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Press Releases and News

6/13/2023: OTT HydroMet Partner, Aquatic Informatics, Launches HydroCorrect

Aquatic Informatics™ announces the launch of HydroCorrect™, a new automated data validation tool that can power proactive monitoring and management of groundwater, flooding, and water quality in the Aquarius™ platform. HydroCorrect transforms data quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) processes using machine-learning to automate and standardize workflows, detect data anomalies, ensure regulatory compliance, and enforce data standards organization-wide, leading to an exponential reduction in time and resources spent on the QA/QC process. The tool provides immediate recommendations on how to respond to environmental events and influence long-term decisions while ensuring the data that drives those suggestions is defensible, reliable, and timely.

Michael McCormick, Vice President of Product at Aquatic Informatics said, “Anomaly detection and correction is one of the most important and time-intensive elements of working with time series data, and it is becoming a bigger problem as data volumes grow. Aquarius already provides advanced tools to help users rapidly see and correct erroneous measurements. With machine-learning technology, HydroCorrect will transform the QA/QC process with automation and standardized workflows that save time and improve data quality.”

Trusted Automation, Estimation, and Correction

HydroCorrect enables organizations to easily transition to automation by providing support and giving operators full control. Trusted automation provides flexibility through user approved actions until operators are ready to fully automate any action as well as visibility with the audit trail and easy to understand rule creation and anomaly detection. Estimations and corrections use high-accuracy, in-situ, field-visit data to adjust the continuous time series data, creating full confidence in the abilities of the analysis.

Reduce Time and Resources Spent on QA/QC

Organizations invest a significant amount of time in the QA/QC process, with one customer estimating “approximately 210 hours” — or 26 business days — spent each year, on average, on data validation alone. HydroCorrect reduces mundane work and enables skilled workers to perform higher-value and more engaging tasks that can have an impact on making better data driven decisions. Using machine-learning technology validates water data from numerous sources effortlessly, and the suggestion-based approach means the user always stays in control while saving hours of time on manual QA/QC processes. Existing Aquarius users can implement HydroCorrect to see the benefits of automating their QA/QC processes.

For more information register today for the HydroCorrect™ launch webinar to see the product’s capabilities first-hand: https://aquaticinformatics.com/resources/webinar/aquarius-new-standard-environmental-data-quality/

5/22/2023: OTT HydroMet Celebrates 150 Years of Tradition, Precision, & Innovation with the Anniversary of OTT Product Brand

For 150 years, OTT HydroMet’s product brand, ‘OTT’ has been at the forefront of innovation, pioneering state-of-the-art hydrological and meteorological instrumentation. Originating in Germany, OTT has since expanded to be a global industry leader providing the highest quality products, customized solutions, and technical support.

OTT HydroMet plans to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the OTT product brand with a five-month event highlighting new innovations, special customer events, global success stories, and more.

New Innovations: The OTT brand continues to innovate with its latest release of the OTT PLS 500, smart pressure level sensor and the OTT ecoLog 1000, an all-in-one level logger and telemetry solution now with conductivity measurements.

Special Events: A series of both private and public customer-facing events are scheduled across the globe including a dedicated customer event, Anwenderforum, at the Kempten headquarters in September.

OTT Product Brand Archives: In this digital social campaign, followers will be guided through the history of the OTT brand, recounting inspiring moments and stories that contributed to the advancement of environmental monitoring. Hashtags: #OTT150, #OTTImpact

The OTT HydroMet Anniversary celebrations will kick-off this May and continue through October 2023. More information and additional details regarding all special anniversary campaign programming will be announced in May.

3/22/2023: OTT ecoLog 1000 Now with Conductivity Measuring Capabilities

OTT Hydromet has launched a new variant of the OTT ecoLog 1000, an all-in-one instrument with a water level sensor, logger, and cellular modem built in. The new variant is equipped with a rugged and accurate, 4-electrode conductivity measuring cell allowing the user to measure water level, temperature, and conductivity.  

OTT HydroMet has a reputable track record of designing instrumentation for water level, conductivity, and water temperature all in one device, with examples like the OTT PLS-C, pressure level sensor with conductivity, OTT CTD, and OTT ecoLog 800. This technical expertise is incorporated into the design of the OTT ecoLog 1000. 

The ability to continuously measure conductivity gives insight into how varying environmental factors may be influencing water quality at monitoring sites. Water conductivity data can be used to identify the presence of dissolved minerals or ions, such as salt, in a system. With this knowledge, users can determine the potential uses of their water for drinking or irrigation and monitor overall aquifer health.

Conductivity data is fundamental to the derived water quality parameters of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and salinity. With the new variant, awareness is gained surrounding events like saltwater intrusion, pollutants from surface water runoff, and other environmental impacts. 

