DA9000 DATALOGGER

MAIN TECHNICAL & FUNCTIONAL

FEATURES

DATA LOGGER DA9000 The SIAP+MICROS datalogger of the DA9000 series is an advanced and OPEN Data Collection Platform (DCP) compatible with nearly any standard sensor and external peripherals.

DA9000 has been designed to allow maximum flexibility in data acquisition, raw data processing, data transmission, data storage and alarm management. The DA9000 includes an open and modular architecture, along with manufacturing and assembling procedures, allowing a wide range of application, easy to implement, configure and manage and ready for future expansions. DA9000 provides all the capabilities of a 32 bit embedded system equipped with windows CE 6.0; the data logger is fully programmable and has a large memory area for personalized program development. Special care was taken in data logger design for what concerns data transmissions, implementing a wide range of international standard communications protocols such as Ethernet (TCP/IP), modem, satellite, radio, cellular phones, etc. Key Functions The DA9000 includes the following main functions and data processing capabilities:

o extremely reduced electrical power consumption; o protection against electromagnetic interferences and electrostatic atmospheric discharges on the

sensors lines; o growing capability (new sensors can be connected to the DCU unit). o Automatic interrogation of various measuring instruments connected to the acquisition modules,

with preset timing as well as the possibility to program it remotely. o Internal raw data processing including average, maximum, minimum, standard deviations,

cumulative values, conversion to engineering units etc. o Internal raw data quality control; during sensors configuration can be configured a wide range of

validation criteria.

o Allows generation and transmission of user defined output messages to remote users (e.g. SMS).

o Advanced alarm management functions based on measured or calculated (virtual) parameters exceeding user-defined thresholds. The user can configure different kind of alarms and for each one can define the specific action (task) that the logger shall execute.

o For each sensor it’s possible to define a long list of configuration parameters, including data acquisition time intervals, format, raw data processing, etc.

o Execution of preset commands both locally or remotely. o Touch screen LCD display to visualize instantaneous raw data and calculated parameters. o Remote data transmission using a wide range of peripherals. o Possibility to modify or substitute remotely the data logger configuration parameters as well as

internal firmware. o Other

The DA9000 have an extremely reduced electrical power consumption and includes an internal power management system to power On/Off external sensors and peripherals. These characteristics allow completely and autonomously operation using standard solar panel and back-up batteries. The DA9000 includes an internal software package that allows technicians to carry out a wide range of maintenance and internal diagnostic functions. The programming software allows visualizing the DA9000 configuration parameters without the need to reprogramming it, as well as modify / update configuration parameters. For further information please refers to programming software manual. Sensors Interfaces The analog and digital I/O expansion base (referred as expansion base below) for of the DA9000 data logger includes 32 analog/digital input/output channels to interface a wide range of standard hydro-meteorological sensors and external intelligent peripherals. The input/output capabilities can be increased adding expansion cards (up to 247) up to 8.000 input/output channels. The DA9000 base version includes 14 analog channels, 10 channels with 12-bit Analog to Digital (A/D) resolution and 4 channels with 24-bit A/D resolution. Additionaly the DA9000 includes 3 digital inputs for frequency, counters and On/Off signals, 2 analog outputs and 8 open collector digital outputs. In accordance to the type of sensor and to the required application the user can select the channel of interest, or expand the number of I/O channels Below table are reported a summary of DA9000 I/O:

n.4 with 24 bit (0-2V or PT100) differential Analogical n.10 with 12bit (0-2V or 0-5V) unipolar n.5 optoisolated logic state inputs

Input

Digital n.3 optoisolated counters (or 2 frequency and 1 counter)

Analogical n.2 with 12bit (0-2V)

DA9000 EXPANSION BASE

Output Digital n.8 open collector

Input n.4 DA9000

Output Digital

n.4

For each single sensor and for each single measurement channel, the DA9000 allows the user to select the data acquisition time intervals, that can be from 1 second to 86400 seconds (24 hours), moreover for each single sensor it’s possible to configure different time window statistical parameters. For each single sensor it’s possible to configure specific calibration curves and parameters; this is possible because all Siap+Micros sensors are intelligent and based on internal microprocessor (housed within the sensor body) that allows to execute internally a wide range of functions, including instantaneous data quality and raw data validation. Each single input channel of DA9000 data logger is protected against over voltage and ESD interference, with minimum 5 kV per pin.

