Redundant Communications Solutions for PORTS® Acoustic Current Profiler Installations

The Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) oversees an extensive network of instruments that collect, analyze, and disseminate integrated oceanographic and meteorological data. These data result in products that contribute to safer shipping and boating, more efficient port operation, more thorough emergency planning to ensure the safety of coastal residents, and improved environmental planning and protection. Several of these data products offer real-time, 24/7 data to shippers, port operators, emergency planners, coastal managers, and others throughout the U.S. and are part of the CO-OPS Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®). PORTS® consists of a suite of instruments that measure and disseminate observations of water levels, currents, salinity, and meteorological parameters (winds, atmospheric pressure, air and water temperatures). Current measurement systems are among those at greatest risk for data delivery failure because they often lack redundant communications. Fifteen acoustic current profilers mounted on aids to navigation (ATONs) provide current data within the PORTS® network. An additional 23 cabled systems also provide current measurements for PORTS® at some of the more than 200 National Water Level Observation Network (NWLON) stations. ATON acoustic current profilers generate large and frequent data messages, (every six minutes), making redundant communications prohibitively expensive, depending upon the telemetry method used. Also, the PORTS® interface board (Sprenke board) cannot manage more than one method of communication. If communication from the acoustic current profiler fails at any single point along the data transmission path, data transmitted during that time are lost. Determining the specific failure point can be difficult; however, implementation of a redundant (or at least a secondary) communication path seems to be the best way of preserving valuable PORTS® data.

• Record URL:
  http://www.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/publications/Technical_Report_NOS_CO-OPS_057.pdf
• 
• Corporate Authors:

  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  1401 Constitution Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20230
• Authors:
  • Krug, Warren
  • Bushnell, Mark
  • Roggenstein, Edward
  • Heitsenrether, Robert
• Publication Date: 2010-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; References;
• Pagination: 31p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aids to navigation; Communication systems; Data communications; Emergency communication systems; Environmental monitoring; Maritime safety; Meteorological instruments; Navigation systems; Oceanography; Ports; Redundancy
• Identifier Terms: Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System
• Uncontrolled Terms: Ocean observational data
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Marine Transportation; Security and Emergencies; Terminals and Facilities; I15: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01445998
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: NOAA Technical Report NOS CO-OPS 057
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 14 2012 11:14AM