The author has identified the following significant results. The feasibility of transmitting hydrometric data to polar orbiting spacecraft and using these data for quasi-operational purposes was demonstrated

Halliday, R. A.

Reid, I. A.

English

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

NASA Technical Reports Server

E'7. 5 1 0.2. 7 9
N SA STI ACILI
ACAr, . B.
MA 51 75
"MUdo available under NASA sponsorshp
h the interest of early and wide dis-
sWrination of Earth Reso:.rces SurveyProgram information ; ,.o i iability
for any use md, t,,::o1."
(E75-10279) RETRANSMISSION OF HYDROMETRIC N75-22890
DATA IN CANADA Progress Report, Oct. 1974 -
Mar. 1975 (Department of the Environment,
Ottawa) 8 p HC $3.25 CSCL 08H Unclas
G3/43 00279
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19750014818 2020-03-22T21:31:53+00:00Z
Proposal No. 532-G
SR No. 9629
Retransmission of Hydrometric
Data in Canada
.R.A. Halliday
Applied Hydrology Division
Department of the Environment
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1A OE7
April 1975
Type I Report for the Period October 1974 - March 1975
1. SR No. 2. Type of Report 3. Recipient's Catalog No.
9629 Tye 1
4. Title .5. Report Date
Retransmission of Hydrometric Data April 1975
6. Period Covered
Oct. 1974 -.March 1975
7. Principal Investigator . 8. No. of Pages
R.A. Halliday 5
9. Name and Address of Principal Investigatorh 10. Principal Investiga.Rept.No
Organization
Applied Hydrology Division,
Department of the Environment, 11. GSFC Technical Monitor
Ottawa, Ontario. . Frederick Gordon
Canada KIA OE7
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13, Key Words(Selected by
Principal Investigator)
As above LANDSAT
DATA RETRANSMISSION
14. Supplementary Notes
Report prepared by I.A. Reid and R.A. Halliday
15. Abstract
Nine Data Collection Platforms have been installed at Water Survey of Canada
gauging stations for transmission of water resources data. Water level,
water velocity, precipitation, air temperature, "ice-out" indicator, DCP
battery check and water stage recorder clock operation have been transmitted
from remote areas in Canada using the LANDSAT Data Collection System. The
system has met requirements. An air depolarized carbon-zinc battery was
tested with not entirely satisfactory results.
The suitability of satellite retransmission ihas been demonstrated.
19 Ball Brothers Research Corporation Convertible Data Collection Platforms
Model CDCP-100 have been shipped for installation in various locations in
Canada.
I.
Type I Progress Report for Period
October 1, 1974 to March 31, 1974
1. Accomplishments
The program continued with very few changes during the reporting
period. Accomplishments during the period are as follows.
On March 12, 1975 the Manager, Earth Resources Survey Program,
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Washington, D.C.
notified the Principal Investigator that NASA will continue to make the
LANDSAT Data Collection System capability available for the retransmission
of hydrometric data in Canada.
On March 25, 1975 Mr. E.F. Chapman checked and approved for
delivery 19 Ball Brothers Research Corporation Convertible Data Collection
Platforms Model CDCP-100. The locations of proposed and existing stations
are shown in Figure 1. A list of these stations giving latitude and longi-
tude faces Figure 1.
A start has been made on replacing the nine GE Timers on the
Memomark II water level encoder with Chelsea Tuning Fork Timers Model TF-3.
The Chelsea timers are considered to be more reliable particularly during
extreme cold weather conditions.
On November 20, 1974, platform 6126 was removed from the Duncan
River below B.B. Creek as land line telemetry was extented to this site
by the British Columbia Hydro-Electric Power Authority. Pending relocation
at another site prior to spring break-up, this platform has been temporarily
installed for check purposes at Nelson, B.C. The installation includes a
.../2
-3-
L.OCATION OF DATA COLLECTION PLATFORMS
INSTALLED LAT. LONG.
1) Nahatlatch River Below Tachewana Creek 490 57' 121o 52'
2) McGregor River at Lower Canyon 540 14' 1210 40'
3) Mackenzie River near Wrigley 630 16' 1230 36'
4) Mackenzie River at Sans Sault Rapids 650 46' 1280 45'
5) Lake Athabasca at Crackingstone Point 0 23 086) Kazan River at Outlet of Ennadai Lake 61 15' 100 58'
0 07) Albany River above Nottick Island 510 38' 860 24'
8) Winisk River at Kanachuan Rapids 52o  58 870 42'
PROPOSED - 1975
9) Mountain River below Cambrian Creek 650 14' 1280 34
10) Root River near the Mouth 620 29' 123 26
11) Ellice River near the Mouth 670 42' 1040 08'
12) Red Deer River below Burnt Timber Creek 51 39' 1150 01'
13) South Nahanni River near Hot Springs 610 15' 1240 02'
14) Bow River below Carseland Dam 500 50' 1130 25'
15) Peoly River at Pelly Crossing 620 50' 1360 35'
16) South MacMillan River at Mile 249 Canal Road 620 55' 1300 32'17) Carney Creek below Pambrun Creek 500 10 1160 35'
18) Mission Creek near Kelowna 49 54' 190 08'
19) Battle Creek at International Boundary 490 00 109 25'
20) Long Creek at Western Crossing of International Boundary 49 01 1030 04'21) Lake Winnipeg at Berens River 520 21' 97' 0'
22) Back River below Deep Rose Lake 660 05' 960 30'
23) Moose River near Moose Lake 53 38' 100 19'
24) Seal River below Great Island 58o  54' 960 17'
25) Niagara River at Fort Erie Customs Dock 420 56' 780 5526 Rideau River at Ottawa 45o 23' 75  42'
27) St. Francis River at Outlet of Glasier Lake 470 12' 680 57'
28) Churchill River at Muskrat Falls 530 15' 60o 47
WIN AL PAGE IS
OF POOR QUALITY
FIGUREI
• -. DATA COLLECTION PLATFORMS
AT WATER SURVEY OF CANADA STATIONS
09 aINSTALLED
0 PROPOSED INSTALLATION-1975
3 06 0
.0 7 3O ES - 2
7.0/ e ?
•2'. •, cO )E 
.
_ .. .16
, ."
()tLIS~o K CL t 200 300
too0 200 400 EILETRES
Memomark II encoder with the Chelsea Tuning Fork
30 mm microstrip patch Ball Brothers antenna having a near hemispherical
pattern. The antenna is fastened to a 3 mm thick aluminum support plate.
Mounting provision is a standard 50 mm (2 in) pipe flange. After about a
week's operation, the platform seems to be transmitting a normal number of
messages although some of the readings appear invalid, possibly due to line
noise in the telephone line from Washington to Ottawa.
Platform 6137, which was relocated in September, 1974 and equipped
with a battery composed of Cipel & Le Carbone Type 321J air depolarized
primary cells operated intermittently during the winter. Daily mean
temperatures at Lansdowne House, 80 km from the DCP site, ranged from -30
to -100C and it was found that usually the DCP did not transmit when daily
mean temperatures less than -200 C occurred. It should be noted that the
manufacturer warned that the cells would not be able to supply the 3.3A
peak current draw at -400 C; the main reason for using these cells is to
verify their 5 year lifetime and to determine their low temperature capability.
2. Major Problem
A problem still exists in receiving data by Telex from the Canadian
Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS), Ottawa at locations outside of Ottawa. The
problem has not been isolated, but is thought to be in the Telex interface
at CCRS. Personnel at CCRS are trying to remedy the situation.
3. Significant Results
None during this report period.
4. Significant Changes in Operating Procedures
On January 22, 1975, LANDSAT 2 was launched and now all DCS data are
retransmitted by LANDSAT 2 rather than LANDSAT 1. The name of the project
has been changed to the title used in the LANDSAT 2 proposal.
./5
-5-
5. Published Articles or Papers
Sensor Data Retransmission by Satellite by R.A. Halliday
presented at the Canadian Remote Sensing Society, Workshop on Remote
Sensing of Snow Cover, January 13-15, 1975, Ottawa, Ontario.
6. Recommendations
On the basis of results to date, it is apparent that satellite
retransmission is an excellent method of obtaining data from isolated
areas. In many parts of Canada, it is the only way to obtain data on a
real time basis. It is therefore recommended that data from remote areas
be retransmitted via satellite when data is required from remote areas.
Future Plans
To install the 19 Ball Brothers Platforms as soon as possible
upon their receipt which is expected during the second week of April.
These Platforms will be used with LANDSAT and GOES Satellites.
CCRS have completed a study of receiving LANDSAT and GOES data
at Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. They would be willing to supply the
personnel to operate the system if the users paid the capital costs of
$50,000 for LANDSAT plus an additional $25,000 for GOES. The decision
on this is pending.


