Step
One: RTU Polling |
| Sensors are contantly updating the memory
registers in the RTUs (radio telemetry units) with real
time measurements, such as water level upstream and downstream,
at a given location. Once every 30 minutes the registers
in the RTUs are "polled" by a special software
called Base Station by means of radio telemetry. EBID
maintains hundreds of RTUs to monitor its irrigation system. |
|
Step
Two: Data Storage |
| The data from the polling cycle is stored on the hard
drive of the polling server as it is obtained, but it
is not yet databased. A second program called Archiver
"harvests" the raw data from the polling server
hard drive and places it in MS SQL Server tables in columns
and rows, much like a huge spreadsheet, one table for
each of EBIDs remote sites. |
|
Step
Three:
Performing the Calculations |
| The Archiver program performs the many
scientific calculations which are necessary to "translate"
the raw information from the RTUs sensors into information
such as Flow, or Battery or Solar Panel Power Levels.
Over 1.2 million calculations are performed by the Archive
program each and every day. |
|
Step
Four: Data is Published to Web Site |
| The transfer process described in Step
Three usually occurs within 30 minutes of the time an
RTU is initially polled, so the web user will usually
see new flow measurements within half an hour of being
polled. The web user can easily ascertain the state of
the data: raw; corrected; and/or reviewed. |
|
Step
Five: Human Review and Correction |
| Finally, using a comprehensive suite of
correction tools software developed by RCM Enterprises,
LLC, human reviewers will examine data for every RTU site
and make any necessary corrections, such as a correction
for a sand shift in the river. All corrections have an
audit trail showing who made the correction, when the
correction was made, and why. |
|
|
Latest Poll Information |
| On the Interactive Data pages of the website
you will see information labeled "Latest Polls".
These readings are taken directly from the latest records
in the SQL Server database and are therefore the most
recent readings available. The "Last 24 Hours"
portion of the River Watch page also utilizes this technique.
Bear in mind this data has been neither reviewed nor certified.
|
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