The Colorado Satellite-linked Water Resources Monitoring System
| Publication year | 1985 |
| Pages | 1637 |
1985, September, Pg. 1637. The Colorado Satellite-Linked Water Resources Monitoring System
The Colorado Satellite-Linked Water Resources Monitoring System ("System") provides real-time water resources data on a continuous basis from key gaging stations across the state of Colorado. The computerized System can be accessed by computer terminal from any location via phone communications. These data and appropriate applications software provide for more effective water rights administration, computerized hydrologic records development, water resources management and flood warning.
The System was given to the State Engineer by the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority. After a two-year demonstration project in the Arkansas River and Rio Grande basins, the Authority's Board was convinced that the System was an important tool in water resource management. Since the enhancement of water resource management is one of its goals, the Authority, in October 1983, elected to fund the installation of the system and its first year of operation (1985) at a cost of $1.8 million.
The system comprises seven basic components: (1) gaging stations now in place; (2) remote data collection hardware; (3) transmission receive hardware; (4) central computer; (5) applications software; (6) computer terminals for field staff; and a (7) satellite communications link.
The remote data collection hardware is generally installed at existing stream and reservoir gaging stations. The hardware interfaces with on-site sensors. The sensor may be either a float operating in a stilling well hydraulically connected to the stream or reservoir, or a manometer or other type of pressure transducer with an orifice positioned in the water. Conventionally, the data are recorded on either strip charts (stage against time)(fn1) or by punching coded stage data onto a machine-readable tape. These charts or tapes typically are retrieved at from two-to-four-week intervals.
The remote site data collection hardware installed in these gaging stations includes a Data Collection Platform ("DCP"), an incremental analog-to-digital shaft encoder, an environmentally secure enclosure, an antenna, a twelve-volt battery, a solar panel and complimentary cables.(fn2) The DCP comprises a sensor interface module, a microprocessor and a UHF transmitter. The sensor interface module is capable of handling up to sixteen sensors. The microprocessor has firmware that provides for programmable input of data measurement and transmission scheduling, data manipulation and data storage.(fn3)
The transmission-receive hardware basically consists of a five-meter parabolic dish, downconverter, receiver, amplifier, multiplexor and eight frequency agile programmable demodulators. The Colorado Division of Water Resources ("Division") Denver office houses the...
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