General Note on RTDAS 

Real Time Data Acquisition System works in following three steps

Data Collection Platform (DCP): 

This is the platform where the sensors are mounted. The DCP supplies power to various sensors, charges the battery using solar panels, stores the data in the data logger and provides protection to equipment from dust, water and theft. Most stations in a real-time network are required to run on battery power packs with solar charging since there might not be any power connections. 

Telemetry Device:

This device receives data from the DCP (data logger) and transmits them to data centres via an appropriate telemetry method. The telemetry proposed under the project is based on technologies such as the Global System for Mobile (GSM)/ General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Indian National Satellite System (INSAT) and Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT).

Database Management System:

This system is installed at the data centres and receives the data from the telemetry device. The data are then checked for quality and consistency, stored in a structured format, and made available to stakeholders by different means. This section shares information about national database management software, E-SWIS/WIMS, which is already available for all Central Water Commission (CWC) agencies. 

Highlights on RTDAS

• Real Time Hydro-Met data acquisition network is implemented under this Hydrology Project (SW) Maharashtra, provides key data required for forecasting Inflows into the Basin and other related activities. 
• A Real Time Data Acquisition System (RTDAS) consists of a Telemetry Network of Automated Rainfall Stations, automated weather station and water levels stations along rivers/reservoirs which will be installed to provide inputs to the RTDAS. 
• The concept of implementation on which the present technical specifications and special conditions are based intends to combine the advantages of modern Data Loggers, data storage, processing and data communication technologies with the requirements of high availability and sustainability required by such an important project. 
• The real-time data acquisition system networks have the greatest possible reliability, thus minimizing the maintenance to the extent possible. 

Benefits of RTDAS

• Cost effectiveness
• High frequency of data
• Deployment in hostile locations
• Faster access to data
• Consistency and objectiveness in measurement 
• The ability to perform automatic quality monitoring

RTDAS Equipments 

1. Automated Rainfall Stations (ARS)
2. Automated Full Climate Stations (AWS)
3. Automated River water Level and River Discharge Stations (ARWL and RDS)
4. Automated Reservoir  water Level and outflow Discharge Stations                    (ARWL and ODS)

Measurement frequency

 

Station Type	Parameters & Unit of Measurement	Sampling Interval
ARS	Rainfall (mm)	Every 15 Min. (for GSM Telemetry) Every 60 Min. (for      V-Sat Telemetry)
AWS	Minimum Temperature (°C)	Every 60 Min. (for      both types of Telemetry)
	Maximum Temperature (°C)
	Minimum Humidity (%)
	Minimum Wind Speed (m/s)
	Maximum Wind Speed (m/s)
	Minimum Atmospheric Pressure (hpa)
	Maximum Atmospheric Pressure (hpa)
	Max Solar Radiation (w/m²)
ARWL & ODS	Reservoir Level (mtr.)	Every 60 Min. (for      both types of Telemetry)
	Gross Contents (McuM)
	% Contents (%)
	Live Contents (McuM)
	Discharge Rate (Cumecs)
ARWL & RDS	River Level (Mtr.)	Every 15 Min. (for GSM Telemetry) Every 60 Min. (for      V-Sat Telemetry)
	Stage Discharge (Cumecs)

ARS : Automatic Rain Fall Station

AFCS : Automatic Full Climate Stations

ARWL & ODS : Automatic Reservoir Water Level & Outflow Discharge Station

ARWL & RDS : Automatic River Water Level R & River Discharge Station