All variants of the OTT ecoLog 1000 are simple to operate using a smart phone, tablet or PC through LinkComm operating software via integrated Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for local communication. LinkComm enables intuitive device set-up and configuration changes in the field and a simple step-by-step interface for calibrating the optional conductivity cell. The integrated cellular modem supports near real-time data visibility and remote station configuration changes to avoid unnecessary, expensive trips to measurement sites. 

“The new capability of the OTT ecoLog 1000 to measure conductivity opens a world of possibility for users looking to remotely monitor basic water quality parameters at select sites in their network. The compact design of the instrument with an integrated cell modem makes installation quick and maintenance minimal.” - Greg Koch, Global Product Manager, Hydrology. 

2/24/2023: OTT HydroMet Expands UK Team

OTT HydroMet, the developer and manufacturer of environmental monitoring solutions, has announced the appointment of Dr. Liam Goodes as Sales and Business Development Manager in the south of the UK.

Liam has an MSci in Oceanography from the University of Southampton and the University of Bordeaux, and a PhD in Marine Surface Engineering from the University of Southampton. He has since worked in optics and scientific hardware sales for a number of years, and in his spare time, he is a keen competitive archer.

Looking forward, Liam says: “Working closely with customers, the OTT HydroMet Group is constantly developing new technologies, and now offers a comprehensive package of solutions for environmental monitoring, communications and data management. I am therefore extremely excited to be appointed to this role, and look forward to helping customers gather the measurement insights they need.”

2/17/2023: Enhanced Connectivity for Remote Water Level Logger

OTT HydroMet has added additional communication options to its water level and temperature logger, the OTT ecoLog 1000. Now equipped with low-power LTE-M (CAT M1) connectivity, the device provides water professionals with simple, fast access to their water level data.

LTE-M is a type of low-power wide area network communication technology standard for a wide range of cellular devices and services in machine (M2M) and IoT applications, such as networks of groundwater monitoring sites. LTE-M has 5G compatibility making it future proof as cellular networks evolve. Mobile devices, smart phones, and tablets operating with Android, iOS or Windows 10 are all supported. In addition, simple local communication is available via Bluetooth.

By supporting 4G and cellular IoT transmission, LTE-M increases the speed and lowers the cost of data transmission, enabling users to conduct remote two-way operations such as configuration, network management, data download or the viewing of real-time data.

Robust, simple to install, and running on low-power with a 10-year battery life, the ecoLog 1000 has been designed specifically for long-term, unattended deployment. Enhanced connectivity further reduces the requirement for site visits, and lowers the cost of ownership.

Further information is available on the OTT Hydromet Blog.

5/12/2022: New Game-Changing Smart Water Level Sensor

OTT Hydromet has launched a new water level sensor, the OTT PLS 500, which combines robust reliability and accuracy with the advantages of smart sensor technology. Building on decades of experience, the redesigned PLS 500 retains key elements of the trusted, robust, and reliable OTT PLS, while enhancing the sensor to be intuitive and user friendly.

The OTT PLS 500 is a vented water level and temperature sensor with a stainless steel body and a robust ceramic pressure cell for improved accuracy and reliability. As a smart sensor it includes built-in QA/QC and metadata to verify sensor performance and validate data. This means that the sensor is ideal for extended deployment in remote locations.

“This new technology is all about long-term accuracy and reliability,” explains Greg Koch, Global Product Manager, OTT HydroMet. “The PLS 500 is fitted with a humidity sensor and an inclinometer to provide insight to mitigate condensation in the vented line and sensor movement or misalignment. The result is a smart sensor that continually checks itself to ensure that measurements are being taken correctly, with the ability to raise alarms if necessary.”

In addition to pressure (water level), the device also measures temperature to facilitate the automatic compensation of level measurements based on variation in water density.

An important feature of the PLS 500 will be a new capability to conduct data processing to improve the efficiency of data reporting and eliminate manual data post-processing/ analysis. For example, the probe will be able to automatically undertake internal calculations such as averages, minima and maxima, as well as discharge calculations from either a user-defined rating table or an ISO 1100-2 exponential formula set-up via SDI-12 commands.

Communication with the PLS 500 has also been enhanced, with the standard/simple communication protocols of SDI-12 or Modbus RTU (via RS-485).

Neatly summarizing the main advantages of the PLS 500, a Device Beta Tester with the State of Colorado Natural Resource Agency said: “The metadata and sensor flags are a game changer to ensure quality data remotely.”