Retransmission of hydrometric data in Canada

The author has identified the following significant results. The project demonstrates the feasibility of transmitting hydrometric data to polar orbiting spacecraft and using these data on a quasi-operational basis. The implementation of the Alaska receive site in December had a significant impact on the Canadian experiment as the number of transmissions now received from some northern sites has increased substantially. Data are now received on as many as 11 orbits each day

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furnished in this condition by the organizational source and is the best copy 
available. 
 
 This document may contain tone-on-tone or color graphs, charts and/or pictures, 
which have been reproduced in black and white. 
 
 This document is paginated as submitted by the original source. 
 
 Portions of this document are not fully legible due to the historical nature of some 
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3 ^^
	
^'- 	 lta tha interest of oariy and wide disc
Saminatioe of Earth Resources So my
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	nu	 (E76-10176) RETRANSMISSION OF HYDROMETRIC 	 N76-18597
DATA IN CANADA Quarterly Report, Oct.
Dec. 1975 (Department of the Environment,
	
U '	 Ottawa) 10 p HC $3.50 	 CSCL 08H	 UnclasG,3/43 00176
aj /70
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..	 SIS i 902.6 Y
t

1. S1t No. 2. Type of Rt. sport 3. Recipient's C«talcxg No.
28190 Quarterly
4. Title 5. Report Date
Retransmission of Hydrometric Data in Canada January, 1976
6. Period Covered
October - December, 1975
7. Principal Investigator 8. No. of Pages
R.A. Halliday	 3	 ;, 7_
9. Name and Address of Principal investigator .1_" 10. Principal Invests a.Rci;,. :c
Organization
Applied Hydrology Division
Department of the Environment 11. GSFC `rechnica 1 i\; oni.tor
Ottawa, Ontario,K1A OE7
Frederick Gordon
l2. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Key Words (Se lected by
Canada Centre for Remote Sensing Principal Investigator)
Department=of Energy, Mines & Resources Landsat, Data
2464 Sheffield Road Retransmission, Water
Ottawa, Ontario,	 K1A OE4 Resources Data
14. Supplementary Notes
Prepared by	 I.A.	 Reid and R.A.	 Halliday
15. Abstract
Data Collection Platforms have been installed at 17 sites in remote areas
of Canada for transmittal of water level and other water resources; data.
The near real-time data are used for water management purposes.	 The system
has met all	 requirements and the suitability of satellite retransmission
has been demonstrated.
J
i
Y
y
SI. Introduction
The Water Survey of Canada operates over 2,400 hydrometric
stations at which water level data are collected. Because of the
 isolated locations of many of these stations, it is not economically
feasible to telemeter data from the site by conventional means.
For this reason an experiment was conducted which involved transmitting
data from nine sites by means of Landsat 1. The technical suitability
of the system was demonstrated and, for this reason, it was decided
to implement a larger network. In this way, it should be possible
1
	
	
to determine the benefits and costs that would be associated with
an operational system.
II. Techniques
1
	
