Real-time Data Collectionin Flood Warning Systems

Flood Warning System BenefitsFlood Warning System Benefits

• Flood warning systems help reduce flood Flood warning systems help reduce flood damages through early detection of potential damages through early detection of potential flooding and the issuance of flood warnings.flooding and the issuance of flood warnings.

• Upon receipt of flood warnings, those Upon receipt of flood warnings, those individuals affected initiate response activities individuals affected initiate response activities designed to protect life and property.designed to protect life and property.

• As the time to flood detection and warning As the time to flood detection and warning decreases, the time available for response decreases, the time available for response increases.increases.

• This is a key objective of the flood warning This is a key objective of the flood warning system.system.

Flood Warning System ComponentsFlood Warning System Components

• Real-time data collection of rainfall, water level, Real-time data collection of rainfall, water level, and weather information.and weather information.

• Critical level detection and alarm.Critical level detection and alarm.

• Automated data dissemination.Automated data dissemination.

• Flood forecasting using watershed and channel Flood forecasting using watershed and channel models. models.

• Inundation mapping using GIS.Inundation mapping using GIS.

Web PageServer

Internet

Database

Data CollectionBase Station

ForecastWorkstation

Database

Database

RadioReceiver

Flood Warning System Network Diagram

PagerWarning

Printer

Telephone Jack

RemoteStation

RemoteStation

Real-time Data CollectionReal-time Data Collection

• Remote stations measure rainfall, water level, Remote stations measure rainfall, water level, weather, and snow parameters.weather, and snow parameters.

• Remote data is transmitted to a base station Remote data is transmitted to a base station computer.computer.

• Base station software records data, checks for Base station software records data, checks for validity, tests for alarm criteria, and sends data to validity, tests for alarm criteria, and sends data to other hosts for analysis.other hosts for analysis.

Rainfall StationRainfall Station

• Tipping bucket Tipping bucket rainfall sensorrainfall sensor

• Electronics Electronics package counts package counts gauge tipsgauge tips

• Radio transmits Radio transmits data to base data to base stationstation

• Rainfall station near Petaluma, CARainfall station near Petaluma, CA

• Rainfall station at Rainfall station at the Panama Canalthe Panama Canal

Water Level StationWater Level Station

• Shaft encoder Shaft encoder connected to float connected to float measures changes in measures changes in water level.water level.

• Pressure transducer Pressure transducer measures water measures water pressure to determine pressure to determine water level.water level.

• Electronics package Electronics package counts samples level counts samples level sensor data and sensor data and smoothes readings.smoothes readings.

• Radio transmits data Radio transmits data to base station.to base station.

• Level station at Deer Creek, SacramentoLevel station at Deer Creek, Sacramento

• Level station at Deer Creek, SacramentoLevel station at Deer Creek, Sacramento

• Tidal station at Milford, CTTidal station at Milford, CT

Wireless Links to SensorsWireless Links to Sensors

• Levels sensors cannot always be located near the Levels sensors cannot always be located near the electronics equipment.electronics equipment.

• 900MHz radios are used as a wireless link to a 900MHz radios are used as a wireless link to a remote sensor.remote sensor.

Wireless Link DrawingWireless Link Drawing

Weather StationWeather Station

• Weather station Weather station sensors:sensors:

• Wind speed/directionWind speed/direction

• TemperatureTemperature

• Relative HumidityRelative Humidity

• Barometric PressureBarometric Pressure

• Snow water equivalentSnow water equivalent

• Snow depthSnow depth

• Weather station at Weather station at the Panama Canalthe Panama Canal

• Yavapai County Yavapai County ArizonaArizona

Snow StationSnow Station

• Add a weighing Add a weighing rain/snow sensor to a rain/snow sensor to a weather station that weather station that measures the water measures the water equivalent of snow.equivalent of snow.

• Measure snow depth Measure snow depth with an ultrasonic with an ultrasonic level sensor.level sensor.

Base StationBase Station

• Base station software receives data from remote Base station software receives data from remote stations.stations.

• Checks for data validityChecks for data validity

• Tests for alarm criteriaTests for alarm criteria

• Displays data to usersDisplays data to users

• Sends data to other hosts for analysis.Sends data to other hosts for analysis.

• Pages operators when sensor data reaches alarm Pages operators when sensor data reaches alarm levels.levels.

Public Data Viewing on Web PagesPublic Data Viewing on Web Pages

• Data is exported from the base station to web Data is exported from the base station to web page servers for viewing by dispatch operators, page servers for viewing by dispatch operators, managers, and the public.managers, and the public.

• Map displays show the gauge locations and Map displays show the gauge locations and readings.readings.

• Data display is color coded to show critical levels.Data display is color coded to show critical levels.

• Hydrologic threat scores are computed to simply Hydrologic threat scores are computed to simply operator analysis of the data.operator analysis of the data.

• Reports organize the data for time analysis.Reports organize the data for time analysis.

• Plots show data trends over time.Plots show data trends over time.

Web Page Links to Site DisplaysWeb Page Links to Site Displays

• Overlay site data on top of site photograph.Overlay site data on top of site photograph.

• Annotate data display to show critical levelsAnnotate data display to show critical levels

• Alarm detection pop-up requiring Alarm detection pop-up requiring acknowledgement.acknowledgement.

HydroLynx Systems, Inc. HydroLynx Systems, Inc. thanks you for the thanks you for the

opportunity to make this opportunity to make this presentation.presentation.