 

24/11/2021: OTT HydroMet Invests in UK Growth

As the world is seeking new ways to fight climate change and develop mitigation strategies for severe weather, OTT HydroMet’s UK business has invested in two new positions to help meet that need. “Our technologies and data management solutions enable customers to monitor water resources and weather more effectively than ever before,” explains OTT HydroMet’s Robin Guy. “This means that we can play a role in not just monitoring the changing climate, but also helping to create severe weather warning systems that issue timely alerts to protect life and property. We have therefore recruited two new highly qualified and experienced business development managers that will offer customers the highest levels of support as they plan their monitoring and rapid response capability.”

Lewis Taylor will support old and new customers in the south of the UK, and Wendy Strain will cover the north.

Lewis has a first class degree in Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering from the University of South Wales, and a Post Graduate Certificate in Professional Engineering from Cardiff University. He has worked as a CAPEX and OPEX process improvement engineer on several major water projects, and has 15 years of experience in sales and project management for major industrial water customers.

Wendy has a degree in Applied Chemistry from Liverpool John Moores University, and has 15 years of experience in municipal and industrial water and wastewater treatment, including 8 years in a consulting role; providing technical advice and training on mechanical and chemical water treatment.

“We are delighted to welcome these two talented individuals to our UK team,” adds Robin Guy. “The UK is already experiencing more frequent instances of severe weather, and COP26 has highlighted the fact that this situation is likely to worsen in the coming years. “We are therefore determined to help customers ensure that their monitoring networks are better able to detect issues such as intense rainfall, rising water, flooding and severe winds. These issues threaten lives and infrastructure such as highways, railways, buildings, industry and domestic housing, so Lewis and Wendy will be tasked with helping customers take advantage of the latest technologies in remote measurements, communications and data management software.”
 

20/08/2021: Meet OTT HydroMet’s Global Experts at Virtual WWEM 2021

OTT HydroMet will host a virtual exhibition booth at this year’s WWEM 2021 event; providing visitors with access to a world of expertise in sensors, dataloggers, telemetry and data management software for monitoring water and meteorology.

Taking place on 13th and 14th October, and with a clear focus on Water, Wastewater & Environmental Monitoring, WWEM 2021 will provide pre-registered visitors with free access to a range of conferences and workshops, as well as the opportunity to arrange appointments with experts from OTT HydroMet’s global locations.

“As a virtual event, WWEM will enable us to provide technical support from almost any location in the world,” explains OTT’s Application Development Manager for Europe Katja Weber. “However, given the variation in time zones, we are encouraging visitors to pre-arrange appointments with us; either via the exhibition portal (www.ilmexhibitions.com) or directly via our website www.ott.com.

“At traditional exhibitions, most of the visitors are looking for help and advice such as: where to install monitors; which sensors to deploy; what service/calibration routine to choose; which loggers can handle remote operation; what telemetry method would be most cost-effective; how the system should be powered, and which data management platform to employ,” explains Katja.

“Experts from OTT HydroMet will be available to discuss all of these issues, as well as to demonstrate the latest technologies. There will also be a live feed to real-world water level data from one of our customer sites.”

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07/07/2021: Big water data – more work? Or a great opportunity?

Water security can be defined as the availability of a sufficient quantity and quality of water to sustain livelihoods, health, socio-economic development and ecosystems. To achieve this goal, water managers need timely access to reliable, insightful, defensible data, but with the volume and speed of data now available, will existing data infrastructure be able to cope?

Recent developments in sensors, dataloggers and telemetry, have delivered intelligent monitoring systems that are able to operate remotely, running on very low levels of power and delivering reliable data in real-time. This has prompted dramatic growth in the implementation of high-intensity monitoring systems that generate enormous volumes of data. These systems also possess advanced alarm capability; issuing alert messages by SMS, email etc. when pre-set conditions arise.

Water management policies must be sustainable and resilient, so it is vital that both strategic and operational decisions are based on sound data. However, if data are not managed correctly, users may become ‘data-rich but information-poor’, so some of the most important decisions in the organisation of a monitoring programme relate to the ways in which data will be managed.

Working at every stage of the data collection process, OTT HydroMet has developed sensors that can operate remotely for extended periods; loggers that run on very low power but provide enormous data processing capability; telemetry solutions to transmit data from and to anywhere, and software that can assimilate vast quantities of data. The latest software (as a service) packages, such as Hydromet Cloud and AQUARIUS, are able to provide insights and alerts, while also providing easy access to live or historical data.

In combination, the OTT HydroMet solutions, from sensor to screen, enable water managers to meet the needs of disparate stakeholders and enhance water security. So, when it comes to the management of water, Big Data represents a fantastic opportunity.

