Automation of the pluviometric network of Uruguay
INUMET
Context
The Uruguayan Institute of Meteorology has as a project the replacement of its old pluviometric network for an automated one, to allow the issuance of early warnings in the event of natural disasters and in this way contribute to the reduction of both damage and human and material losses.
In addition, automation seeks to feed empirical data and real-time hydrological and geodynamic models used for risk analysis of floods, droughts and landslides. This in turn allows improving the efficiency of hydroelectric energy management, essential in Uruguay due to its predominant place in the energy matrix.
The characteristics of the automatic rain gauges were defined with the purpose of measuring the amount and intensity of the rains, very relevant data for the monitoring of the rains in real time by the professionals of the Uruguayan Institute of Meteorology who, together with other information, They help in the analysis of natural disaster risk scenarios and, consequently, in the decision to issue different alert levels.
Tele-rain gauges are remote devices that have automatic precipitation sensors capable of reliably reporting their measurements every ten minutes, without the need for manual measurement of the levels of water accumulated in each rain gauge.
Solution
More than one hundred tele-rain gauges were supplied to be installed in different parts of the country together with a RTU +, a battery and a solar panel for each one of them for the collection and transmission of data, and allow a completely autonomous operation.
The rain gauges are manufactured and assembled by EML in the United Kingdom, model SBS314 have a capture area of 314cm2, with an aluminum-coated housing that allows it to be installed in extremely harsh conditions.
