Report 44 Task 3 Data Logger Telemetry System

order to minimize the capital cost, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation’s (MWRI)
In
telemetry network was utilized to serve this pilot project. The MWRI already has a
existing
system that monitors water level data and uses VHF as the communication media. The
telemetry
is complicated in its structure. Moreover, the performance of this old system is not
system
partly due to the long path of data, VHF interference, and faulty equipment at the end of
satisfactory,
useful life.
its
pilot system uses the existing infrastructure of the telemetry network. The existing water levels,
The
conduits, batteries, solar panels, solar regulators, and civil construction were used following
cables,
maintenance. A data logger with sufficient input and output was connected to water level
minor
The solar panel and battery were used to provide continuous power to the low power
sensors.
data logger. The new equipment, data logger, and GSM modem were installed inside
consumption
same box from the existing telemetry system.
the
existing water level sensors were connected to the data logger. The data logger continuously
The
measured data from the sensors. This data could be provided to any remote location in a real
read
sense. The data logger also stored measured data according to predefined intervals with a
time
of 1 minute. The stored data could be downloaded remotely at any time by the GSM
resolution
The time resolution used in this project was an hour, which meant that data loggers stored
network.
readings from all sensors and saved the data to a file.
hourly
pilot project achieved another important planned objective related to evaluating MWRI plans to
The
the existing telemetry system. The Ministry, with support from the United States Agency
renovate
International Development (USAID), invested a lot of money in the telemetry network in early
for
USAID supplied US$56 million to implement the network throughout the country’s irrigation
1990s.
Recently the performance of the telemetry system became unsatisfactory and its support
networks.
water management was diminishing. The Ministry has been studying renovating approaches to get
to
system in service again to make use of the earlier investment. The pilot showed that the existing
the
can be renovated at a very small capital investment.
network
equipment was chosen to achieve reliable operation and accuracy, be low in power
The
and be compatible with the latest technologies in the field of communication and
consumption,
systems. System features include accuracy, simplicity, reliability, and flexibility. Accuracy
electronic
achieved as a result of precise data logger acquisition capability. The compact size of the
was
and its ease of use make the system simple. Reliability is achieved with the outstanding
equipment
and low power consumption of the data logger. The flexibility of the system operation
performance
different ways to collect data. The data stored hourly could be collected using three different
allows
methods:
Direct connection, using a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) or laptop computer
•
Using a memory module
•
Remotely, using a GSM modem.
•
could be monitored and collected from any IWMD or irrigation directorate office using a GSM
Data
network. During the past years, the system gave excellent performance and
communication
accurate measures of water levels and flows. The stored and collected data is useful not
provided
for daily system operation but also for system planning. Operation policies for irrigation
only
are being revised based on these data. The water level monitoring network ensures that
structures
needs are met. The data collected at pumping stations helped to solve conflicts between the
water
Task 3. Data Logger Based Telemetry Monitoring System
2. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
irrigation directorates and the mechanical and electrical directorates.
LIFE IWRM 2 INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES GROUP