	 Data Collection Platforms have now been installed at 17 sites
and an additional 11 DCPs-will be installed in 1976. The sites (Figure 1,
Table 1) were selected on the basis of real-time data needs for water
management purposes. Water level data are transmitted from all sites
while additional parameters, mainly meteorological data, are transmitted
from some sites.
Water levels are sensed at Water Survey of Canada gauging
stations by a float and pulley or by servomanometers that sense the
static pressure in a nitrogen purge system. Water level is usually
recorded on a strip chart recorder. At those stations where DCPs are 	 7
installed, an analogue to digital shaft position encoder (the Stevens	 1
Memomark II) is used to encode and store 16 bits (4 BCD digits) of
water level data for transmittal by the DCP.
Precipitation data are obtained using a Fischer and Porter
weighing type precipitation gauge. The gauge can be _equipped with a
Telekit for telemetering of data. The gauge is connected to a serial
digital interface designed by the Atmospheric Environment Service,
(AES) Department of the Environment. The interface is known as a
Hydrometeorological Automatic Recording and Telemetering System (HARTS).
Air temperatures are sensed by a platinum resistance bulb
	
w	 thermometer. This data can also be processed by the HARTS interface.	 ?
The data transmitted by the DCPs-are processed by NASA then
sent to Canada in two ways. The first is by land line to the Canada
Centre for Remote Sensing in Ottawa. The data usually arrive shortly
after each orbit of the s-pacecraft. At CCRS the data are recorded
simultaneously on a teletype hard copier and on magnetic tape. A	 I
software data retrieval system sorts the user platforms, reformats
the data into engineering units and stores individual user files on
d'isk'. The user may then access his data file, usually daily, using
either a teletype or telex remote terminal
r.
	
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^,	 DATA COLLECTION PLATFORMS
<	 o	 AT WATER SURVEY OF CANADA STATIONS
OiB 0!L h 26 9	
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! INSTALLED
	
