Portable Data Collection System (PDCS)

R. Suresh

[email protected]

CEOS WGISS Meeting Chiang Mai, September 15-19, 2003

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Background Information

• US National Weather Service CSSA Project has 15,000 Weather Data Collection sites • Volunteers collect weather data such as temperature, relative humidity, rain, snow….

• This data is aggregated through local and regional offices and distributed through National Climate Data Center • Data Collection by Observers is a manual process • Geo-location and digital image data are two important elements of this system • Portable Data Collection System is an effort to improve the quality and process of field data collection by using new technology 2

Portable Data Collection System

(Patent pending)

• Portable device such as Palm, Pocket PC, or equivalent system • Integrated with GPS device which automatically gives the geo-location (latitude and longitude) of the data collection point • Integrated with digital camera • Provides “Weather Buddie ™” software utilities • PDCS will help in Data Collection, Verification, Validation and Seamless data integration 3

PDCS Features

• Ability to enter, edit, and update data • Automatic registration of Location, Time, Date, and Lat/Long • Provides Map interface that shows location information • Users can find addresses, points of interest and other features on the map • Provides navigation capability • Provides database connectivity 4

PDCS Features

• Ability to capture digital image data in multiple resolutions; Provides features such as zoom, adding annotation, and slide show • Ability to record low resolution video with audio for several minutes • Ability to work with external devices (e.g., Bar code scanner) •Re-configurable user interface • Software interface works with Pocket PC 2003 5

Sample Observation Data

RWIS data is available 24/7 and includes all of the major parameters of an ASOS surface observation including visibility.

There are equivalent systems in over 30 states.

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PDCS Types And Components PDCS – D PDA + GPS + Digital Camera PDCS will collect data or metadata including digital camera pictures. A user will go to office and upload the information to a PC and submit it through on-line.

PDCS – W PDA+GPS+Wireless PDCS with wireless connection will enable users to collect and submit data or metadata directly from the field.

PDCS – B PDA + GPS + Barcode scanner 7

PDCS Components Comparison of features of PDA Components

•PDAs – Palm and Pocket PC •GPS •Digital Camera •Wireless 8

Device Dell Axim X5 (Advanced) Compaq iPAQ 3970 HP Jornada 568 Toshiba e750 HP Jornada 548 Compaq iPAQ 3670 Palm Tungsten W Palm Zire 71 Handspring Visor Platinum Sony CLIE NR-70 Sony NZ90 Sharp Zaurus 5500

PDA comparison Chart

Comm.

Size Weight Processor

Memory

Colors Batt Cost 400MHz XScale 400MHz XScale 206MHz StrongARM 400MHz XScale 133MHz SH3 206MHz StrongARM 33MHz DragonBall 144MHz TI OMAP 33MHz DragonBall 66MHz DragonBall 200MHz XScale 206MHz MIPS 64 mb 64 mb 64 mb 64 mb 32 mb 64 mb 8/16 mb 16 mb 8 mb 16 mb 16 mb 64 mb I, CF, SD I, SD, B I, CF I, CF, SD, WF I, CF I I, SD, W I, SD I I, M I, CF, M, B I, CF, SD 5.00" x 3.2" x 0.70" 5.3" x 3.3" x 0.6" 5.2" x 3.01" x 0.68" 4.9" x 3.1" x 0.6" 5.2" x 3.1" x 0.60" 5.11" x 3.28" x 0.62" 4.8" x 3.1" x 0.65" 4.5" x 2.9" x 0.67" 4.8" x 3.0" x 0.70" 5.5" x 2.9" x 0.69" 5.63" x 3.00" x 0.9" 5.4" x 2.9" x 0.7" 6.9 oz 6.5 oz 6.1 oz 6.1 oz 9.1 oz 6.3 oz 6.5 oz 5.3 oz 5.4 oz 7.0 oz 10.3 oz 6.6 oz 16-bit Color 16-bit Color 16-bit Color

Lithium Lithium Lithium

16-bit Color 12-bit Color 12-bit Color

Lithium Lithium Lithium

16-bit Color 16-bit Color Color 16 Gray

Lithium Lithium

AAA 16-bit Color 16-bit Color 16-bit Color

Lithium Lithium Lithium

I: IrDA - CF: Compact Flash - SD: Secure Digital - M: Memory Stick - W: Wireless (GSM, GPRS, CDMA) - WF: WiFi (802.11b) - B: Bluetooth

