ALERT to ALERT2 Conversion

What is ALERT and Why is it Important ?

• ALERT represents a standard for gathering and

sending by radio information from rain, water-level

and weather sensors in near real-time

• We use and provide this information to:• Monitor and Operate our Structures & their Watersheds

• Support Flood Response and Emergency Action Plans

• Identify hazardous areas that may require evacuation

• Identify hazardous transportation routes that may require

closure

ALERT System Schematic

FCDMC ALERTSYSTEM

STATIONS - 354

Rain Gages - 313Stream Gages - 185Weather Stations - 37

Radio Repeaters - 11

NWS, PHX, AFWS

InternetServer

Remote PCs

ALERT Room

Mobile

MCDEM

171.875 MHz

169.500 MHz

ALERT• 1978 – Present, over 35 years

• VHF or UHF Radio Frequencies,

Licensed by FCC

• Transmits 1 device ID number (0 –

8192) and 1 data number (0 –

2047)

• Time stamped by Base Computer

Development of ALERT2

• Committee Formed in 2001 –

ALERT Vendors and Users

• First Feasibility Study in 2002

• Working Prototypes by 2008

• Field Testing since 2010

Alert2 Data Changes

• Alert2 uses the station ID and sensor ID together to identify a sensor data value

• Station ID range: 1 – 65534• Sensor ID range: 0 – 255• 32 bit integer data range:

-2,147,483,648 to +2,147,483,648• Data won’t look any different to

the end-user

Why Convert to ALERT2 ?

• ALERT will not be supported beyond 2020

• Transmitter time set from GPS – sample

time sent with message

• Data collision avoidance using TDMA

• Station ID range expanded

• Data transmitted in engineering units

ALERT2 Conversion Process1. Base Station Software – Already

Installed2. Convert Receivers/Decoders –

Durango done, MCDEM in near future3. Convert Existing Stations (354) to

ALERT2 – converted 87 to date4. Convert Repeaters (11) to Rx ALERT

1/2 and Tx ALERT2 – 1 converted5. At current conversion rate, we could

by done before next summer

Alert2 Transmitter

QUESTIONS ?