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21&22
MILES 30 0	 100 200 300
\	 _
100 0	 200 - 4 0 KILOMETRES
0- 	 -71
TABLE 1
LOCATION OF DATA COLLECTION PLATFORMS DECEMBER 75
DATE
INSTALLED HYDROMETRIC STATIONS INSTALLED DCP LAT. LONG.
1, Albany River above Nottik Island Jan 13, 73 6102 510 38' 860 24'
2) Carney Creek below Pambrun Creek Mar- 25, 75 6126 500 10 , 1160 35'
3) Winisk River at Kanuchuan Rapids Sept 27, 74 6137 520 58' 870 42'
4) Lake Athabasca at Crackingstone Point Sept 19, 72 6150 591 23 1 1080 531
5) Snow course #5A Mission Creek Oct 31, 75 6232 490 57' 1180 55'
6) Mackenzie River near Wrigley June 7, 73 6260 630 16' 1230 36'
7) Kazan River at Outlet of Ennadai Lake Sept 19,'72 6353 610 16' 1000 58'
8) McGregor River at Lower Canyon May 23, 73 6354 540 14' 1210 40'
9) Mackenzie River at Sans Sault Rapids May 31, 73 6366 650 46' 1280 45'
10) Churchill River at Muskrat Falls Aug 7, 75 6502 530 15' 600 47'
11) St.	 Francis River at Outlet of Glacier Lake Aug 13, 75 6504 470 12' 680 57'
12) Root River near the Mouth July 15, 75 6512 620 29' 1230 26'
13) Nahatlatch River below Tachewana Creek Oct 20, 75 6514 490 57' 1210 52'
14) Battle Creek at International Boundary Oct 22, 75 6541 490 00' 1090 25'
15) Liard River at Ford Liard July 17, 75 6547 600 15' 1230 29'
16) South Nahanni River above Virginia Falls July 15, 75 6572 610 38' 1250 48'
17) Bow River below Carseland Dam Oct 27, 75 6574 500 50' 1130 25'
PROPOSED	 1976
18) Pelly River at Pelly Crossing 6501 620 50' 1360 35'
19) Ellice River near the Mouth 6507 670 42' 1040 08'
.20) Moose River near Moose Lake 6511 530 38' 1000 191
21) Rideau River at Ottawa Test Site 6517 450 23' 750 42'
22) Rideau River at Ottawa Test Site 6521 450 23' 750 42'
23) South MacMillan River at Mile 249 Canal Road 6522 620 55' 1300 32'
24) Long Creek at Western Crossing of International Crossing 6524 490 00' 1030 21'
25) Lake Winnipeg at Berens River 6527 520 21' 970 00'
26) Mountain River below Cambrian Creek 6542 650 14' 1280 34'
27) Back River below Deep Rose Lake 6544 660 05' 960 30'
Seal River below Great Island 6571 580 54' 960 17'
i1	 ^
C
- 4 -	
_.
The data are also received in card and printout format
from NASA about 10 to 14 days after transmittal by the DCP. The
data are delivered to the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C.
then carried by diplomatic bag to the Department of External
Affairs in Ottawa. External Affairs then mails the data. The
cards are run in computer, programs that sort the data and perform
the conversion to engineering units. Data produced in this way
are used to 9enerate statistics on DCP performance, for quality
checks and for archival ` purposes.
III. _Accomplishments
Platform 6232 along with the HARTS serial digital inter-
face was moved from Nahatlatch River below Tachewana Creek on
October 20, 1975 and installed at the snow course No. 5A Mission
Creek Site on October 31, 1975. The HARTS unit stores accumulated
precipitation, stage and air temperature. In additi>on, John Old
of the Department of the Environment, Atmospheric Environment
Service installed a snow pillow at the site. A Ball Model, EX410
,t. differential pressure transducer having an analogue voltage output
is connected directly to the DCP	 This platform is operated in
"	 co-operation with the Government of British Columbia and provides
data used in controlling the inflow into Lake Okanagan for flood
control purposes. Data from this site would not be available on
a real-time basis without' satellite telemetry.
Platform 6514 was installed at Nahatlatch River below
Tachewana Creek on October 21, 1975 replacing 6232. The electro-
magnetic water velocity meter installed at the Nahatlatch site was
disbanded as the probe was repeatedly' knocked out of position by
debris. Incorrect readings occur when the probe is not orientated
correctly.
Platform 6541 was installed on Battle Creek at the
International Boundary, an international gauging station, on
October 22, 1975.. The site is in an isolated part of the Cypres s
Hills and access is difficult, particularly during poor weather
conditions. Mater level data transmitted by the DCP will be used
in computing the 10 day apportionment of flow between Canada and
the United States
Platform 6574 was installedon the Bow River below Carseland
Dam on October 27, 1975. This location is used mainly as a test si te.
Manv of the other DCPs have been tested at this location prior to
installation at more remote sites. Water levels and DCP battery
voltage data are transmitted. The charge on the two Union Carbide
No. 564 rechargeable alkaline batteries is maintained by a 3.5 U1
solar panel
{i	 1	 i	 i
5 -
` Table 2 is a summary of the data retransmitted for cycles
60 to 69 that occurred from July 23 to December 19, 1975. 	 During
this period slightly over 17,000 messages were processed from 26
platforms.
	 Many of the platforms show transmissions for only a
short period as they were being tested in preparation for installation
at the sites shown in Table 1.	 Platform 6527 failed after sending
!	 Y° 15 messages and Platform 6571 did not transmit. 	 These platforms
d are being sent back to the manufacturer for inspection and repair.
- IV.	 Significant Results
The project continues to demonstrate the feasibility of
transmitting hydrometric data to polar orbiting spacecraft and
using these data on a quasi-operational 	 basis.
r' The implementation of the Alaska receive site in December
had a significant impact on the Canadian experiment as the number
of transmissions now received from some northern sites has increased
substantially.	 More imNCrtant, data are now received on as many as
11 orbits_ each day.
Publ ications
Use of Satellites in Data Retransmission by R.A. 	 Halliday
for World Meteorological Organization (ldMO) Casebook on Hydrological
Network Design Practise November, 1975 - invited paper.
's
Some Operational	 Uses of Satellite: Retransmission in Canada
by R.A.	 Halliday and I.A.	 Reid for Tenth International Symposium
on Remote Sensing of Environment October 6-10, 1975, Ann Arbor,
Michigan, U.S.A. 	 -	 invited paper.	 1
VI.	 .Problems
Several	 problems such as availability of connectors were 	 j
encountered in getting the Ball Brothers DCPs into operation. 	 This
resulted in delays	 in installing several 	 DCPs.
It seems likely that DCP 6354 may have failed.	 This is
one of the original General Electric units that has operated almost
continuously for three years without failure.
VII.	 Data Quality and Delivery
Examination of a random sample of about a week of messages
revealed that it takes from a few minutes to several hours from the
time the messages are transmitted by a DCP to the time the messages
are received by dedicated phone line at the Canada Centre for Remote
Sensing,; Ottawa. 	 Except for possible emergency situations, this
time delay does not degrade the usefulness of`Eandsat. 	 The hard
copy in `'card ,form arri ves abr,^ ut 10 to 14 days after the messages
u have been transmitted.	 Again this time delay does not degrade the
TABLE 2
SUMMARY OF RETRANSMITTED DATA - JULY 23 to DECEMBER 19, 1975
Daily Mean Transmissions per cycle for cycles 60 to 69 (Landsat-l) -
(Transmissions received simultaneously at two or more
sites are counted only once.
Daily
Platform 60 61 62 63	 64 65 66 67	 68 69 Max Min* Total	 --
6102 7 7 7 8	 8 7 7 7	 8 8 11 1 1319
6126 4 4 4 3	 4 4 4 4	 4 4 7 1 701
6137 15 14 15 15	 14 13 13 13	 12 9 18 2 2343
6150 14 14 14 14	 14 .14 14 12	 12 18 26 7 2530
6232 7 6 6 6	 6 6 6 9	 8 10 15 4 1179
6260' - _ 9 11	 10 11 10 9	 9 - 14 3 1007
6353' 15 15 15 14	 13 12 8 - _	 11 19 32 5 1787
6354 7 - - _	 - 7 - -	 - - 19 6 " 79
6366 8' 7 7 8	 7 10 6 5	 _ - 10 1 923
6501 - _ - 8	 8 - - - -	 - - 12 2 32
6502 8 9 8 9	 9 - 9 8	 8 6 13 1 1326
6504 - 1 10 11	 9 10 9 9	 12 12 16 1 1356
6507 '' - - - 5	 - - _ - 9	 - - 15 2 60
6511 - - - -	 - 12 - -	 - - 14 9 23
6512
-
4 5 6	 5 5 4 4	 - - 9 1 530
6514 - - - -	 14' - 5 3	 4 5 14 1 294
6517 - - - -	 3 - - -	 - - 5 1 17
6521 - _ - _	 - - 3 2	 - - 4 2 12
6522 - - - -	 - 12 - -	 - - 13 10 23
6524 - - - _	 10 > 8 -	 - - 11 8 27
6527 - - _ -	 - -
-
3	 - - 6 1 15
6541 - - - 11.	
_
-
4
3	
4 4 16 1 262
6542 - - - -	
- - - 3	 - _ 3 3 9
6544 - _ - -	 10 - -
-	 - - 11 7 39
6547 - 2 2 2	 2 2 2 -	 - - 4 1 193
6571 - - - -	 - - - -	 - - - - -
6572" - 2 5 5	 5 5 5 4	 4 - 8 1 553
6574 - -
-	 11 - - 9	 10 14 17 1 559
17198
*	 The minimum daily number of transmissions do not necessarily reflect the true minimum as the'DCP
could be turned off for part of the day the minimum value occurred.
- 7 -
usefulness of Landsat.
Only quality 7 data are received but this is all that is
required. (About 98% of all data is quality 7.)
VIII. Recommendations
None- at this L.
1
IX. Conclusions
Results to this time have demonstratedthe suitability of
satellite retransmission as a means of obtaining near real-time data
from remote areas of Canada. Capital costs of the equipment installed
at a gauging station are reasonable and indications are that the LICPs
do not require much maintenance.
The potential impact of this technology on water resources
data gathering activities is considerable. More work with quasi
operational programs is needed to determine the benefits precisely.
k.,
k