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$486 $549 $299 $299 $499 $799 $399 $299 $749 $599 $579 $299

GPS for PDA’s comparison

Standard features of GPS receivers for Palm devices

•12 parallel channels •Fast acquisition and reacquisition •Receiver Frequency: 1575.42 MHz (L1 band) •Antenna Type: Helix Antenna •Update rate: Initial, every second.Typically every 2 seconds once fix established •Output Message: NMEA 0183 version 2.20, GPGGA, GPGSA, GPRMC and GPGSV •Acquisition time: Hot Start: 8 seconds typical Warm Start: 38 seconds Cold Start: 45 seconds typical Accuracy: Horizontal: 5.0 meters typical, 10.0 meters [95% probable]

Standard features of CF-type GPS for Pocket PC devices

•12 parallel channels •Integrated patch Built-in antenna • Fast acquisition and reacquisition • NMEA-0183 data protocol •

Acquisition time:

Cold start: 60sec Warm start: 45 sec Hot start: 8 sec •Operation modes: 2D/3D automatic selection •Reacquisition time : 0.1 sec •Position update: 1Hz •Accuracy: 15m 2D-RMS, (95%)

Serial type GPS interfaces are also available for Pocket PC devices

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Digital cameras for PDA comparison chart Palm OS handhelds

Resolution 640x480 digital resolution 24 bit full color 640 x 480 color bitmap Image standard JPEG BMP 640x480, 320x240, 160x120 (VGA) 2 Mega pixel JPEG JPEG Operating system to Hotsync photos Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XP Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XP Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XP Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XP Type Secure Digital slot (SD) (Palm m125, m130, m500, m505, m515, i705, Tungsten) Secure Digital slot (SD) (Palm m125, m130, m500, m505, m515, i705, Tungsten) Built in camera (Palm Zire71) Built in camera (Sony PEG N-Z90 Clie) 2 X digital zoom

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Pocket PC PDA cameras

Resolution 350K pixels, maximum resolution 640x480 350K pixels, 640x480, 320x240, 160x120 350K pixels, 640x480 Image standar BMP, GIF JPEG JPEG Operating system to Activesync photos Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XP Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XP Microsoft Windows 98/ME/2000/XP Type FlyCAM CF Digital Camera

Type I or II CompactFlash slot

[All pocket pc handhelds] VGA CompactCamera

Type I CompactFlash slot {Dell Axim, iPAQ, Jornada}

HP Jornada Pocket PC camera Type I CompactFlash slot All cameras come with digital zoom capabilities

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Wireless receivers for Palm and Pocket PC devices Palm Tungsten W- Built in wireless antenna



Pocket PC devices

(iPAQ, Dell Axim, Jornada, Toshiba)

Compact flash type



Built in antenna

Maximum Data Transmissions: Average speeds of 40 to 60 kbps with maximum speed of up to 144 kbps.

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AT&T MONTHLY PRICING FOR PALM AND POCKET PC DEVICES MONTHLY SERVICE CHARGE $29.99

$39.99

$59.99

$74.99

Included Megabytes (MB) Additional Data per Kilobyte (KB) U.S./Canada Roaming per KB 10 MB $0.0030

20 MB $0.0020

40 MB $0.0015

$0.0127

60 MB $0.0013

$99.99

100 MB $0.0010

Plans Monthly Service Fee PALM.NET PRICING AND SERVICE PLANS Mobile Mobile Plus $19.99

$39.99

Kilobytes included in monthly service fee 100 KB 1MB (1,000K) Mobile Annual $34.99

1MB (1,000K)

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Status of Wireless Coverage PALM.NET COVERAGE FOR PALM DEVICES 15

Wireless Coverage for Pocket PC systems

AT&T coverage for POCKET PC/PALM devices

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Future Work

Mobile Data Capture System (MDCS)

• There are many instruments used the field data collection today Data loggers, Rain gauges, Thermometers • Wireless technologies such as Blue tooth and IEEE 802.11 can assist in data transfers from the instruments directly • None of the field instruments are equipped with network capability • MDCS will enable communication between data loggers and the Mobile Data Capture System directly 17

Autonomous Data Collection Systems • Autonomous Data Collection Systems will enable automatic data collection, relay and transmission from the field - Water quality measurements are relayed through GOES satellite These are single entities that don’t have the communication capability Integrating GPS, Wireless and mobile devises with network capabilities will enable such systems 18