For further information, please contact:
OTT Hydromet Ltd
Unit 19 Jessops Riverside
800 Brightside Lane
Sheffield  S9 2RX
Tel.  01246 573480
Fax. 01246 813873
Email: uksales@otthydromet.com

24/03/2021: Ice-nucleating particles in precipitation samples from the Texas Panhandle

"Ice-nucleating particles (INPs) influence the formation of ice crystals in clouds and many types of precipitation. This study reports unique properties of INPs collected from 42 precipitation samples in the Texas Panhandle region from June 2018 to July 2019. We used a cold stage instrument called the West Texas Cryogenic Refrigerator Applied to Freezing Test system to estimate INP concentrations per unit volume of air (nINP) through immersion freezing in our precipitation samples with our detection capability of > 0.006 INP L−1. A disdrometer was used for two purposes: (1) to characterize the ground-level precipitation type and (2) to measure the precipitation intensity as well as size of precipitating particles at the ground level during each precipitation event. While no clear seasonal variations of nINP values were apparent, the analysis of yearlong ground-level precipitation observation as well as INPs in the precipitation samples showed some INP variations, e.g., the highest and lowest nINP values at −25 ∘C both in the summer for hail-involved severe thunderstorm samples (3.0 to 1130 INP L−1), followed by the second lowest at the same temperature from one of our snow samples collected during the winter (3.2 INP L−1). Furthermore, we conducted bacteria community analyses using a subset of our precipitation samples to examine the presence of known biological INPs. In parallel, we also performed metagenomics characterization of the bacterial microbiome in suspended ambient dust samples collected at commercial open-lot livestock facilities (cattle feedyards hereafter) in the Texas Panhandle (i.e., the northernmost counties of Texas, also known as “West Texas”) to ascertain whether local cattle feedyards can act as a source of bioaerosol particles and/or INPs found in the precipitation samples. Some key bacterial phyla present in cattle feedyard samples appeared in precipitation samples. However, no known ice nucleation active species were detected in our samples. Overall, our results showed that cumulative nINP in our precipitation samples below −20 ∘C could be high in the samples collected while observing > 10 mm h−1 precipitation with notably large hydrometeor sizes and an implication of cattle feedyard bacteria inclusion."

To the full article on the European GeoSccience Union homepage

23/07/2020: Satellite telemetry supports flood protection in Scotland

In recent years the development of flood warning systems has benefited from advances in sensor, datalogger and communications technology. The expansion of mobile telecommunications has meant that more locations now benefit from increased coverage, so that water level and meteorological monitoring systems can now be installed in remote locations. “In the past, data would have to be collected manually,” explains Robin Guy from OTT Hydromet. “However, this is both time consuming and costly, so modern systems employ telemetry to communicate with remote stations to lower costs and dramatically improve the speed and value of data."

“The most recent advance in remote communications has been the development of low-power, datalogging, satellite transmitters which are able to transmit sensor data from almost any location on earth. In the early days, satellite transmission of data was prohibitively expensive, but costs have lowered considerably; to the point where satellite telemetry competes directly with cellular communications.”

Scotland's water is famed worldwide, and performs vital roles both in tourism and in the production and branding of some of the country’s greatest exports. Water resources are monitored closely by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) to inform water management and to protect the environment; by detecting trends from climate change for example. Part of this monitoring activity is undertaken to provide a free advance flood warning service known as Floodline. This is a 24/7 telephone and website service providing advance notice of flooding, with advice on how to be prepared.

Floodline provides regional flood alerts which cover a wide geographic area and provide an early indication of potential flooding. This raises awareness and enables the public and emergency response services to prepare for possible flooding. Floodline also issues flood warnings for specific smaller areas where messages can be issued for local communities.

SEPA’s Flood forecasting and warning relies on a network of water level and precipitation monitors, some of which are located in remote areas of catchments, where the communications infrastructure can be less reliable. The SUTRON SatLink3, a combined datalogger and satellite transmitter, was therefore trialled at a site in Boat of Garten, near Aviemore. The logger is SDI12 compatible, and an OTT PLS sensor was used to monitor water levels and temperature, in addition to a raingauge and an air temperature sensor.

The SatLink3 is also Wi-Fi enabled which means that users are able to wirelessly set up and download the logger/transmitter with Android, iPhone or Windows devices. This also means that field staff can connect with the logger wirelessly from the comfort and safety of their vehicle – in any weather.

In the same way as a fee is payable for data transmission via mobile networks, many operators of satellite transmitters pay a small fee to transmit data via satellite. However, public organisations transmitting environmental data are able to use the EUMETSAT service free of charge.  This provides reliable and consistent one way transmission of data, and it is also possible to implement 2-way communications using the paid-for Iridium satellite service.

Following 2 months of successful operation in Aviemore, the monitoring and satellite communications equipment was transferred to a site near Aberfoyle to serve as part of a flood warning system for a period of 2 months. It was also deployed near Charr in Aberdeenshire at a primary flood warning station for a further 2 months because mobile communications at this location had been hindered by a new wind farm. After the success of the trials the latter 2 locations have since had agreement to install permanent SatLink3 dataloggers.