The author has identified the following significant results. The project continues to demonstrate the feasibility of transmitting hydrometric data to polar orbiting spacecraft and using these data on a quasi-operational basis. The implementation of the receive site in Alaska in December 1975 has significant impact on the Canadian experiment as the number of transmissions received from some northern and northwestern sites has increased substantially

General Disclaimer 
One or more of the Following Statements may affect this Document 
 
 This document has been reproduced from the best copy furnished by the 
organizational source. It is being released in the interest of making available as 
much information as possible. 
 
 This document may contain data, which exceeds the sheet parameters. It was 
furnished in this condition by the organizational source and is the best copy 
available. 
 
 This document may contain tone-on-tone or color graphs, charts and/or pictures, 
which have been reproduced in black and white. 
 
 This document is paginated as submitted by the original source. 
 
 Portions of this document are not fully legible due to the historical nature of some 
of the material. However, it is the best reproduction available from the original 
submission. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Produced by the NASA Center for Aerospace Information (CASI) 
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19760017586 2020-03-22T14:11:43+00:00Z

.	 ^	 ^^
f1. SR No. 2. Type of Report 3. Recipient's Catalog No.
23190 Quarterly
4. Title S. Report Date
Retransmission of Hydrometric Data in Canada April,
	 1976
6. Period Covered
January-March, 1976
7. Principal Investigator 3. No. of Pages
R.A.	 Halliday 8
9. Name and Address of Principal Investigator 10. Principal Investiga.Rept.No
Organization
Applied Hydrology Division
11. GSFC Technical MonitorDepartment of the Environment
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A OE7 FREDERICK GORDU
12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13, Key Words (S elected by
Canada Centre for Remote Sensing Principal Investigator)
Department of Energy, Mines & Resources Landsat, Water
2464 Sheffield Road Resources Data
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A OE4 Alaska 'Receive Site
14. Supplementary Notes
Prepared by I_A._Red and R.A.
	 Halliday
15, Abstract
Data Collection Platforms have been installed at 18 sites in remote areas
of Canada for transmittal of water level and other water resource data.
The implementation of the Alaska Receive Site in .December,	 1975 has
increased the value of the system substantially. The near real-time-data
are used for water management purposes.	 The system has met all	 requirements
and the suitability of satellite retransmission has been demonstrated.
I.	 Introduction
The Water Survey of Canada operates over 2,400 hydrometric
stations at which water level data are collected.
	 Because of the
isolated locations of many of these stations, it usually is not
economically feasible to telemeter data from the sites by con-
ventional means.	 For this reason an experiment was conducted
which involved transmitting data from nine sites by means of
Landsat 1.	 The technical suitability of the system was demonstrated
and in response to a demand for near real-time data from additional
sites, it was decided to implement a larger network.
	 In this way,
it should be possible to determine the benefits and costs associated
with a larger operational system,
II.	 Techniques
Data Collection Platforms have now been installed at 18
sites including Principal	 Investigator A.C.D. Terroux, Platform 6210 1
at the Quebec Department of Natural Resources gauging station on the
Rivi6re Dumoine a la sortie du lac Dumoine, a tributary to the Ottawa
River.	 An additional
	 11	 DCPs will be installed in 1976.	 The sites
(Figure 1, Table 1) were selected on the basis of real time data
needs for water management purposes.
	 Water level data are transmitted`
from all sites while additional
	 parameters"mai"nly meteorological
data, are transmitted from some sites.
Water levels are sensed at Water Survey of Canada gauging
stations by a float and pulley or by servomanometer that sense the
t static pressure in a nitrogen purge system. 	 Water level	 is usually
recorded on a strip chart recorder. 	 At those stations where DCPs
are installed, an analogue to digital shaft position encoder (the
Stevens Memomark II) is used to encode and store 16 bits (4 BCD
# digits) of water level data for transmittal by the DCP.
Precipitation data are obtained using a Fisher and Porter
weighing type precipitation gauge.
	 The gauge can be equipped  with
a Telekit for telemetering of data.
	 The gauge is conncted to a
serial
	