Siap+Micros data logger allows internal calibration (self-calibration) of A/D converter against external temperature; this function is included mainly within some sensors (atmospheric pressure, ultrasonic gauge, etc) to compensate the effect of temperature on electrical signal. As above the specific signal data processing procedure can be easily configured because all Siap+Micros sensors are intelligent and based on internal microprocessor. Memory Capacity Data acquired by the data logger are recorded locally on three type of memory: an internal memory whose size can be up to 2Gb, an external and removable memory whose size can be up to 2Gb and a NandFlash, that is where the core program is stored.

FTP CONNECTION (TCP / IP Protocol)

Hydrological Sensors

Data Logger

GPRS & METEOSAT Data transmission systems

MASTER Supervisor

UHE Supervisor

Maintenance Office

Maintenance Office

LAN / VPN Connection

The recorded data use a dynamic structure that optimizes the length of the transmitted data, reducing the space occupied in memory, transmission time and therefore operating costs. Moreover the records can be stored in a linear mode (filling up the entire memory) or in circular mode (when the entire memory is used, the oldest data are replaced by the newest). All this kinds of memory and storing modes are useful to create a backup copy of the data. Serial Communication DA9000 serial interface includes standard RS232, RS485, SDI-12, CAN_BUS, 1-Wire. The local RS232 or the RS485 serial ports of the DA9000 allows to interface sensors with serial data interface, including data retrieve, self-diagnostic information retrieving and sensor control activity. This activity is intensively executed in case of intelligent Siap+Micros RS485 sensors as well as interfacing of advanced external intelligent equipment or peripherals. The DA9000 serial interface includes standard RS232, RS485 and SDI-12. The RS232 / RS485 serial ports includes the Serial-Pass Through-modality allowing direct communications and interfacing of sensors with serial interface connected to the AWS station. The DA9000 data logger includes five RS232 / RS485 serial ports, two USB ports, one Ethernet and one SDI-12 port for digital interfacing with external peripherals. The RS232 port can be used to connect a laptop / computer and carry out a wide range of functions, among other: data logger configuration and programming, upload / download configuration files, download stored data, data visualization, data logger diagnostic and other advanced functions. The DA9000 serial ports can be used to interface external communication devices, user terminals, maintenance laptop or smart serial sensors. All parameters of each single serial port can be easily configured by user, among other: baud rate, number of data bits and stop bits, parity and check sum. For all ports nominal baud rate is 9600 bps, configurable up to 19200 bps or more. The additional serial ports are available on an expansion board and can be easily fixed within the enclosure using standard DIN rail mountings. This option allow interfacing new communication channels in future without any main electronic board modification. Real Time Clock The DA9000 includes an internal clock protected against AWS power blackout. The clock is buffered by a long life lithium battery that can be replaced about every 10 years (average value). The clock can be configured as local or UTC time adding a UTC offset. The clock accuracy is better than 20 seconds / month and can be synchronized using an external high accuracy source like GPS or the internal time of a personal computer. Moreover, if an internet connection is present, the clock can be synchronized using a clock server. Data Transmission The DA9000 data logger can interface simultaneously two or more different data transmission systems. Among other the DA9000 can interface several different telemetry systems: dial-up line, PSTN, V-SAT, radio UHF/VHF, GSM/GPRS, Inmarsat, GOES, Thuraya, Meteosat, Orbcomm, Iridium, WiMax, other. The data logger includes advanced bidirectional data communication control and specialized remote maintenance functions. The DA9000 includes the following functions:

o Current data transmission upon operator’s request (need bidirectional communication device) o Periodic and automatic (self – timed) data transmission at intervals set by the user.

o Transmission of instantaneous data stored in RAM or historical data stored in Memory Card. o Configuration download from Observer Console. o Configuration transmission from DCU’s to the Central station; it is therefore possible to check

and modify the configuration parameters from the Central station. o Automatic time synchronization from Central station or using local GPS systems. o Alarms transmission.