At each of the trial locations, data were transmitted every 15 minutes, and whilst 2-way communications were not available, the logger could be set to respond to certain conditions – to log at a faster rate for example. No maintenance issues occurred during the evaluation and as a result, around 20 new monitoring stations will be installed with satellite telemetry during 2020.

Commenting on the expansion of remote monitoring, Robin Guy says: “There are obvious cost advantages to be gained by collecting data remotely, but the effectiveness of flood prediction is greatly enhanced by the ability to gather timely data continuously from remote monitoring stations. This enables organisations such as SEPA to monitor at locations which are ideal for informing flood prediction models and warning systems.

“Advanced satellite telemetry is just one of the ways in which remote monitoring is enhanced; the latest sensors and loggers operate on very low power, with extended periods between service and calibration. Most sites can therefore operate from solar power and the necessity for site visits is dramatically reduced.

“The quality and reliability of cellular communications can vary in remote locations – often because the signal is reliant on a single mast. So, when a local mast has a problem or is out of service, the signal will be lost. Satellite telemetry has proved to be extremely reliable and is therefore becoming a useful tool in many locations; helping to improve the reliability and resilience of monitoring networks.”

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2020

10/07/2020: Real-time access to Antarctic tide data

One of the most important challenges, when designing monitoring facilities in remote locations, is resilience. Remote tide gauge systems operate in extremely harsh environments and require robust communications systems that almost never fail and are capable of storing large amounts of data locally as an extra protection for data. Scientists from the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) are therefore upgrading the South Atlantic Tide Gauge Network (SATGN) to include the latest low power dataloggers with built-in satellite telemetry capability – the SatLink 3 from OTT Hydromet.

The SATGN is maintained and operated by the National Oceanography Centre, which is the UK centre of excellence for sea level monitoring, coastal flood forecasting and the analysis of sea levels. It is the focus for marine water level research in the UK and for the provision of advice for policy makers, planners and coastal engineers.

The SATGN measures sea levels in some of the most remote places on Earth. Monitoring sites include Antarctic locations such as Rothera and Vernadsky; located around 1,400 km below the southern tip of Argentina. Prior to the installation of this network there was a lack of information on sea level variations in the Southern Atlantic and a bias in tide gauge records towards the more densely populated Northern hemisphere. Over the last 30 years data from the SATGN have improved estimates of global sea level change, such as those reported by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The NOC at Liverpool operates and maintains the SATGN providing near real-time sea level data for operational purposes and scientific research. This has helped to provide a long-term sea level record that is used by UK scientists and the wider scientific community to monitor the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) variability. The data is also being used to help in the ‘ground truthing’ of satellite altimetry as well as the evaluation of climate variability on various timescales including longer term changes. In addition, the data is being used by local communities to provide essential information for both government and port authorities.

Monitoring/telemetry system upgrade

In recent years, the SATGN has undergone a refurbishment programme to reduce running costs and to safeguard local populations and infrastructure by providing tsunami monitoring capability and improving resilience. These new gauges couple Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) land level monitoring technology with tsunami capable radar and pressure sensors, transmitting data in near real-time by satellite based communications systems to operational monitoring centres.

As part of this NOC ongoing program, the tide gauges’ main datalogger and transmitter have been upgraded to incorporate OTT’s new Sutron SatLink3. The first site to receive this upgrade was the Vernadsky station located in Antarctica, which is now operated by Ukrainian scientists and is soon to be followed by the tide gauge at King Edward point, on the South Georgia islands.

A further advantage of the upgrade is the SatLink3’s ability to communicate via Wi-Fi with wireless devices, including smart phones, tablets and computers. This means that local staff can connect wirelessly to the logger from a few metres away, which is a major advantage during inclement weather conditions.

Sensors

The SatLink3 datalogger is capable of accepting readings from a wide variety of sensors, with 2 independent SDI-12 channels, 5 analogue channels, one 4-20 mA channel and 2 digital inputs. The Vernadsky station includes a barometric pressure sensor, a radar level sensor installed over a heated/insulated stilling well (keeps the inner core free of ice) and two OTT PLS pressure level sensors which provide accurate measurements of water depth.

The network is using the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) to transmit data. GOES is operated by the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service. One minute averaged data is transmitted every 15 minutes. The data is then made freely available on the IOC Sea Level Station Monitoring Facility web site www.ioc-sealevelmonitoring.org/list.php.