Atmospheric
  Env ronment
 Service,
(AES)DepartmentnofrtheeEnviroDepartmentEnvironment.	 Theinterfaceisknown as
R
 Automatic Recording and Telemetering System
(HARTS).	 Air temperature in the HARTS system is sensed by a'
platinum resistance bulb thermometer. 	 A precision thermistor
(YSI 44033) is also used in some other cases. ;-
The data transmitted by DCPs are processed by NASA, then
sent to Canada in two ways.	 The first is by land line to the
f Canada Centre for Remote Sensing in Ottawa.
	 The data usually
arrives shortly after each orbit of the spacecraft.
	 At CCRS the
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data are recorded simultaneously on a teletype hard copier and on
magnetic tape. A software data retrieval system sorts the user
platforms, reformats the data into engineering units and stores
individual user files on disk. The user may then access his data
file, usually daily, using either a teletype or telex remote
terminal.
The second way that data are received from NASA is by
punched card and uncalibrated computer listings about two weeks
after transmittal by the DCP. These data are delivered to the
Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C., then carried by diplomatic
bag to the Department of External Affairs in Ottawa. External
Affairs then mails the data to the user. The cards are run in
computer programs that sort the data and perform the conversion
to engineering units. Data produced in this way are used to
generate statistics on DCP performance, for quality checks and
for archival purposes.
III. Accomplishments
Platform 6210 was installed at the Quebec Department of
Natural Resources gauging station on the Riviere Dumoine a la sortie
du lac Dumoine on March 25, 1976. Water level and temperatures
using a YSI thermistor are being sensed. These readings will be
used in a Streamflow Synthesis and Reservoir Regulation Model
(SSARR) of the Ottawa River. This model will be used for water
level forecasting and river management particularly during periods
of high flows.
Platform 6501 was installed on the McGregor River at
Lower Canyon replacing PID 6354 which failed to operate. The
cause of failure at this time is not known. The McGregor River
is a tributary in the headwaters of the Fraser River. Data from
this site is used to prepare Fraser River flood forecasts.
Tabl e 2 is a summary of the data retransmitted for
Landsat 2 cycles 19 to 23 covering a period from January 4 to
April 2, 1976. During this period about 10,000 messages were
processed. The relatively few number of transmissions for cycles
19, 20 and 21 for platforms 6137, 6502, and 6504 are believed to
be a function of the cold weather on the efficiency of the power
supply. Platform 6137 is powered by Cipel and Le Carbone Type 321
J air-depolarized primary cells. During the winter of 1974-75
the number of transmissions dropped with lower temperatures and
ceased at -20 oC. During the winter of 1975-76 the same pattern
occurred except that the platform ceased transmitting at slightly
lower temperatures, probably due to the addition of 3, 1.5 V primary
cells to the power supply. It should be noted that the manufacturer
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warned that the cel^s would not be able to supply the 3.3 A peak
current draw at -40 C. Platforms 65'2 and 6504 have a standard
12 volt power supply.
During December., 1975 a receive site was made operative
at Fairbanks, Alaska. In ordEr to assess the signifance of the
additional station, the number of transmissions received at each
receive station for cycle 19 ( January 4 to January 21, 1976) was
tabulated. Table 3 summarizes the results of the number of messages
received for cycle 19. The table cle -ly indicates the significance
of the Fairbanks, Alaska receive site. The column showing the
discrete readin g counts messages received simultaneously at two
receive sites once. A similar table will be prepared during a
cycle this summer. At that time more platforms should be in
operation to give a better indication of the value of the Alaska
receive site.
IV. Significant Results
The project continues to demonstrate the feasibility of
transmitting hydrometric data to polar orbiting spacecraft and
using these data on a quasi-operational basis.
The implementation of the receive site in Alaska in
December, 1975 has a significant impact on the Canadian experiment
as the number of transmissions received from some northern and
northwestern sites has increased substantially.
V	 Publications
None during this report period.
VI. Problems
No serious problems during this report period.
r
VII. Data Quality and Delivery
Examination of a random sample of about a week of messages
revealed that it takes from a few minutes to several hours from the
time the messages are transmitted by _a DCP ` to the time the messages
are received by dedicated phone line at the Canada Centre for Remote
Sensing, Ottawa. Except for possible emergency situations, this
time delay does not degrade the usefulness of Landsat. The hard
copy in card form arrives 10 to 14 days after the messages have
been transmitted. Again this time delay does not degrade the
usefulness of Landsat.
.	 ,
4
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iVIII. Recommendations
None at this time.
IX. Conclusions
Results to this time have demonstrated the suitability
of satellite retransmissions as a means of obtaining near real-
time data from remote areas in Canada. Capital costs of the
equgment installed at a gauging station are reasonable ana the
indications are that the DCPs do not require much maintenance.
The potential impact of this technology on water
resources data gathering activities is considerable. More work
with quasi-operational programs is needed to determine the precise
benefits.
1
I
Y


