Automatic Weather Station for Kenyir Dam

Kenyir Lake is the largest man-made lake in Southeast Asia. It's primary function is for hydroelectric generation. This 4 turbine dam is now being operated by Tenaga Nasional Berhad Malaysia (TNB).

The Requirements

The Water level of the dam is critical and needs constant monitoring. The Dam Maintenance Team ensures that the water level is always kept in check. In 2006, TNB was looking for an automated way to monitor weather information. TNB required a system that was proven and innovative, with minimal investment in new computer hardware, and was easy to set up out of the box. "We needed a technology that allowed us to acquire information in Real-Time at our Maintenance room", said the Project Manager of TNB's Dam Maintenance Team. The project needed to acquire rain, temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction and air pressure over wireless networks.

The Solution

TNB contacted their registered supplier Encik Wan Azlan to help source for a product that fulfilled all the requirements. The Malaysian Meteorological Department introduced Encik Wan to Techsense Solutions Sdn Bhd, who provided an evaluation system. En Wan asked his team to test and monitor the system's ability to provide the various real-time products. They realized that the solution from Techsense provides additional features beyond their needs. "We never imagined that the solution can be made available even to our other remote offices over a web-browser, without having to install additional software". -- Encik Wan Azlan. Built around Techsense's suite of products, the solution is powered by MetView Lite which provides all the functionality directly on the Techsense AQ4000 Data Logger , without a need for a PC or server. This meets TNB's requirement of not having to invest in additional computer equipment well. The system also readily supports transmission of data from the sensor site to TNB office using wireless communication. By using Motorola's Canopy Wireless technology, users in TNB's office can directly access METstation Lite. Motorola's Canopy is reliable, cost effective and not affected by any environmental induced attenuation such as wind or rain.