Lab 1 – Surface Water Detection System Description 1
Running head: LAB 1 – SURFACE WATER DETECTION SYSTEM DESCRIPTION
Lab 1 – Surface Water Detection System Description
Cassandra Rothrauff
Old Dominion University
Professor Price
Professional Workforce Development II
February 9, 2011
Lab 1 – Surface Water Detection System Description 2
Table of Contents
1
INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3
2
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
3
2.1
Key Product Features and Capabilities…………………………………………………………5
2.2
Major Components (Hardware /Software )………………………………………………… 6
2.3
Target Market /Customer Base…………………………………………………………………… 9
SWDS PRODUCT PROTOTYPE DESCRIPTION……………………………………………………………..9
3.1
Prototype Functional Goals and Objectives………………………………………………… 9
3.2
Prototype Architecture………………………………………………………….…………………… 9
3.3
Prototype Features and Capabilities…………………………………………………………… 10
3.4
Prototype Development Challenge…………………………………………………………….. 12
GLOSSARY……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13
REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 15
List of Figures
Figure 1. Technical Overview........................................................................................................................ 6
Figure 2. Hardware Overview ....................................................................................................................... 7
Figure 3. Hardware Component Diagram..................................................................................................... 8
Figure 4. Software Component Diagram ...................................................................................................... 9
Figure 5. GUI Design Model for Searching Data Archives .......................................................................... 11
Figure 6. GUI Design Model for Viewing Water Levels............................................................................... 11
List of Tables
Table 1. Competition Matrix......................................................................................................................... 5
Table 2. Risk Matrix ...................................................................................................................................... 5
Lab 1 – Surface Water Detection System Description 3
1 Introduction
On June 16, 2010, JournalStar.com wrote an article about a women living in Norfolk
who had a record of 16 feet of significant flood damage, after the Elkhorn River flood of
2010. According to the article:
“… by 8 p.m. Tuesday, the water was climbing outside her house on the southeastern
edge of Norfolk. An hour or so later, the evacuation order came. By 11 p.m., they
could see water approaching the front doors of neighboring houses.”
The three hour time difference could’ve easily been prevented. Families would’ve
been able to save valuables, furniture, and overall prevented house damages. You can see
or hear warnings on the television and on the radio broadcast. But the accuracy and delay
of the real time can be crucial to home owners. This women’s family could have easily
been notified only if there were some type of a water detection system that could alert
them sooner.
According to the new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood-Zone
(2010), more than 2,200 homes and buildings were added to high-risk areas where flood
insurance is required for mortgage holders. In recent years, the rate of sea level in
Norfolk has been increasing. Norfolk’s sea level is the worst out of any major city on the
East Coast. A new study has proven the sea level to rise up to two to four inches per
decade.
During the Elkhorn Flood of 2010, the U.S. 81 south highway was closed off.
Technicians, who are responsible to receive the flood watch data to alert the news
channels, couldn’t even get work.
Lab 1 – Surface Water Detection System Description 4
The Surface Water Detection System is a network of above ground ultrasonic sensors
able to detect rising water levels in areas prone to flooding. The product provides
physical sign implemented to warn drivers of dangerous roadways and centralized data
center for easy access by user – based applications. With this system, we can assist
drivers in preventing vehicle damage and personal injury in cases where they proceed
through inundated portions of the road.
2 Product Description
The proposed solution to help save motorist and homes is the Surface Water
Detection System (SWDS). Warning signs, embedded microcontroller, sensors, and
uneven housing can be effectively provided through the system. The current process is to
lower costs. The closed system development has a logic based on embedded algorithms
to calculate the difference in water level to the sensors. From there, there will be a
possible embedded data store in servers.
The decrease in city expenses and increase road safety can be resolved by the Surface
Water Detection System. The detection system can help avoid stranded motorists from
flooding waters. Warning signs will alert drivers sooner so detours can be taken in
advance. This will evidently pay off police and firemen that are usually in place to direct
traffic.
2.1 Key Product Features and Capabilities
Our proposed improvements include networked environment and user-based
application support. The networked environment can centralize data: Centering on
Lab 1 – Surface Water Detection System Description 5
receiving real time data from the multiple sensor locations. This is ideal for urban
environments.