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https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19760009425 2020-03-22T18:13:02+00:00Z
1 - . 
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for SAY
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(?76-1C,9()	 FETFANSMISSIO`i CF HYGFCMETBIC	 N76-16513
DATA IN CANAEA ProgrEss Peport, 1 Apr. - sC
`-	
Sep. 1975 (Department of the Environment,
C'ttara)	 12 p HC 13.5	 CSCL 14B	 UnclasG3/43 G^' 9V
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4	 -	 "
Retransmission of Hydrometric
Data in Canada
R.A. Halliday
Applied Hydrology Livision
Department of the Environment
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K1A OE7
October 1975
Type I Report for the period April - September, 1975
:i
"Mad • . lVal1ab'- IfIh RA~ .,n~rship 
In t ~e Iflterrs' "f ~ uty tnd . hi , til . 
IIminatro.n of [:"ttl ~.utes Survey 
Program Inform tion lid without lid_lilly 
tor any use mc.d. the".· 
R'tran mi sion of Hydrometric 
Da a in Canada 
R •• \Iallida 
pplied Hydrology Li vision 
Department 0 he Environment 
Otta\a, Ontario, Canada 
Kl OE 
October 19 5 
SR 2 1 
Typ I R por for the p ri od pril - September, 1975 
1. SR No. 2. Type of Report 3. Recipient's Gatalcx, No.
R 1 -11, 0
4. Title S. Report Date
- October 1975
Retransmssion  of Hydrometric Data in Canada
6. Period Covered
April I - September 30, 1975
7. Principal Investigator 8. No. of Pages
R.A. Halliday 9
9. Name and Address of Principal Investigator b 10. Principal Investiga.Rept.No
Orgar ization
Applied Hydrology Division
ll.GSFC Technical MonitorDepartment of the Environment
Ottawa, Ontario	 KIA OE7 Frederick Gordon
12. Sponsoring Agency Nanie and Address 13. Key Word s (S e lec te d by
Principal Investigator)
As above
.Landsat, GOES.
Data Retransmission
14. Supplementary Notes
Report prepared by I.A. Reid and R.A. Halliday
15. Abstract
Thirteen	 Data Collection Platforms, nine GE and four Ball Brothers Research
Corporation (BBRC) Conve-ftible Data Collection Platforms model CDCP-100 (CDCP),are
transmitting hydrometric and meteorological data from remote hydrometric stations
within Canada's mainland to Landsat 2.
The system has met rt.-quirenents and the suitability of retransmission by satel-
lite has been demonstrated.	 Several	 CDCPs have been checked out at a site on
the Bow River below Carseland Dan near Ca l ;ary, Alberta.	 Experiments using one
BBRC CDCP are being made in the GOES node.	 So far these experinerts have been
unsuccessful.
I
T ^
- I
^
-_
1
^	 E
TYPE I PROGRES- REPORT FOR PERIOD
APRIL 1 TO SEPTEMBER 30, 1975
1.	 Accomplishments
The program continued with accomplishments during the reporting
period as follows:
Four Ball Brothers Research Corporation (BBRC) Convertible Data
Collection Platforms Model CDCP-100 wer-- installed in the Landsat mode. One
BBRC CDCP-100 was converted to the GOES mode for transmission to SMS-1
located over the equator at 750
 west longitude. Unfortunately the National
Environmental Satellite Service (NESS) did not receive transmissions. Checks
are now being made to find out the cause of the trouble so that remedial
measures can be taken.
Below are listed the DCPs installed during the report period. All
units are transmitting water level data.
Date
DCP Installed Station Lat. Long.
1975
'0126 M^rch 25 Carney Creel: below Pambrun Creek 500 10' 1160 35'
6502 Aug 7 Churchill River at Muskrat Falls 530 15' 600 471
6404 Aug 13 St. Francis River at Outlet of 470 12' 680 57'
Glasier Lake
6512 July 15 Root River near the mouth 620 29' 1230 261
6572 July 15 South Nahanni River above Virginia 610 38' 1250 48'
F :lls
...12
Streamflow Synthesis and Reservoir Regulation (SSARR) forecasting model for
the lower Saint John River.
Platforms 6512 and 6517 are on the Root and South Nahanni River
tributaries to tic Mackenzie River. The data from these stations along with
data transmitted by DCPs from the Mackenzie River itself are used in preparing	 F
daily water level forecasts of the Mackenzie Rivc r during the short navigation
}eason.
.../3	 ,.
.../4
^s
^.	 a
-
3 ..
Many of the Ball DCPs have been tested and readied for installation
at a site on the Bow River below Carseland Dam near Calgary, Alberta. (Fig. 1)
Figure 1 - Bow River Test Site
The antenna on the left is for Landsat; on the right GOES. In
the center is a 3.5 W Solarex Corporation Model 435 Solar panel that is
being tested as a battery charger The unit has a cut-off voltage of
14.7 V and is installed 3.m atave ground level facing due south at an
elevation angle of 4S uegrees. The maximum daily output has been in the
order of 4500 C with 1500 C being produced in intermittent overcast
conditions.
i	 I	 1	 I	 _T _I
	 7	 ___
A BBRC add-on memory module has been connected to ICP 6210 which
belongs to another Principal Investigator. Every
 1 -0 minutes a water level
reading is entered into a shift register consisting of twelve, 60 bit
	
