Remote water level logging - a first in SA

October 2003 Data Acquisition & Telemetry Healthcare (Industry)

The D.W.A.F. existing grid system includes level transmitters and loggers, and field recorders, most of which require field technicians to visit the often far and remote sites to extract data and bring it back to the regional offices for processing. Almost all of these sites are in areas where there is no access to AC power. Laptops are predominantly used, and they are not too well suited for use in sunlight, they consume power fast and take time to start up, connect up, download data, and shut down. This data is referred to as Historic Data, as station data for the previous two weeks or so is extracted at each visit.

Standard standalone PC type modems are installed at several sites to transfer data when requested, and, where GSM communications are bad, satellite systems are used. Both are power hungry systems, and sites have been suffering from a continuous spate of break-ins and removal of batteries, solar panels etc. The satellite systems are also highly expensive to maintain.

Durban-based East Coast Instrumentation Sales - after two years of marketing a Swiss range of level equipment to the lower provinces - saw the problems being incurred by the D.W.A.F. in getting continuous data. With knowledge of its success in producing an effective GSM and Bluetooth-based roadside SOS breakdown system, Electrowave was approached for the design, development and production of a suitable system. The result was a successful prototype and a contract being awarded to East Coast Instrumentation Sales for the 'low powered' GSM communication system.

The logger in the field requires an operator to connect to it via an interface cable and laptop to extract its history files. This means hours of travelling to and from sites, petrol and accommodation expenses, high vehicle mileage etc. The new 'low powered' field modem is set up to communicate exclusively with the Office Control Centre, is programmed to extract data daily or part daily from the level logger it is connected to, and send this data.

The Office Control Centre, a dedicated PC and modem, receives data from the field stations and drops the data into each station's files. Data requests can be sent out into the field units requesting lost data, or to change report-back times. The system has enabled the D.W.A.F. to receive data on a daily basis from a large number of field stations, and thus allowing operators to manage their time in their regions more effectively. An upgrade of the office centre software has allowed for the data to be uplifted to the Water Affairs' website for viewing by consultants, universities, the public etc.

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