Systems Management

We're in the business of precision measurements...
of air, water and earth

The environmental challenges facing the world today are both exhilarating and daunting. As populations grow and the demand for higher standards of living continues to rise, the need to closely monitor and manage the environment becomes increasingly critical and complex. Fortunately, Systems Management (SM) is providing some of the most technologically innovative solutions.

From monitoring watersheds to protect the increasingly threatened quality of our water supply, to providing the weather information needed to ensure safe transit for the thousands of airline passengers airborne at any time, SM provides solutions for the world.

NEWS RELEASE

Systems Management
Systems Atlanta

FAA Awards ACE-IDS Contract

The FAA recently announced a contract award to the team of Systems Management and Systems Atlanta for design, production and installation of the ASOS Controller Equipment-Integrated Display System (ACE-IDS). ACE-IDS will be an integral part of the large Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) systems planned for Atlanta, Northern California, Potomac, and Honolulu, and their satellite air traffic control towers. The contract value will exceed $10M over the next three years.

The ACE-IDS provides the ACE program capabilities including centralized servers for interface control, remote maintenance monitoring and bi-directional access to ASOS for current observations and augmentation as necessary. It combines these features with the popular software, external interfaces, and distributed architecture of the Systems Atlanta IDS product line. ACE-IDS will integrate SAI's latest generation IDS5 software.

READ MORE ABOUT THE ACE-IDS SYSTEM

Other Recent News...
September 10,1999: FAA awards ACE-IDS contract to SM
September 27-29, 1999: SM demonstrates ACE-IDS for Senior FAA officials attending the Annual Air Traffic Controllers Association (ATCA) Meeting at San Diego, CA.
November 16,1999: AW appoints Russell Zink as President, SM.
December 6,1999: SM conducts site survey for first ACE-IDS installation at the Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) in Atlanta, GA.
December 10, 1999: SM delivers two additional ASOS's to US Navy sites at Point Magu, CA and Lakehurst, NJ.

A NEXWOS for a customer-specific, tailored deployment.

The sun sets over the NEXWOSTM system installed at the Lonepond Heliport in Newfoundland, Canada. The NEXWOSTM is being used to support Cougar Helicopter LTD. operations. Cougar Helicopters is providing transportation services for Hibernia Oil.

Water Systems

New From SM. . .
Automated Floating Data
Collection System (Profiler)

Systems Management, a systems integrator of environmental products, has developed a cost effective, automated, floating data collection platform that lowers a single or multi-parameter sonde to depths up to 700 feet. This unit is well suited to the needs of organizations and private companies responsible for the health of reservoirs, lakes and estuaries.

This unique and rugged system makes automatic profiles of parameters at programmable depths or depth intervals, or on demand, triggered from a remote location.

The Profiler, which is placed on a buoy with warning beacon, consists of:

Low-powered Motorola 68332 processor with 4MB memory
solar cell and battery power
A multi-parameter sonde
Weather sensors and water quality probes as dictated by customer requirements

Data communication options include:

Low-power spread-spectrum RF for distances up to 2 miles
Cellular telephone
Satellite data communications
UHF/VHF RF for distances over 2 miles

Mechanical: Diameter = 50", Overall Height = 141", Weight = 250 lbs

Current parameters include:

Parameter	Sensor	Maximum Depth	Accuracy
Temperature	thermistor	700 ft	±0.1 °F
PH	glass electrode	700 ft	±0.2 units
Conductivity	4 electrode cell	700 ft	±5%
ORP	platinum button	700 ft	±20 mV
Dissolved Oxygen	rapid pulse	700 ft	±2%
Level, non-vented	strain gauge	700 ft	±1 ft
Level, vented	strain gauge	200 ft	±0.06 ft
Turbidity	wiped optical	200 ft	±5%
Nitrate-Nitrogen	ion-selective	50 ft	±10%
Ammonium-Nitrogen	ion-selective	50 ft	±10%
Chloride	ion-selective	50 ft	±15%

Once installed, the profiler, a compact buoy system engineered to withstand rain, strong winds and extreme temperatures, has an innovative elastic mooring system which keeps the buoy on station while compensating for water level changes in excess of 300 feet. The counter weight design keeps the buoy stable in wind gusts over 60 knots while the integral wind speed/direction monitors wind. The use of wind speed measurements automatically aborts profile deployment in very rough weather. Stainless steel and anodized aluminum prevents corrosion in fresh or brackish water environment. For additional parameters or improved accuracy sensors please contact SMI.

How does an airport receive an AWOS?