Roadways are very prone to flooding. The Norfolk city controlled alert system to
warn drivers of dangerous water levels are highly poor and out dated of the latest
technology. These tools are road embedded devices. Some flaws in these devices include
several implementations underground, no roadside warnings, and no mobile device
support (Table 1).
Table 1: Competition Matrix
The SWDS has two inexpensive implementations options. One is to utilize existing
networks. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) is a network infrastructure to monitor
transportation systems. The other is to outsource to strong network development. User
based application support will assist the customer in implementing solutions which utilize
collected data. The main idea is to create an above ultrasonic sensor that can transmit data
to note only the web application, but to physical road signs.
Lab 1 – Surface Water Detection System Description 6
2.2 Major Components (Hardware/ Software)
Our major functional components can be utilized into three different types of
packages. These packages are designed to have a lower cost depending on the customer.
Baseline package includes, warning sing, embedded microcontroller, sensor, ruggedized
housing, and hardware support. The hardware support is a on-site specialist. The network
package upgrade is the baseline package with additional components for integrating to
existing or new networks. Also this Network package has software to monitor and data
log. The third package type is called Application, in addition to the baseline and network
packages, it has a type of development support for implementing user based applications
(Figure 1).
Remote
·
·
·
Monitor water levels
Control warning sign
Can act as “closed system”
Centralized Control
Network
Infrastructure
·
·
·
Process remote data
Standardize data format
Web server
End-User Applications
·
·
·
Website
Real-time maps
Syndication/services
Figure 1. Technical overview
In our Hardware Breakdown, (Figure 2 and 3), each sensor is designed to be mounted
above ground. This makes it easier to install and maintain. According to the sensor’s
accuracy, the range is 26 inches. To receive the data from each sensor, a centralized data
center would connect them all, keep the log data from real time and make it available to
the web server.
Lab 1 – Surface Water Detection System Description 7
Figure 2. Hardware overview
Roadside
Warning Sign
Remote Device
Ultrasonic
Sensor
Intelligent
Microcontroller
Network
Interface Card
Web Server
Data Center
Figure 3. Hardware component diagram
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Lab 1 – Surface Water Detection System Description 8
In our software breakdown, (Figure 4) the system uses the programmable ultrasonic
sensors. The algorithm will consist to monitor the distance between itself and to the
ground. The microcontroller will be programmed to turn on or off a road sign. This
information will transmit the data back to centralized collection. Software on the
collection unit is used to organize and communicate real-time data to the web server. The
user application software is a web server layer as in Google Maps and provides additional
syndication services (RSS).
Data Client
Data Server
User
Applications
Figure 4. Software component diagram
2.3 Target Market/ Customer Base
The target market for the SWDS product consists of the government cities. A car
can easily be carried away by floodwater. SWDS will provide the cities with software
and hardware needed to execute the most accurate flood watch. This will enable the
client-customers to make more efficient web application to view.
3 SWDS Product Prototype Description
Lab 1 – Surface Water Detection System Description 9
3.1 Prototype Functional Goals and Objectives
The SWDS prototype will demonstrate the modular function based solution to
solve uncertainty of water depth. Evidently, the prototype will be very similar to the final
product. The main objectives are to focus on the product implementation. Using the
ultrasonic sensor, road sign, wiring, development PCs and microcontroller, the warning
drivers with be done both physically and online.
3.2 Prototype Architecture
The hardware for the Prototype is the sensors, which will measure the distance
between itself and its target surface. It will filter out erroneous measurements: Examples,
cars and rapidly changing water levels due to movement of body of water. The warning
signs will be triggered by flashing on and off lights once a calibrated threshold is reached.
The network system will communicate the measurement, threshold and sensor ID
from remote sensor to centralized server. On the monitor screen, there will be a display
on the status of the remote sensors. An override button is controlled on the control panel
for the warning sign lights and the sensor parameters. In the database, data will be
recorded.
3.3 Prototype Features and Capabilities
The features and capabilities of the Prototype are designed to provide a public
web application. Google Maps is used to display graphic representation of water levels.
Users can set up custom RSS feeds to alert them to dangerous water levels on their route.
