Why use telemetry?
Telemetry provides the opportunity for pastoralists to monitor
and control the water supply, animal health, machinery and security
of their properties while dramatically reducing travel time and
cost.
How does telemetry
work?
Telemetry is a technology which
allows the remote measurement and reporting of information of
interest to the system designer or operator. The word is derived
from Greek roots tele = remote, and metron = measure.
Literally “remote
measurement”. Telemetry is a word used to describe technology
that allows data to be gathered and recorded without having to be
at the location. Information is instead transmitted from measuring
devices (such as flow meters) using radio or cellular phone
technology.
Basically telemetry is the term used to describe logging of
information at one site (outstation) and conveying the information
via radio signals to a location remote to the first site (base
station). In turn, signals may be sent to a second remote
location to the first in order to activate a device. (e.g. pump,
valve, camera etc)
How are telemetry systems
powered?
Photovoltaic solar power is used for remote sites and is the
primary option for power on most systems used for monitoring and
controlling stock water supply to remote stock water points on arid
or semi-arid pastoral lands.
What can I do with
telemetry?
- Switching pumps or irrigation systems ON and OFF
- Starting generators and monitoring pressure, temperature,
voltage etc.
- Monitoring dam or tank levels
- Real time monitoring of security devices with an instant alarm
if break-in occurs
- Monitoring and controlling operation of electric fences
- Remote reading of instruments such as weather and water flow
gauges
- Monitoring the status of gates at remote locations
- Medicate water
- GPS vehicle tracking
- Digital camera or CCTV camera
Why would I use
telemetry?
- To reduce travel costs
- To save time and labour
- To reduce wear and tear on vehicles
- To manage infrastructure that is hard to get to (i.e. wet
season inaccessibility)
- To get better stock condition o0utcomes
- To create a safety net over property
- To create more security for remote infrastructure
Is it worth the
investment?
Station X has 15 water points.
Distance driven each bore run is 480km.
Average 130 bore runs per year.
Bore runs usually take 8 hours.
Vehicle running cost is $2.50/km (fuel, tyres, maintenance,
depreciation etc.)
Annual cost of bore runs is:
(Bore run distance) X (No. bore runs) X (Cost per km)
480 X 130 X 2.5 = $156,000
Station X manager wants to invest in telemetry to reduce costs.
1 X Base station and
software $1,500
15 X Telemetry units with water level
sensors $30,000
3 X Remote start/stop units for diesel
pumps
$3,500
1 X Repeater unit to get signal over
hills
$2,000
Total
cost $37,000
Manager thinks he will do 1 less bore run each week.
52 less each year, this will save:
52 X 480 X 2.5 = $62,400 each year.
The investment will pay for itself after (37000 / 62400 = 0.59)
0.59 years, or 7 months.
It will also save 8 hours of labour each week, totalling (8 X 52)
416 hours of labour each year.
The manager thinks the telemetry investment will last at least 10
years, so the investment should save Station X at least (10 X
62,400 – 37,000) $587,000.
Bore run vehicle produces 330 grams of CO2 per
kilometre. Saving (52 X 480) 24,960km each year will save (24960 X
0.33) 8236kg carbon dioxide emissions each year.
What do they say about
it?
Paul Jonas from Quinyambie Station has a Stockman Electronics
telemetry system with one unit 200km from base, he has saved
approximately $15,000 in the first year with the need to employ
only one bore man, not two saving vehicle and wage costs.
Wayne Williams of the Williams Cattle Company has 30 sites in
operation and a further 15 sites being implemented by Farm and
Business Communications. “Wayne would not go without
the system and is happy to demonstrate it to others”
Len Newton from Mount Ive Station is using a Stockman
telemetry system monitoring 7 water points. "The telemetry has been
well worth the investment and the savings in time and money have
been significant, I find I check my waters a lot more often as I
can do it from the vehicle or shed while doing other things."
Anthony Desreaux from Monkira Station in Queensland is using the
Observant system to monitor 10 water points. "I have been able to
become aware of problems at watering points much earlier, having
the information sooner and going out ot take action saves me both
time and money as left another day water would have been running
over and damaging the turkey's nest wall."
Allan Fuller is using the Blackmore's telemetry system to
monitor 4 water points on De Rose Hill Station in Central
Australia. "The remote telemetry systems are proving to be a great
time saver and we are looking at monitoring three more watering
points in the future."
Further information available in Telemetry Systems
for Remote Water Monitoring Control Equipment By
David de Vries, BSc (Hons), BNat, PhD (information on this page
extracted from review).
Use this tool
to work out the rough costs and savings of installing a
telemetry network on your property. The results might surprise
you.
Follow the links below to the websites of project
partners specialising in telemetry (select
heading for link to partner website):
Observant Pty Ltd is an Australian Company which develops and
manufactures remote monitoring technology. Extensive trials
and customer feedback from the pastoral zones has ensured the
Observant technology is robust and practical. Delivering a
unique system which utilises a combination of UHF radio and Next G
technology with a plug and play software interface ensures the
Observant Remote Management System easily compliments any
management system. All Observant products are supported by
world-class customer service personnel with remote diagnostic and
upgrade installation capabilities. (Monkira Station, Western
Queensland Demonstration site and Napperby Station, Northern
Territory are both using large comprehensive Observant systems to
monitor their waters)
Stockman Telemetry Systems (a division of Stockman Electronics)
has been installing telemetry products across outback SA for over
15 years. This fiedl experience is second to none in the
pastoral industry and combined with their ability to respond to
client requirements with customised solutions rather than a "one
size fits all" approach, makes them a leading provider of telemetry
products in this market. Their main product are UHF based,
but options are available for VHF, NextG, GSM & Satellite.
(Mount Ive Station, South Australian demonstration site is using
the Stockman telemetry system on seven water points)
Can provide professional installation of all the products it
sells. From the simplest domestic rainwater tank installation to
design, engineering, supply and installation of a complete town
water supply or station stock water system. We are licensed
electrical contractors and so can provide the complete solution for
your power and water needs.(De Rose Hill Station, Central
Australian demonstration site is using the Blackmore's telemetry
system)
Web based remote monitoring for tanks, watering points and
security applications using the NextG Technology. All
manufacturers of the “pipe reader” NLIS cattle tag
reader and BlueTooth Weighing Equipment. (Old Man Plains, Northern
Territory is trialling the uSee system )
Other telemetry providers can be found by searching
suppliers.
