Advancing Weather Monitoring Through Internet of Things: A Comprehensive Overview

1. The Internet of Things -Weather Monitoring too Bruce Hartley Lead Systems Engineer Meteorological Service of New Zealand Ltd. October 2012 1

2. The purpose of my presentation is two-fold… • To demonstrate what is possible and to stimulate ideas in the weather monitoring community • To stimulate manufacturers into providing all weather sensors and systems so that they can connect via TCP/IP in a “standardised” way • I will cover three topics in my presentation… • Some background on the Internet • MetService New Zealand implementation • The technology challenge – What we need are smart devices with… • My main background is in Weather Stations and my examples reflect this. • However such is the flexibility of TCP/IP communications that… • The ideas presented here can be applied to any equipment • The ideas are scalable: from a single sensor & display • … to a global network 2

3. the Internet - the World Wide Web - the Web - the Cloud Is a global network of networks consisting of millions of private, public, academic, business, and government networks, that are linked by a broad array of communications and network technologies, all using the standard Internet protocol suite ( TCP/IP ). The Internet – It’s all about Information. Initially for access to stored information, moving it from place to place and making it available for all to see, but increasingly it’s about device control and data delivery in real time from everywhere to anywhere. the Internet of Things An extensive range of everyday objects (data sources and/or sinks) connected and communicating cheaply with each other across a global network. 3

4. How has it developed? …20 years young! 1960s Researched in the US 1990s Commercial 2-way communications: 1993 = 1% 2000 = 51% 2007 = 97% Where is it available? …Everywhere! With the appropriate modem there is almost nowhere that you cannot connect. The question is no longer “Can I connect?”, it is now “How do I connect?” Who is using it? …Everybody! 2011 estimate - two billion people ( 1/3 of Earth’s population ) using the Internet. Facebook: 2008 - 100 mil 2009 - 150 mil 2010 - 350 mil 2011 - 750 mil 2012 > 1 billion What can it do? …For us! More information ( accurate, timely, uptime, efficient, management, cheaper ) = Better forecasts = Better decisions = Lower cost and lower loss 4

5. How Reliable is it? …Good enough? The open Internet has built in redundancy - a star type network. The more providers on different infrastructure - the better the reliability. ISP reliability: Dial up 99.9% (9hr/yr) Cable 99.8% (17hr/yr) Wireless 99.4% (52hr/yr)  • Not really good enough! • With a bit of ingenuity this can be good enough for Weather Monitoring: • Diversity • Transfer protocols - retries • Multiple message redundancy • Backlogging Resilience: Business, finance, government and military reliance suggests that the Internet MUST always be viable. The rest of us will piggy back on the system forever. 5

6. MetService Stations to Central Server Communications MetService TCP/IP implementation has been driven by the communications providers implementing new technologies and closing old services. MetService employs Unified Communications (UC) to make implementation and movement between communications media and suppliers seamless. • The Office Anywhere (OA) Virtual Private Network (VPN) is used whenever possible for security of: • Data communication • Remote station access • Central server access • For increased reliability – some dual communications has been implemented from stations to the OA VPN. 6

7. 184 Weather Stations ( 36 high priority stations have diverse communications ) • TCP 1 second point to point (local: wind displays) • 1 minute point to point (local: displays; AWIB; entry) • UDP 1 minute with a two try handshake protocol • 1 minute with messages repeated every 15 seconds • Email 30 minute METAR SYNOP BUOY SHIP - 28 day backlog • FTP Third party Delivery at various times and/or event driven • 8 Weather Radars ( 6 have diverse communications ) • TCP 7.5 minute image push • 10 Lightning detection Sensors • TCP Real time (on event) • 7 Webcams • FTP 4 minute image push • We have 8 remaining stations to be migrated from old technologies • ( AFTN =1, MTSAT = 7 ) TCP/IP modes implemented by MetService 7

8. Weather Station Connectivity - Now • Some station devices are connected to the TCP/IP network: • sensor; router; watchdog; power supply; service computer. • Retaining traditional technologies imposes additional overheads: • design; documentation; training; support services. • Traditional serial ports (RS232/422/485) are disappearing from • computers and modems. 8

9. Weather Station Connectivity - Future • In a simpler world - TCP/IP from the ingest server to every device • Interconnection between the different link modules is the same… • Ethernet with PoE where practicable and/or Wi-Fi • Where Ethernet and Wi-Fi won’t reach – Ethernet/WiFi Extenders • The network is seamlessly expandable using the routers/switches 9

10. Is it worth the effort to change? Benefits • TCP/IP Unified Communications - efficiency & adaptability without re-design • Web browser control of ALL devices • Network management possible from anywhere • Communications diversity of the main trunks is inherent in the network • Software management can be centralised - no physical network roll-outs • Data collection and management can be outsourced - Cloud Computing • Weather station processor can be anywhere • Backup processor(s) can be anywhere • Standardised PoE saves cabling, connections and time • Standardised cabling - Cat5E or better • Wi-Fi up to 250 devices can connect to a single module • Built in transient protection/isolation – one scheme, less boxes • Technicians can access and save documentation from anywhere 10

11. Is it worth the effort to change? Cons • May need diversity from the remote site to the core Internet • Security outside the company firewall - VPN preferred, firewall minimum • Secure login processes and username/password management • Power consumption of current modems/routers - solar powering is difficult • Power supply scheme – 48 vdc • More data to manage ( database, monitoring, access tools, archive ) • Network management skills and tools required • New contracts with telecommunications operators • New contracts with others handling and managing equipment and/or data • WiFi still requires a conventional power supply connection 11

12. The technology challenge - We need smart devices with… • Standard Ethernet with PoE (PoE 48vdc 15W, PoE+ 48vdc 30W) • Standard Wi-Fi • Standard power supply 48 vdc? (optional 12 vdc? 24 vdc?) • Standardised messages (xml? Flexibility for custom messages) • Standardised data pull TCP server (multiple connections) • Standardised data push FTP / UDP / Email (multiple destinations): • Data push scheduled • Data push alert / warning / alarm • Status push warning / alarm / fault • Standard NTP time synchronisation where appropriate • Built in setup and diagnostics web server, with setup file save & load • New firmware roll outs from anywhere on the VPN (automatic) • All hard wire interfaces include transient protection (including antenna) • Little or no increase in power consumption • Little or no increase in price 12

13. The consumer market is already there! 13

14. And to finish - The skies the limit, or is it? • Today www.met.co.nz.aws1 • Tomorrow www.met.co.nz.site1.sensor1 • The Future mars.met.co.nz.site1.sensor1 All we need is… Curiosity 14

15. Thank You Questions… 15