The DA9000 handle the telemetry units as external peripherals allowing in this way the interfacing of any standard data transmission terminal. The telemetry system to be used can be selected during the configuration process. The DA9000 offer a wide range of telemetry systems that can be used in future without any hardware modification. It needs only to select the desired telemetry system, includes related parameters, save it and update the DA9000 configuration. Each telemetry system includes own antennas and accessories. For redundancy and backup purposes, the DA9000 can interface simultaneously different data transmission systems, allowing the management of monitoring network based on different telemetry systems. Advanced Alarm Management The DA9000 includes and advanced alarm management system, every alarm event is recorded with date and time within the DA9000 memory, that is moreover the alarm values the DA9000 can transmit other related information.The DA9000 is able to gather, record and transmit different alarm conditions, among other:

a) Thresholds exceeding, individually settable for each input channel, can be configured two alarms conditions (maximum, minimum).

b) Trend (velocity in parameter’s change) exceeding, individually settable for each input channel, can be configured two alarms conditions up-ward and down-ward.

c) Status change in configured digital inputs, for instance DCU door opening.

d) Station reset, for instance upon watch-dog circuitry intervention. e) Mains power supply failure (when available). f) Low battery voltage. g) Failures on other RTU’s components (modem, radio etc) reckoned by

diagnostics. Moreover the above functions, for each single alarm condition it’s possible to define a specific task / action to be executed when it happened, eg. send and SMS to a group of cellular numbers. This feature it’s specially suited for automation of external alarms peripherals and for Early Warning purposes. (Activation of sirens, flashing lights, traffic lights, digital information displays, etc). A typical example of advanced alarm management that the DA9000 can execute is the modification of the data transmission frequency (eg. from 60 min. to 10 min) and the activation of the back-up data transmission system to transmit the new data until the alarm returns to normal condition. Moreover the DA9000 allows the definition of COMPLEX alarms conditions using information of different sensors as well as the results of new calculated parameters using user-defined algorithm. Below are illustrated some typical cases of complex alarm definition.

During the DA9000 configuration process the user can set a wide range of alarms and define for each one the content of messages (SMS) to be sent to a selected group of technicians / cellular phones when the alarm condition is accomplished, below are illustrated some typical cases:

o Exceed upper limit (eg. max. 10 min precipitation is greater than 5 mm) o Exceed lower limit (water level be less than 2.4 m) o Parameter is above set reference o Parameter is between user limits o Parameter rate is bigger than configured value (ascending, descending)

Data Logger Setup Software DA9000 data logger unit is equipped with Windows CE operating system and an acquisition software that makes possible the acquisition of each sensor connected to the device and allow to store acquired data in unique memory locations. The software may store raw data or make some elaborations like average, minimum and maximum calculations over a specified interval and so on. It may manage alarm and/or warning conditions and automatically inform the user if these happens. In other words the DA9000 data logger unit has a flexible acquisition software that obviously needs to be properly configured by the end user.

The configuration of the software is merely an XML file, named CNF.XML, whose content describes the operations that the acquisition software will do. This file can be edited by a simple text editor but this probably would be a boring and perhaps complicated task; to make it easy, we have developed the DA9000 setup software that guides the user in data logger configuration. With the setup software the user easily can:

• Add a sensor to the configuration of the data logging system and specify each parameter that describes the sensor’s characteristics (like physical acceptable values for the input range, unit of measure, associated analog channel in the case of an analog sensor, communication protocol in the case of a sensor connected via serial cable, number of decimal digits to represent data and so on)

