Colorado – Design/Installation of the Hydrometeorological Network for Fort Collins

After a serious flood in 1997, the City of Fort Collins received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to support the development of a flood warning system. Riverside Technology, inc. (RTi) reviewed the existing hydrometeorological data collection system for the city and identified a number of flood warning system design alternatives. The alternatives provided tradeoff analysis of component and system functionality and cost. Comparative analysis of data collection platform (DCP) technology included development of criteria and analysis of performance. RTi worked with emergency managers to develop understanding of system requirements and network objectives. Communication protocols were established and documented. A final recommendation was made for system design based upon client input. RTi staff (in conjunction with subcontractors) performed field studies, sited sensors and repeaters for optimal communication performance, installed numerous new DCPs and communication hardware and software, and performed validation testing.

As part of this effort RTi completed a radio Frequency analysis and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Licensing for the Fort Collins Flood Warning System. This project involved analyzing the integrity of the radio path, locating and mapping appropriate areas for data collection sites, working with the National Weather Service as a cooperating agency, establishing appropriate hydrologic radio frequencies (VHF) to use in the FCC application, and preparing and submitting the final radio license application package to the FCC. The FCC licensing is important to the City of Fort Collins because it will allow the City to implement a system to collect and transmit hydrometeorological data using radio telemetry. This data will be instrumental in the success of the City's Flood Warning System.

2290 East Prospect Road, Suite 1, Fort Collins, Colorado 80525
phone: (970) 484–7573  fax: (970) 484–7593 www.riverside.com