Summary

By upgrading to the SatLink3 logger/transmitter, the NOC is enhancing the resilience of the South Atlantic Tide Gauge Network. Jeff Pugh from the Marine Physics and Ocean Climate Group at the NOC, says: “The data from this network informs models that assist with projections relating to climate change, and others which provide advance warnings that can help protect life and property. Given the remote locations of the monitoring sites, it is vitally important, therefore, that the instruments are extremely reliable, operating on low power, with very little requirement for service or spares. By transmitting almost live data via satellite, these monitoring systems enable the models to deliver timely warnings; advance notice of tsunami, for example, can be of critical importance.”

Satellite telemetry is becoming increasingly popular in many other parts of the world. “Some government and non-commercial organisations are able to utilise a variety of satellites free of charge,” explains OTT’s Nigel Grimsley. “However, the cost of transmitting data via satellite has reduced considerably recently, and now rivals the cost of cellular communications.”

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04/2020 OTT wins national water level sensors contract

Following a competitive tendering process, the Environment Agency has awarded OTT Hydrometry (UK) with a national contract to supply submersible pressure sensors to be used in water level measurement applications associated with surface water, groundwater and tidal water monitoring.

The contract is part of a joint procurement exercise with SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) and NRW (Natural Resources Wales).

The contract applies to Lot 6 of a telemetry and control equipment tender, which covers digital output ceramic diaphragm sensors with SDI:12 and Modbus output, for use where sensors require regular cleaning or where surrounding water is susceptible to freezing during the winter.

Under the contract, OTT will supply the OTT PLS sensors until November 2022, with options to extend for a further two periods of 12 months thereafter. The PLS is a robust ceramic pressure cell, providing long-term measurement stability. Resistant to physical force (5 x burst pressure) and with an enclosure made of high-quality saltwater resistant steel, the PLS is suited to a wide variety of freshwater and marine applications.

As a vented probe, the PLS maintains measurement accuracy by automatically compensating for changes in barometric pressure, and a built-in microcontroller compensates for temperature effects. The sensor also applies correction values for gravitational acceleration and water density. The sensor’s robust cable has a Kevlar core, and with flexible output formats, it can be connected to a wide variety of dataloggers and outstations.

Download as PDF file

03/2020: OTT promotes natural flood management at Floodex

Visitors to the OTT Hydromet stand at the recent Floodex exhibition were provided with a free sapling, as part of the company’s efforts to promote tree planting as a way to capture carbon in the fight against climate change, and also as a natural flood management tool.

“As floods become more frequent and severe, many of our customers are starting to implement natural flood management (NFM) alongside more traditional engineering measures,” comments OTT MD Nigel Grimsley. “NFM seeks to ‘slow the flow’ – reducing peak flow, flow volumes and time to peak, especially in small catchments. As a manufacturer of precipitation, water level and flow monitoring equipment, we are intimately involved in measuring the success of such initiatives.”

Tree planting is just one of a number of NFM measures, but it can help in a number of ways. For example, rainfall is intercepted by the canopy of a tree and partly evaporates from the branch and leaf surfaces. Water falling onto soil under trees penetrates more quickly and more deeply than on open grassland, particularly where soils are compacted.

Trees naturally remove water from the soil leading to a significant reduction in pressure on drainage systems in urban areas and a reduction in flood risk in rural areas. In severe circumstances, trees can also provide a drag on flood water; acting as a porous barrier and thereby helping to slow the flow in upper regions of a catchment.

Download as PDF file

02/2020: Building reliability into outdoor sensors

OTT Hydromet has launched a suite of high quality weather monitoring sensors that are ideal for the construction and building management sectors. “Our latest Lufft sensors, the WS Series, deliver professional-grade weather data with instruments that are extremely compact, rugged and reliable,” says OTT Managing Director Nigel Grimsley. “In the past, customers would have had to purchase multiple sensors to monitor outdoor conditions effectively, but this can now be achieved with substantially less costly devices; many of which would fit in the palm of your hand.”

Weather monitors are routinely employed at construction sites to check that conditions are suitable for work such as pouring concrete or crane operation, but with facility managers looking for more sustainable solutions, Nigel says the big market is now building management.

OTT Hydromet is a specialist manufacturer of smart weather instruments for environmental monitoring and building automation purposes. With no moving parts, OTT’s comprehensive range of compact, low-energy multiparameter sensors offer long-term reliability for almost any weather parameter with easy integration into building control and HVAC systems.

The WS range offers customers the ability to select from a range of parameters including temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, wind velocity / direction, precipitation amount / intensity / type, UV index, sun direction, brightness and twilight, and global radiation.

Download Press Release as PDF

2019

12/2019: ISE sensors for measuring ammonium, nitrate or chloride in fresh water are now available for the well-established HYDROLAB HL4 and HL7 probes

ISE stands for "ion-selective electrode" and describes a sensor that converts the activity of a certain ion dissolved in water into an electrical potential. The newly introduced ISE sensors for ammonium, nitrate and chloride from HYDROLAB are robust and work in water depths of up to 15 meters.

