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6 Characteristics of Wireless Telemetry Systems to Look Out for As An Environmental Engineer

As an environmental engineer, you understand the challenges that come up when trying to collect accurate environmental data, especially in very harsh conditions. Mobile telemetry is the best technological solution you can use in monitoring and data collection. Mobile telemetry allows you to use remotely placed equipment to monitor environmental conditions and transit this data through wireless signals to your phone or tablet. The programming of telemetry sensors allow them to collect a defined data value and store this information in memory or transmit it directly to an internet enable device

When choosing telemetry systems, you should consider the following:

Simple set up and installation

Considering the kind of environment, you want to use the sensor it, simplicity and ease of installation is very important. If you want to track the movement of animals for instance, you need to install a transmitter that is inconspicuous to prevent animals from tampering with it. You should talk to the manufacturer about wireless systems that are easy to install independently.

Strong environmental rating

At any point, your telemetry equipment may be at risk of damage due to animals, temperature and water among other risks. Therefore, you should choose a system with a robust environmental rating if you are planning to use it in a harsh environment. If there is any chance of exposure to oil, grease and chemicals, you will need a higher environmental rating. The package may also need to survive pressurized environments and you should be very keen on the Ingress Protection rating.

Sensor compatibility

If you are planning to collect more than one type of data with the same equipment, you should choose telemetry systems with different sensor output compatibility. There are analog sensor outputs and digital sensor output. Analog outputs often feel the effects of interferences. However, most analog output can convert to digital outputs.

Storage and streaming

The storage and streaming capacity of the equipment depends on how frequently you need to collect data. Telemetry equipment can live stream real time data to your computer or store the information in memory and send it at the end of the week or month depending on how you program it. Therefore, make sure you ask the manufacturer about storage capacity.

Power needs

The power needs of the equipment determine how appropriate it is for your environment. Of course, you have all the power you need at your end of the system but there is often no power access at the monitoring end. In case there is access to existing power supply, then you can purchase wired equipment.  You can also use rechargeable batteries. However, you need to remember to change the batteries in time to avoid missing crucial data.

Radio transmission

If you are using radio transmission telemetry equipment, you need to find out whether you should get a radio license or if the equipment is license free. The radio range should also be sufficient for transmission so you should find out the transmission range of the equipment you want to buy. Radio signals are affected by line of sight and in case of obstruction; there may be interference in the data transfer. Opt for satellite telemetry equipment if you do not have direct line of sight.

Handheld_telemetryRobert McKenzie is a telemetry engineer specializing in wireless monitoring systems and works extensively with environmental engineers in setting up telemetry equipment. You can get more of his services at Incredible benefits of using Mobile Telemetry in Industrial Monitoring

Mobile telemetry is all about giving you the right information at the right time. Having this information with such convenience helps you in making the right decisions fast. Mobile telemetry is applicable in a variety of industries and with such amazing impacts in its applications. Various types of telemetry equipment are available depending on the kind of data you need to collect. They include:

  • Humidity
  • Temperature
  • Power consumption
  • Motion
  • Flow
  • Light levels
  • Pressure
  • Flood
  • Vibration
  • G-force impact
  • Voltage

During industrial monitoring, telemetry allows the transfer of data through wireless connectors to mobile phones and computers. This allows for the evaluation and managing of situations without having to go to the site.

Industrial applications of telemetry

Telemetry has an incredible variety of applications. Mobile telemetry applies in areas such as:

  • Storage tanks for chemicals, fuel and gases
  • pumps
  • Air compressors
  • Air conditioning
  • Vehicles
  • Environmental conditions such as temperatures and humidity

The equipment uses different modes of communication in order to monitor different types of data. The equipment can use mobile phone networks of satellites to transmit data signals depending on the area of application. When buying telemetry equipment, you need to choose the type of sensor that applies to your industry for accurate data transmission. The wireless equipment makes it easier to install in any isolated location without the risk of lightning or wire tampering.

Reducing logistics costs

The equipment monitors and transfers a data right to your device, which makes decision making easier. Instead of having to make countless trips to the site, you can use the monitors to determine which tanks need refilling, which gears require repair and so on. This eliminates the waste of time and resources in the work site. It also reduces the amount of errors made when requesting orders or logging in records.

Easy to install

The main design feature of mobile telemetry equipment is the absence of power connections and phone lines. This makes installation very easy. This design feature also reduces the cost of materials used in installation.

Frequency of readings and data transmission

The telemetry equipment is programmable to read and transmit data as often as you need it. Therefore, you can customize the equipment operation to your particular industry needs. The equipment has a lot of data storage space that allows you to reduce the frequency of transmissions if you need to and still access historical data for a minimum of thirty days.

Data security

There is often a major data concern over web-enabled data. The great thing about mobile telemetry data is you need unique passwords and identity information to access the data. Data transmitted in these systems is sensitive and confidential and that is why security is a major concern. Secure passwords and user names are required every time there are changes to the equipment programming and configuration in order to avoid interference by unauthorized parties.

Kienan Guarini is an MWD field engineer with hands on experience in using telemetry equipment. You can read more about his experiences at http://motee.me/

Written By

Kienan Guarini is an MWD field engineer with hands on experience in using telemetry equipment. You can read more about his experiences at http://motee.me.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Steve Beck

    October 16, 2019 at 2:26 pm

    Hi, thanks for sharing all of your 6 points about environmental engineer. I like specially your view about your equipment may be at risk of damage due to animals, temperature and water among other risks. Keep it up

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