites travel at approximately 17,000 miles per hour (27,359 km/hr), completing an orbit of the Earth in about 100 minutes.
Short burst one way, or two way communications

14. Why Iridium Short Burst?
Ideal for sending small amounts of data relatively infrequently – e.g. hourly met data
Limited to one-way communications, so no file transfer or control (e.g. program changes)
Significant upfront cost savings

15. Satellite - Iridium Deployable nearly anywhere
Cost – $1800 to $2200 plus $200 / yr SBD or $2000 / yr Rx/Tx hourly Wx station
Trend – more use for remote site, 2 way comms
SBD short burst data

16. Satellite - INMARSAT IP anywhere with Ethernet port on Hughes modem
Cost – $2000 plus $800 to $1100 / yr up to 5 mB/month
Trend – Stable history in commercial transportation; IP connectivity may expand use

17. Communication Comparison Chart.pdf

18. Mixed Comms Architecture
Local RF network with high band with IP node
Cell modem
Ethernet
Inmarsat satellite

19. Network Server Configurations and Capabilities
Feed network segments through a common data retrieval engine to data base or www
Feed independent communication networks into a common data base or to www

20. Example Networks

21. Networks Turkey - TEFER. VSAT - 206 sites.
Costa Rica - ICE. Radio sites.
Florida - SFWMD. Radio sites.
USA - SNOTEL. Meteroburst sites.
Iceland - National Road Auth. Cellular sites.
Argentina - AIC. Inmarsat - 80 sites.
Florida - St. Johns WMD. Radio sites.
Utah - MESONET/2002 Olympics. Radio sites.
Arizona - USDA. Combination sites.
Arkansas - USGS. Cellular - 18 sites.
Canada - Env. Canada. GOES sites.
Brazil - FUNCEME. ARGOES - 70 sites.

22. Networks (continued) Oklahoma Mesonet - 120+ sites.
West Texas Mesonet sites.
Washington State Ag Network sites.
Michigan State Ag Network Sites.
CIMIS (California) – 120+ sites.
Florida Ag Network sites.
North Dakota Network Stations.
USA – NRCS SNOTEL. Meteorburst sites.
USA – NRCS SCAN sites (Some NRCS Sites are both SNOTEL and SCAN).
New Zealand Fire Weather Network (90 + sites).
Utah Dept. of Transportation (50 + sites)
Utah - MESONET/2002 Olympics. Radio sites.
US Climate Reference Network – 110+ Stations.
Canada - Env. Canada. GOES sites.

23. Conclusions Improvements in wireless comms offer more alternatives
Trend toward more wireless data comms likely to continue
Consider critical nature of operations when choosing appropriate technology
Technically savvy personnel needed

24. Campbell Scientific, Inc.
Thank you
Campbell Scientific, Inc.