• Add the acquisition time for each channel

• Add elaborations of specified data of channels

• Add validation strategies of the acquired data and of the elaborations

• Add memorizations of the acquired data and of the elaborations

• Add the interval of time between two successive memorizations of the acquired data and of the elaborations

• Add the management of alarms and warnings on specified values of data acquired

• Establish a connection with a data logger (both cable and remote via GSM or GPRS with a TCP/IP tunnel on a specified server)

• Receive a configuration from data logger

• Send a configuration to a data logger

• Request the values of measures and parameters like station ID or firmware versions

• Request the status of the memory location areas and manage these areas

• Send commands to data logger

The way the setup software permits to write down a configuration file is very intuitive: once pressed New in the File menu the user has in front two windows, one which will contain the configuration and the parameters to change, and a second one which will contain a list of predefined sensors and boards that can be connected to the DA9000; this second window represents in effect a library of sensors and boards that can be used to build up a configuration quickly and easily. The next figure will show the library window (It has been used an Italian release of the software to make the screenshot although multilanguage version will be available; in particular it maybe available an Ukrainian or Russian user interface according to the customer requests). As shown in the figure, you have a graphical representation of sensors and, to build a configuration, you have to merely select a sensor, drag it over the first window and drop here like a normal drag and drop operation. In the first window now you have accessible all the parameters to configure the specified sensor or include elaborations and memorizations of measured data. The same apply if you select a board in the library. Once you have chosen sensors and boards and specified all the parameters in configuration, you have just to save via menu to obtain the XML file mentioned above.

You can also receive the configuration directly from the data logger, once established a link with it, and save it in XML file format. You can then send the configuration directly via configuration software.. The software user interface is very simple and user friendly besides to be similar to most of windows commercial software user interface. It’s suitable to use it with laptop and PDAs.

Self-diagnostics & On-line control

The acquisition software of DA9000 data logger can manage alarms or warning state conditions that can be associated at any channel or sensor. The data logger is then able to send short messages (SMS) via a GSM modem to inform the user of the alarm or warning condition. This feature permits the monitoring of critical quantities like the battery level, the voltage drop at a solar panel terminal, the internal temperature of a weather cabin or the open door on/off contact in such cabins. All these features makes it possible to build a system that is self – controlled.

Another step in self – diagnostic is the presence of an external watchdog that monitor the operation of the data logger in two ways:

• Monitor the operation of the acquisition software

If the acquisition software stops functioning the watchdog monitor restart the data logger after 10 minutes of stop condition.

• Monitor the battery level and house-keeping parameters

If the battery level falls down 10.5V the watchdog turns off the entire system to prevents damages to the batteries. It automatically turns on the entire system when the battery level rise up about 11V. Additionaly will be acquired and controlled the status of other house-keeping parameters, among other: enclosure internal temperature, door satus (open / close), mins status (Power On / Off) and solar panel.

These features, with the remote communication capabilities, make the DA9000 data logger a self – diagnostic on – line controlled system. Remote monitoring station maintenance

As mentioned above the DA9000 stations can completely be monitored via remote link like a TCP/IP connection (in this case the system take advantage of a tunnel connection over a server). This possibility allow the remote configuration of the station and software updates.

Besides remote monitoring capabilities, there are also remote maintenance capabilities allowed by the use of appropriate commands sent by the configuration software. This commands are protocolled by the configuration software to ensure robustness and correctness of the message sent, and then transmitted over the medium chosen, maybe a serial cable or a TCP/IP connection just to mention some possibilities. The protocolled message is received, decoded and interpreted by the data logger that will respond via the same medium and protocol. The proprietary protocol used in communication is called store & forward and consist of a frame of bytes which controls synchronization over the message bytes, addressing (address of the station called and of the center who calls the station), various information like the length of the message, the message itself and a 16bit CRC protection code. The protocol is entirely managed by the software and is completely transparent to the user to allow a simple remote maintenance of the data logger. For detailed technical characteristics, please refer to Technical datasheets.