Environmental Data Logging in Remote Scottish Locations

Over 60 Senator+ datalogging systems from HWM are currently being used to collect, collate and transmit data about various environmental conditions in some of the remotest areas of Scotland, where traditional telecoms are unavailable or impractical. Reservoir levels, compensation channel levels and flows, and pipeline flow rates from treatment works to compensation returns all need to be monitored, but they can often be located in hard to access and non-GSM covered places. The Senator+, developed by HWM in conjunction with satellite communication specialist Wireless Innovation Ltd., is purposely designed for just such situations.

Where there is no infrastructure for more traditional telemetry services – no GSM/SMS signal, too remote for PSTN lines – the Senator+ is able to use its MicroSAT satellite data transmission technology and solar-charged battery power to provide reliable and maintenance-free datalogging services. Scottish Water has been using the product extensively to retrieve important environmental monitoring information remotely: many of the installations can only be reached by various combinations of all-terrain four-wheel-drive vehicles, quad bikes and even hiking.

Fortunately, after the initial installation (easy with the all-in-one cabinet), the units are self-sustaining, and no subsequent maintenance has been needed or undertaken. Significantly, until now this monitoring was effectively impossible – requiring time-consuming and costly manual site visits for each individual reading at each location. Now, the satellite system transmits recorded data as often as every 5 minutes, straight to the user’s computing device of choice, wherever they may be. At the heart of the system is the Multi-Channel Senator+ data logger; each logger records from up to 9 separate inputs, can store up to 48,000 individual readings and has programmable alarm condition parameters. The unit is also available with more traditional cellular or PSTN communication options.