Application Notes
Application Background Printer Friendly Version
Port administration staff need easy access to local wind and tidal information via the web, as they rely on accurate local tide, current and weather information, to manage its shipping and general port operations safely and efficiently.
Many environmental monitoring operations are good at recording data but aren’t always good at making it easily available. The Neon data-to-web service provides a simple, low-risk option to get the data to the people who need it very quickly. Adding a Neon data to web system enables existing monitoring operations to step up to internet level, making it easy to access directly usable information via the web, with automated reporting and alarming.
The data can also be viewed while you are mobile, with a smartphone or tablet. This enables pilots and other operators to access wind and tidal information in near real time while working on or around the harbor.
Ships can get advanced warning of any extreme conditions before entering the harbor.
Application Detail
A Neon Remote Terminal or Module can be installed at existing weather and tidal monitoring stations. They work with the existing wind speed, wind direction, sea level, water speed and direction instruments.
For example, one station may be located on a tower out in the harbor, to monitor the conditions near the harbor entrance. Another may be located on a wharf.
For simpler measurements one or more Unidata 6526H Starflow Acoustic Doppler instruments could be installed to measure the speed of the currents. The inbuilt depth sensor could also report he rise and fall of sea level.
For wide channels perhaps located at the harbor entrance an underwater Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) which looks across the shipping channel and measures the speed and direction of water currents as the tides ebb and flow could be installed. This instrument could also measure the rise and fall of sea level.
An ADCP continuously takes fast, accurate measurements of sea level, and water movement in three dimensions, in near real time. These indicate the actual tidal forces acting on a ship and enable crew to ensure that the keel will always have sufficient clearance.
To measure cross-channel water currents, the ADCP transmits beams of sound pulses and calculates current velocities from the received ‘echoes’ reflected from suspended particles.
With a Neon Remote Terminal system out in the harbor, and another Neon Remote Terminal system at the wharf wind and tidal data can be recorded and pushed on a regular interval, perhaps every 5 minutes up to a Neon server for storage and access.
The communications link could be cell phone based or satellite based depending on the cell phone coverage in the area. Also, for critical operations such as this, it is wise to have two different communications paths. Adding a mix of cell phone and satellite telemetry systems spreads the risk of failure.
Authorized personnel with Internet browser can access at this information on the Neon server, in real time, or examine older data, perhaps looking for trends. When set up, alarm messages are automatically sent to notify staff if wind or tide should exceed acceptable programmable limits. Customized reports have been set up and are automatically sent to selected people.
On the Neon server you can easily set up a schedule to automatically send reports to specific parties. All or any of the information can be automatically delivered at any time and frequency, in a variety of formats, such as email.
Options for Application Specific Instruments / Inputs | Unidata Part Number | Description |
---|---|---|
Ultrasonic Doppler Instrument - Velocity and Depth | 6526H-21 | Ultrasonic Doppler Instrument 0-2m |
Ultrasonic Doppler Instrument - Velocity and Depth | 6526H-51 | Ultrasonic Doppler Instrument 0-5m |
Water Level Instrument | 6541C-11 | WLI with 500mm Pulley and Alkaline Battery Metric Version (Imperial version available) |
Float | 6541F-115 | WLI Float - Cylinder 115mm Dia. (Other options available) |
Float Line | 6541D-M | WLI Beaded Float Line Metric (Imperial version available) |
Options for Neon Telemetry - NRT / RTU / Field Units | Unidata Part Number | Description |
---|---|---|
Cellular RTU 3G | 2013F-AB03 | Neon Metering Module 3G with Antenna and Li Battery |
Cellular RTU 4G | 2013F-AB04 | Neon Metering Module 4G with Antenna and Li Battery |
Cellular RTU 3G - Industrial | 2016F-AB03 | Neon Remote Terminal 3G with Antenna and Li Battery |
Cellular RTU 4G - Industrial | 2016F-AB04 | Neon Remote Terminal 4G with Antenna and Li Battery |
Low Earth Orbit Satellite Globalstar | 2015E-AB0 | Neon Remote Terminal - Satellite Globalstar Modem with Antenna and three Li Batteries |
Ethernet | 2017E-0B0-1 or 3 | NRT Ethernet with single or triple Ethernet Ports with three Li Batteries |
Equatorial Orbit Satellite - Inmarsat | 2018E-AB0-1 or 3 | NRT Ethernet with single or triple Ethernet Ports with three Li Batteries |
LCD Display | 2500E | NRT LCD Display |
NRT Field Termination Strip | 2103F | 2015E,2016F,2017E, and 2018E NRT FTS |
NRT Firmware Option | 2303A-8M | 8M Extended Memory Option |
NRT Firmware Option | 2303A-8M-CAM | 8M Extended Memory & Serial Camera Option |
NRT Firmware Option | 2303A-CAM | Serial Camera Option |
Options for Neon Application Software - Customer Server | Unidata Part Number | Description |
---|---|---|
Neon Application Software | 2302A | Neon Server Software Licence Incl 5 NAL |
Neon Application Software | 2302A-10 | Additional 10 NRT Access Licences |
Neon Application Software | 2302A-20 | Additional 20 NRT Access Licences |
Neon Application Software | 2302A-50 | Additional 50 NRT Access Licences |
Options for Neon Application Software - Unidata Server | Unidata Part Number | Description |
---|---|---|
Neon Application Software | 2301A | Neon Data Initial Subscription Setup Fee |
Neon Hosting Service | 2301A-01 | Neon Data Service Fee for 1-50 NRTs |
Neon Hosting Service | 2301A-02 | Neon Data Service Fee for 51-100 NRTs |
Neon Hosting Service | 2301A-10 | Neon Data Service Fee Metering |
Options for Conventional Dataloggers / Field Units | Unidata Part Number | Description |
---|---|---|
Standards Starlogger | 6004D-11 | Red Logger 512K with Alkaline Battery |
Display Starlogger | 6004D-21 | Blue Logger 512K with LCD and Alkaline Battery |
Prologger | 7001D-11 | Green Logger 1M with LCD and Alkaline Battery |
Micrologger | 8010C-EUR | Micrologger 512K |
Starlogger Field Termination Strip | 6103E | 6004D FTS |
Prologger Field Termination Strip | 7100E | 7001D FTS |
Starlog V4 Management Software | 6308A-AUE | Starlog V4 Full Licence Key |