}
memory sets. The memory sets are transmitted sequentially every 90 seconds.
The number of messages receiv-d is sufficient to reconstruct the water level
	 E
hydrograph on the basis of one reading every 15 minutes.
A new data format has been implemented sine receiving the BBRC
platforms. To meet the requirements of NESS for the SMS-GOES system an
American Standard Code for ?nformation Interchange (ASCII) compatible format
will be used for all parallel digital words. This will save changing inter-
face cables in the field if platforms are converted from Landsat to GOES
operation. The format requires that the most significant digit be on the
,_ft, but that wi*_hin each digit, the most significant bit be on the right.
All the BBRC anti GE platforms ,xcept 6102 and 6232 will transmit in the new
format. DCPs 6102 and 6232 are used in the serial digital mode as they are
transmitting water level and meteorological data stored in an interface unit
supplied by the Aviiosphevic Etivironrient Service, Department of the Environment.
An example of the .,omputcr printout prepared from the data collec-
tion system card output is shown as Figure 2. Water level data are in the
ASCII compatible format.
^	^	!	
I	
1	^	j	!	f	, !
NN WkO(A^Vtn!(A NYANNIA0V) NIA LA N0CA#AW0 ANNN1 IIA(A0 i	1 A mm m^mNlm f!^NlmPlmi+tm mmm mmmmmmmmm mmm	-^
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2, htalor Problems
'rile suppl y of mating connectors for the BBRC platforms has
been a problem. Initially, the mating conne-`ors listed in the BBRC
manual were incorrect: This took some time to so:t out. Then the
del ; %-err of the connectors fr ­ *n 1 1 -:ited States manufucturers was slog;
as these connectors were not a shelf item. The problen, could have been
avoided if supply of mating connectors was called for in the CDCP-100
specifications.
3. Significant Results
The project continues to demonstrate the feasibility of
transmitting hydrometric data to polar orbiting sp acecraft and using;
these data for quasi-operational purpos,,s.
4. Significant Changes in Operating Procedure:
The adoption of the ASCII compatible format mentioned above.
S. Published Articles or Papers
A news release entitled "Satellite Data System Expanded" authored
by Stephen Rybak, Inland Waters Information, Dept. of the Environment was
released to the Canadian wire service on August 7, 1975. A copy appears
at the end of this report.
./7
I
7
i'
E ^r
- 7 -
A ;)aper entitled "Data Retransmission by Satellite for
Operational Purposes" by R.A. Halliday was prepared for presentation
at the International Seminar on Modern bevelopments in Hydrometry,
Padua, Italy during September 8-13, 1975,
A paper entitled "Some Operational Uses of Satellite
Retransmission in Canada" by R.A, Halliday and I.A. Reid was prepared 	
r^
for presentation at Tenth International Symposium on Remote Sensing
of Environment at Ann Arbor : Michigan, U.S.A. during October 6-10, 1975.
6. Recommendations
It is still true that,on the basis of the results to date,
it is apparent that retransmission by satellite is an excellent method
Of obtaining data from isolated areas. In vast regions `
is the only way to obtain data on a near real time basis
fore recommended that data required from remote areas be
by satellite.
T	 7. Future Plans
To install the remaining BBRC Platforms and 1
cause of the malfunction of the BBRC DCP in the GCES mode
To carry out corrective measures and test one
additional BBRC DCPs in the GOES mode,
rI
fI
Environment Envlronnement
^i 1	 Canada	 Canada News Release	 CorninunIgUe
FOR I.T-FDIATE RELEASE
SATELLITE DATA SYSTEM EXPANDED
Fnvironment Canada is expanding its use of satellites to gather vitq±l
information on water levels and floe., from remote survey stativab
The Inland Waters Directorate will acid 21. automaric date lAlection platforms
this stannner to the 9 in service to beam information to two U.S. resuurcca ttel!_itea
for retransmission to grotnd stations in the United States anJ cn to Canad.t.
Data retransmitted by the Land Satellite (LANDSAT) and Ceoscationary
Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) can be put to use 1n Canada within an hour
of being recorded at the Lemote monitoring sites. Normally such information wou.ii be
stored at the inaccessible sun ey scations until a sp-cial trin was made to retrieve
M
tFe data,	 t
In a three-year experiment using the LANDSAT satellite, information from
nine Data Collection Platforms (DCPs) was put to use immediately in p. ,paringr fliod
for,-casts on the Fraser River; regulating poser production on the Columbia; fore-
casting water levels for barge transportation on the Mackenzie; preparing a monthly
run-off forecast; and planning hydrometric survey operations in Northern Ontario.
The first nine platforms were experimental. They were installed three years
ago at Wa.er Survey cf Canada stations that were difficult and costly to reach. The
sites provided a wide range of ciinatic conditions, which included temperatures :is
low as -50 0 C, winds up to 110/km/hr, and snow depths of two metres or more. Only one
platform failed - because it was struck by lighl_ning.
rlatforms recorded flows, water levels, precipitation, air temperature, 	
.1
water velocity, and spring ice break-up. Each platform reported as many as 2U times
	
r?
a day to the or:,iting LANDSAT satellite, which relayed data Lo the LANDSA: receiving
station in Maryiand. Data were particlly processed and then for-,carded to the
This Information was :elemeu
to the wire Services oil daft:
Indicated. Despite the delay,
- ' , me rele9fes and ;MPOPS arPU	 ni.oled to j,lt 3f•lown melta
he6aube the Content Is licit IIMV
def>andl ul nr because .t will he
usew t ft,r background files	 .
IF
CelleIn f %--maau , / r tryfltmis•
au% an—S tit!tit! p'
 
e,W 1 -allet!
to&QuNq. Milgnl le n. laid, Cortami
GV nI^tunivue• rl dr,rour; t1` it
ex$V01*1 au. mini ,,'it
p.11 =e Uue IL^ur C[mtVrlu 1+ • a rI, , i a
vvif a-ec I vs dfld ,,, nil rvicr .;u'Ils
p011ven , serve .elm n>tI -bf •rmwl
latw
	2	 ---•
A
N
iada Centre for Remote Sensing to Ottawa over a telephone line. The whole process
I&M 	f
A from 30 to 40 minutes. 	 *L ,.
O•	 The LAN'DSAT satellite experiment pro-.rea that retransmiarion of e- c.. on
real-time' s basis was reliable, accurate and relatively inex nsive.
Fiore than 200 mater Survey of Canada gauging stations
	 rem,-`e areas are
now being considered as ;ossible platform sites, .nd the Prairie Prov a cc .'ater
Board is considering additional site
30 -
EDITOR'S NOTE; A visit to the Ottawa-,area DCP site for prutogra)hs an(; an
interview with L. e IWD project coordinator. . Bob 11ailida; , . ca-.%
	be arranged upon request.	 ^.
84/7/29/75 0'
Stephen Rybak
Inland Waters Information
(613) 997-1315,'991-1255
P
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Retransmission of hydrometric data in Canada

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