(Figure 5 & 6)
Lab 1 – Surface Water Detection System Description 10
Figure 5. GUI Design Model for Searching Data Archives
Figure 6. GUI Design Model for Viewing Water Levels
Lab 1 – Surface Water Detection System Description 11
3.4 Prototype Development Challenges
The prototype development will have challenges in technology availability and
scheduling risks. Technically, most cities don’t have network systems that can work with
the hardware support needed. The custom tailored design will have to be planned
accordingly.
Scheduling challenges include information and equipment delay. Keeping the
cities in mind, the sensors must be placed in appropriate locations where data can be
received with no interference. Also the location of the specific network system is a major
concern. This can cause a equipment delay. When mounting the system and the road
signs, engineering delay can occur. The main issue is that drivers can ignore these
warning signs engineered to help guide them on the right route; or they can be distracted
and not even see the flashing warning signs.
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Lab 1 – Surface Water Detection System Description 12
GLOSSARY
Algorithm: A precise rule or set of rules specifying how to solve a problem.
Annual software license: A legal contract governing the usage of software that is
updated once a year.
Application Programming Interface (API): Software implemented to allow for simpler
and more abstracted interactions with other software.
Baseline package: The basic closed-system version of the flood detection system that
includes the ultrasonic sensor, microcontroller, ruggedized housing, and flashing
warning sign. This is best suited for remote locations where a sensor network
would be impractical.
Bid proposal: An explanation of products and services given with an estimated cost.
Centralized data center: The software and hardware that acts a central point for
collecting the sensor data transmissions over a network and recording their values
into a database.
Client: Any end-system that is connected to a network.
Closed system: A single ultrasonic sensor, microcontroller, ruggedized housing, and
warning sign set up that has no network interface.
Commercial front-end: An entity that provides some means, via website or physical
location, to sell a product. These are direct whose primary goal is to sell its
company’s deliverables to a targeted market.
Embedded data store: The ability to store data on the microcontroller.
Flooding: An inundated area of roadway that is considered impassible due to an influx of
water.
Global Positioning System (GPS): A navigational system that pinpoints latitude and
longitude of a location using stationary satellites.
Google Maps API: A technology created by Google that utilizes maps to support a
variety of uses, typically displaying related locations in map form through a web browser.
Lab 1 – Surface Water Detection System Description 13
Graphical User Interface (GUI): A user-friendly interface that allows easy access to an
applications features, which uses a mouse and keyboard as input devices.
Microcontroller: A small computer on a chip that is used to control electronic devices.
Modularized: Development technique which involves breaking a unified process or idea
into coherent segments for the purpose of abstraction or simplicity.
Multi-sensor network: Several sensor installations connected by a network
infrastructure that relay measurements back to a centralized data center.
Network: A system of interconnected electronic components or circuits.
Prototype: Logical step in the development process demonstrating the real world
potential of a concept.
Real time data: Information that is collected in the actual time the process is occurring.
Really Simple Syndication (RSS): Formatted XML used to provide subscribers with
information updated on a regular basis.
Risk analysis: Identifying and assessing factors that may compromise the success of a
project.
Ruggedized housing: An enclosure designed to protect an electronic device such as a
field sensor from the elements.
Server: A computer used to accept incoming requests and information over a network,
and in-turn, generates and transmits data back to another user or computer (client).
Ultrasonic sensor: A sensor that calculates changes in depth using high frequency sound
waves.
User base applications: Programs developed for the purpose of providing services to
users.
Warning sign: A type of traffic sign that indicates a hazard on the road that may not be
readily apparent to a driver.
Web Server: A computer that delivers content from websites over the Internet.
Lab 1 – Surface Water Detection System Description 14
References
Mooney, Jeanne. “Virginia Beach's new flood-zone maps affect some homes, available to
view”. The Virginian-Pilot 31 May 2008.
Duggan, Joe. “Dealing with the aftermath: Norfolk wakes up to significant flood
damage”. JournalStar.com 16 June 2010.
"Floodsmart.gov: Flood Facts." Floodsmart.gov: Your Premier Resource for Flood
Insurance Information. Web. 09 Feb. 2011.
<http://www.floodsmart.gov/floodsmart/pages/flood_facts.jsp>.