The ammonium and nitrate sensors can measure in a range from 0 to 250 mg/L-N and the chloride sensor from 0 to 18,000 mg/L. They have an accuracy of ± 10 percent and can be used in an ambient temperature range between 0 and 40 degrees Celsius.

In general, ISE sensors have a higher drift than other water quality sensors. Therefore, they are especially suitable for spot measurements where the sensors are calibrated prior to the measurement campaign. Frequent quality checks and re-calibrations are required for longer periods of use. The HYDROLAB probes HL4 and HL7 support the user with a sophisticated maintenance and information concept. When connected to the operating software, the probe uses status displays to indicate whether calibration of the respective sensors is necessary. Calibrations can be carried out quickly and easily using guided calibration routines.

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08/2019: OTT HYDROMET LAUNCHES ALL-IN-ONE GROUNDWATER LEVEL LOGGER FOR BASIC WATER MEASUREMENT

Responding to growing needs for continuous time series data with reasonably priced equipment, leading global hydrometric provider OTT HydroMet has released the NEW OTT ecoLog 1000. The modern groundwater and surface logger measures both water level and temperature as well as valuable metadata.

The OTT HydroMet team has leveraged decades of global expertise to innovate this next-generation ecoLog instrument, while also incorporating customer feedback. “We heard your frustrations about excessive, expensive trips to the measurement site”, said Peter Schaeffeler, OTT HydroMet’s Data Management Product Manager. “We’ve made the OTT ecoLog 1000 reliable with intelligent power management and a long-lasting battery, so it can remain in the field without worry.” It also includes integrated mobile communication to eliminate data gaps and provide reliable and accurate data. This near-real-time data keeps you better informed before field trips, so each future visit is faster and more efficient.

Download full press release

To the product page

2018

11/2018 - OTT HydroMet launches the new XLink 100 and 500

The latest durable, reliable, flexible and cost-effective data logger/transmitter to deliver data you can trust.

OTT HydroMet, a global leader in hydrologic and meteorologic instrumentation and solutions, introduces the Sutron XLink family, the Xlink 100 and 500, for the gathering and transmitting of environmental data. XLink 100/500 combines easy to use, intuitive software offering versatility and programmability. This combination assists the user to gather, store, and access large amounts of data using either cellular or Iridium transmission. The XLink 100/500 seamlessly integrates most environmental sensors, including smart, digital, and analog, while supporting common measurement protocols and interfaces, including SDI-12.

“We are very excited about this product launch, it builds upon the success of its predecessor, the xLink-1 family, and on the horsepower, ease of use, modularity and flexibility of the Satlink3 family combined with over 100 years of building quality and durable products to offer best in class site controller at a very competitive price”, says OTT HydroMet Global Product Manager Sherif Ahmed.

Accurate Data Collection and Remote Access
The new XLink family is ideal for any hydrologist, meteorologist, researcher or scientist who needs to collect accurate time series measurements from ur-ban environmental or remote monitoring stations. The remote capability via cellular or Iridium satellites allows users to access data from anywhere at any time. Remote two-way communication further saves valuable time with the capability to modify the logger’s configuration or turn on or off instruments. Similarly, the XLink 100/500 ‘s Wi-Fi capability allows quick setup and access to data stored on the logger from a smartphone or tablet. Its quick adaptability from one communication method to the next is due to its plug and go mo-dem, which requires only a quick switch of modules. This ensures that the logger can easily adapt to new developments in telecom technologies.

Simple, Easy to Use and Customizable
The operating software for the XLink, LinkComm, offers a wide variety of sen-sor templates, with wiring assistance and no additional programming required to use, but can also be adapted beyond the standard configuration to meet more complicated requirements. Python scripts can be easily used to make measurements and transmissions beyond standard configuration or to com-municate with external modems, displays and much more.

Increased Security and Data Collection Capacity
The XLink 100/500 is capable of measuring 32 environmental parameters simultaneously, enabling more complex configurations on site using just one logger. In addition, the new logger has the capability of storing up to 1 million readings. In the event of communication interruption, data loss risk is reduced as the data can be logged and stored on the device until it can be retrieved by a technician. Data security is at the heart of the design, with three access control levels to protect setup, maintenance and data from unwanted access. In addition, data can be encrypted using IP protocols, such HTTPS or FTPS, or password protected during transmission to the server.

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2017

11/2017 - Hydromet Launches new HYDROLAB HL7 Water Quality Sonde

Kempten, November 2017- OTT Hydromet, a global leader in providing hydrologic and meterologic instrumentation and solutions, introduces the HYDROLAB HL7 multiparameter sonde for continuous monitoring of 9 key water quality parameters in open natural waters. HYDROLAB HL7 includes intuitive software for unmatched usability, exceptional power performance and proven sensor options, all delivering high data quality and reliability.

