Wireless Farm Area Network for Rice Field Research
The Rice Research
Australia Pty Ltd (RRAPL) needed to conduct detailed remote
monitoring of rice fields in Jerilderie, near Wagga in New
South Wales, to determine the best conditions for
commercial rice production. They installed two Remote
Telemetry Units (RTU) as well as various field sensors to
capture this information but needed a communications
network to relay the information to the RRAPL office. The
resultant network will be used to remotely control various
equipment used in farming. URSYS, a specialist in satellite
and radio telecommunications, decided on a wireless farm
area network which is mobile, could be set up quickly, need
no cables to be laid, and most importantly, could be
remotely managed. More info:
http://www.smartbridges.com/css/articles.asp?id=491
The Ocean Patriot drill rig - Tui oil development.
In conjunction with
specialist contractors Marine Navaid Systems in Sydney, URSYS
won the contract to supply and install a 1.2M SeaTel
stabilised Platform VSAT onto the Oil Exploration rig "Ocean
Patriot". This rig was exploring for Oil and Gas off of the
east Coast of New Zealand. URSYS choose to use space segment
provided by IPSTAR and directly linked their Auckland Teleport
to the Oil Exploration Companies production office in New
Plymouth. The service provided 4 Extension Phone lines back to
the Plymouth PBX and High speed Unlimited Internet Data Access
to the management on the rig.
Sydney-headquartered
Australian Worldwide Exploration (AWE) announced on the 22nd
of November 2006 that the semi-submersible Ocean Patriot
drilling rig had "spudded" Tieke-1 at 2.30am and that by 6am
the rig was preparing to run and cement 30-inch conductor
casing at a measured depth of 229m.
The well will be drilled to a planned total
depth of 3600m, in water 122m deep. It is expected to take 18
days on a trouble-free basis. Tieke-1 is only about 8km from
the Tui oil pool and is in the Tui Area licence, roughly 40km
offshore.
URSYS Pty Ltd maintained
24 × 7 VoIP Telephony and Unlimited
Internet service to the Ocean Patriot using a SeaTel
Stabilised platform via satellite coverage provided by IPSTAR
over New Zealand for the entire period of exploration.
Bureau of Meteorology - Tsunami Warning Network
The Challenge
A massive tsunami on
December 26th 2004 caused a terrible disaster across S.E
Asia with enormous loss of life and destruction. Following
this event a regional project was set up to construct a
tsunami warning system to provide coastal communities with
early warning of the threat of tsunami waves. The system is
controlled by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology located
in Melbourne Australia.
The Selection
A satellite communications
network was necessary due to the large geographical
distances over which the tide gauges were
installed. Ordinary VSAT satellite systems requiring large
directional antenna dishes were unsuitable due to the
restrictions of the location sites and the fact that some
gauges were mounted on floating buoys. URSYS proposed a
spread spectrum satellite system which was exhaustively
tested over 6 months before final acceptance.
The Solution
URSYS initially provided 16
C-Band spread spectrum satellite terminals connected to tide
gauges. The satellite terminals were required to be mounted
on sea poles or buoys and so directional satellite antenna
dishes could not be used. URSYS used innovative
nondirectional helical array antennas that provide a highly
reliable satellite connection whilst being able to move
around. Using C Band transmission the satellite terminals
are immune from dropout during heavy tropical rains. The
system runs with close to 100% reliability.
The Benefit
The Australian Bureau of
Meteorology now is able to provide several hours warning of
impending tsunami waves for Pacific Island nations,
Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand.
Australian Pipeline Authority - Major Gas Pipeline Networks.
The challenge
Australian Pipeline
Authority (APA) is the principal owner of gas distribution
pipeline infrastructure in Australia. APA required a
national monitoring and control network to manage its remote
compressor stations, line valves, off-takes and metering
stations from national control rooms. Most sites are located
in remote areas, without power and are unmanned. The
reliability of the control communications is vital to for
the supply of gas to industrial and domestic customers.
The Selection
An existing system of
terrestrial and microwave communications was being replaced
due to poor reliability and high operational costs. A
satellite network was selected as the each terminal would
deliver the same performance, reliability and operating cost
no matter where it was installed.
The Solution
URSYS provided a satellite
network to carry SCADA monitoring and control signaling
between each remote station and the national Control
Rooms. The network also provides voice
communications. Experienced controllers located in the
national centres can remotely manage the entire pipeline
system and talk directly to maintenance crews on the ground
at each location.
The Benefit
The satellite network is
guarantied to operate with the same functionality,
reliability and cost anywhere in Australia. Installation
times have been reduced to 3 weeks. The reliability of the
control network has increased to 99.87% and operational
costs have been lowered.
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