Using telemetry equipment to remotely monitor water tanks on large scale conversation projects
MEASUREMENT & MONITORING WATER MONITORING
OMNIFLEX
Using telemetry equipment to remotely monitor water tanks on large scale conversation projects
To rescue , rehabilitate and protect rhino populations , highly specialised conservation programs have been set up in some of the biggest national parks in Southern Africa . In fact , over 44 per cent of protected land in South Africa is dedicated to nature reserves , which all need to manage the continuous supply of clean , filtered water and process waste water to run efficiently . Here , Ian Loudon , international sales and marketing manager at remote monitoring specialist Omniflex , explores how South African rhino sanctuaries are using wireless tank monitoring to keep conservation programs running .
According to Save The Rhino , there are just 6,195 black rhinos and 15,942 white rhinos left in the world , the largest populations being in South Africa . Worryingly , ongoing poaching of rhinos means that both species face extinction if they are not adequately protected .
Because protection sites will span over tens of thousands of hectares , installing water tank monitoring systems for a conservation site isn ’ t easy . Water tanks and reservoirs are often located in difficult-to-access , unsafe areas and installing control cables over large areas is expensive . Therefore , facilities managers are turning to wireless systems to monitor and manage the potable ( consumable ) and grey ( waste ) water levels for the camps , facilities and feeding stations for convalescent rhinos .
CHOOSING A WIRELESS SYSTEM
When choosing a system for water monitoring facilities managers have several options , including license free band radio telemetry . This system uses restricted radio band frequencies , controllers and separate radio remote terminal units ( RTUs ) with data interfaces to monitor and control a site ’ s water tanks . The license free band allows as many devices as necessary to be connected without regulatory approval . The band used is free from other radio traffic that can interfere and disrupt communications for managing water reticulation .
With impractical cable distances and expensive instrumentation costs , managers on conservation sites have no feasible way of monitoring water conditions in their tanks using traditional solutions .
By exploring wireless products that blend radio and controllers into a single package , it is possible to monitor and control water tank levels remotely over a conservation site . Products like these use licence free band frequencies to avoid unnecessary engineering and costly administration .
A reliable solution is a system comprising of multiple RTUs wirelessly interfaced into a big screen television at a central administration point , which , due to security levels required for anti-poaching , is manned 24 / 7 . This screen provides an overview of all water tanks located in the facility , many of which are located several kilometres away . Each RTU is configured to detect high and low water tank levels in real-time and will trigger an on-screen alarm when abnormalities are detected .
Due to the remote location of the potable water reservoir , it is impractical to connect the RTUs in these tanks to the mains power . Therefore , each terminal has a built-in solar panel and requires no additional power connections . Because the RTUs monitoring grey water are located closer to the manned station , they can be hardwired using a single cable to the mains power . However , to be off-grid and independent , the entire facility is powered by a solar system and backup generator for emergencies . This ensures that the remote monitoring of water levels is independent , despite nationwide grid outages .
The system ensures conservation sites can monitor the conditions of their water tanks over distances of up to 15 kilometres . The RTUs are also robust , housed in weatherproof casing with power supply charger units and backup batteries . What ’ s more , the low power consumption of the system makes it suitable for solar powered out-stations at remote reservoirs .
Conservation programmes are crucial to maintaining breeding populations and protecting endangered species from poachers . Therefore , every process from the installation of security fences to the monitoring of water levels must be carefully and efficiently controlled . When facility assets are spread over a large area , wireless remote monitoring technology makes control and management more simple , efficient and costeffective .
For further information , please visit www . omniflex . com / tank . php .
106 PECM Issue 64