HYDROLAB water quality instruments and software help environmental scientists monitor  the increasingly important changes in our water resources even in the harshest conditions. The sonde, when utilized with the central cleaning brush is ideal for long term deployments prone to bio-fouling such as in lakes, rivers, wetlands and estuaries.
“The HYDROLAB HL7 represents a smarter and more sophisticated water quality sonde”, said Ronan O'Maitiu, OTT Hydromet’s Water Quality Product Manager. “Matching a strong sensor heritage with intensive development and testing produced massive gains in deployment options and great functionality all streamlined into intuitive software.”   

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07/2017 – Clean water for all - but how? OTT Hydromet provides modern measuring instruments for TRUST Research Project



Climate change is exacerbating the lack of water, especially in regions that are already struggling with water shortages. At the same time, worldwide demand for clean drinking water, irrigation water for agriculture and process water for industry is increasing. In the TRUST joint project, experts from various disciplines are therefore working together and developing holistic planning tools as well as novel, integrated water supply and sanitation concepts for sustainable water supply, with priority being given to drinking water supply. It is coordinated by the Center for Interdisciplinary Risk and Innovation Studies (ZIRIUS) at the University of Stuttgart.

TRUST combines soil and satellite-based hyperspectral remote sensing, water balance modelling and strategic decision-making instruments to develop and plan new supply and disposal concepts in the water sector. Taking the example of Lima in Peru, which regularly suffers due to the extreme weather effects of El Niño, technical solutions adapted to the local conditions are being developed for sustainable water resources management ...

...OTT Hydromet provides modern measuring instruments to register water quantity and water quality, as well as meteorological values such as precipitation.

Press release Uni Stuttgart TRUST Project

 

 

2016

12/2016 – OTT netDL Data Logger integrates hydrological measurement systems with process control engineering

Kempten (Germany), December 2016. OTT Hydromet has extended the OTT netDL IP Data Logger with special functions for industrial communication. These enable seamless integration of hydrological measurement systems in process control engineering. To do this, the Hydrological Logger transfers its data to the operation unit, which then takes it over and feeds it into the control system, thus creating a continuous measurement chain – direct, digital and prompt.

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10/2016 – New cable way system for OTT Hydromet

Kempten (Germany), October 2016. A new cable way system for flow measurements using the vertical method has been added to the range by the manufacturer OTT Hydromet. The solid, maintenance-free equipment is designed for span lengths of up to 160 m. It has been DEKRA type approved, and ensures safe, smooth operation.

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10/2016 – Treating wastewater as a resource

Kempten (Germany), October 2016. One of the major challenges facing the operators of landfill sites is the disposal of treated effluent. However, to improve sustainability and broaden treatment options, this wastewater can be used as a source of nutrients and water for a Short Rotation Coppice crop (usually Willow) planted upon the restored landfill. A number of UK landfill operators are utilising OTT monitoring and control systems to manage the irrigation of Willow crops with pre-treated effluent.

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09/2016 – OTT Hydromet Group appoints Stanzi Prell as Head of Marketing

Kempten (Germany), September 2016. Stanzi Prell has strengthened the leadership team at the OTT Hydromet Group since September as Vice President Marketing. In this function, she has responsibility for the strategic development of the group with a focus on brand management and marketing communication. She reports directly to Dr. Anton Felder, the Managing Director of the OTT Hydromet Group.

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08/2016 – OTT Hydromet partners with Sea-Bird

Kempten (Germany), August 2016. The OTT Hydromet Group has announced a new distribution strategy for the Sea-Bird Coastal product range of water quality sensors and monitors. “These instruments fit very well with our range of water monitoring technologies,” says OTT’s European Sales Manager Marcus Meckelmann.

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05/2016 – OTT Hydromet Presents Measuring Technology for Municipalities

Kempten (Germany), May 2016. From Rain Water Management to Road Safety
OTT Hydromet GmbH located in Kempten/Germany will present a number of products at the 2016 IFAT Trade Fair in Munich/Germany that are of interest for municipal water management. There will also be something for all those who have to ensure safety on roads.

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01/2016 — Welcome Lufft to OTT Hydromet and Hach Environmental

Kempten (Germany), January 2016. OTT Hydromet GmbH, manufacturer of professional measuring technology for hydrology and meteorology, has acquired G. Lufft Mess- und Regeltechnik GmbH, one oft the leading manufacturers for environmental measuring technology. With the acquisition of Lufft and the recent acquisition of Sutron Corporation in 2015, OTT Hydromet continues to grow as a premier provider of advanced meteorological solutions.

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