Usually a state or airport will purchase an AWOS with assistance from the FAA's Airport Improvement Plan (AIP). Information on the AIP is available through each of the FAA Regional offices' Non-Federal Program Coordinator, or contact Petra@awi-smi.com
How can my airport receive an ASOS?

If interested in an ASOS, contact lasley@awi-smi.com. Asos contracts are in place with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force.
What does it mean when an ASOS broadcast contains the word "Test"?

The flag word "Test" is added to the voice transmission of an ASOS or AWOS broadcast when it is being tested before commissioning or if the system has been taken out of its commissioned status. The ASOS/AWOS data should not be used operationally until the "Test" flag word is removed.
How do the ASOS/AWOS, which sample a relatively small section of the sky while measuring sky conditions and visibility, approximate a human observer which views a larger section of the sky?

The sensor inputs for the sky condition and visibility are a cloud height indicator and forward scatter visibility meter respectively. The data from these sensors is processed through a series of algorithms using a fixed location, time-averaging technique which takes a weighted average of ceiling over a 30 minute period and visibility over a 10 minute period.
What is the upper limit that the AWOS/ASOS will report cloud height?

12,000 feet. However, ceilometers are now available to measure clouds up to 25,000 feet and automated systems can begin reporting clouds amounts to that level as soon as a federally-approved algorithm is available for integration into the software.
If a temperature or dew point contains an "M" before the numerical value, what does that mean?

Under the METAR format convention, the letter "M" preceding the temperature or dew point means that the value is "minus".
Are all AWOSs going to be in the new METAR format?

No. The manufacturers are being encouraged, but the AWOSs commissioned prior to July 1996 are not required to be updated.
Why can't I receive an ASOS/AWOS report over the phone at certain times?

The most common reason is due to maintenance or repair.
How current is the ASOS/AWOS Home Page?

It is updated approximately every 8 weeks with new information and/or new commissioned sites.
At what range would a pilot expect to receive an ASOS/AWOS report via the GTA radio?

Normal range is a minimum of 25 miles at 10,000 feet. Certain conditions surrounding the airport (mountains, current weather) may exist to increase or decrease this range.
What FAA office is responsible for answering any ASOS/AWOS related questions or concerns?

FAA Weather Sensors Team, AUA-430, is the point of contact. Phone Number is (202)366-8985. Dave Sankey is the POC.
Are all AWOSs identical?

No. Although similar, there are several versions of AWOS with different arrays of sensors. The report format is similar and is controlled by international standards. Reports differ by the type of sensors on the system (system configuration) A01 indicates an automated station without a precipitation identification sensor. A02 indicates an automated station with a precipitation identification sensor.
An AWOS I processes and outputs temperature, dewpoint, barometric pressure, density altitude, wind speed, wind direction, and gusts. An AWOS II adds visibility to the AWOS I parameters. An AWOS III provides cloud height/condition in addition to the above parameters. NEXWOS is available in AWOS I, AWOS II, AWOS III, and AWOS IIIP/T configurations.
What is the difference between Federal and non-Federal AWOS stations?

The primary difference between Federal and non-Federal AWOSs is that the Federal AWOSs are FAA owned and maintained while the non-Federal AWOSs are state or locally owned and maintained.
There are both Federal and non-Federal AWOS stations that are listed but not yet on the FAA604 or Family of Services (FOS) DDS lines. Why haven't they been added?

The issue is the communication cost. The annual cost per site to have an AWOS or an ASOS site on the network is considerable. The owner of a non-Federal AWOS is responsible for this cost. Some of the FAA sites and most of the non-Federal AWOS sites are not considered of high enough priority to justify this expense. The ASOS sites are so designed that they must be on the network to be monitored for maintenance. This is why all ASOSs are on the net and communications must be in place before the site is commissioned.
What is the primary cause of delays in getting an ASOS site operational?

The primary reason for delays in commissioning ASOS has been the establishment of FAA long-line communications from the ASOS to the FAA Weather Message Switching Center Replacement in Atlanta, GA. This communication permits the weather observations from ASOS to be transmitted over the national weather networks. It also allows the National Weather Service (NWS) to maintain the ASOS through remote monitoring of the observations.
Other causes for commissioning delays have included the resolution of radio frequency interference (RFI) and the relocation of sensors or displays.
Why do some Service Level D ASOS sites experience delays in commissioning?

There are 69 ASOS sites with Contract Weather Observers (CWOs) that are on a commissioning hold. The decision on this commissioning moratorium will be dependent upon an evaluation by the FAA.