Smart weather sensors

Specialist hydrometeorological instrumentation company OTT Hydrometry has a long history in the development of leading edge sensor technology and the latest additions to the company's family of weather monitoring instruments exemplify the company's focus on high levels of performance combined with both simplicity of use and minimal maintenance.

The newest version of the Pluvio2 offers the most advanced method for monitoring precipitation. Employing a highly accurate weighing mechanism, the device is able to monitor all types of precipitation up to 3000 mm/hour, so the main advantage of this technology is its ability to provide highly accurate data during high intensity rainfall. OTT has also launched a new version of the company's optical disdrometer the Parsivel2, which is a laser-based system that differentiates and classifies precipitation particles as drizzle, rain, sleet, hail, snow or mixed precipitation.

They have also launched new technologies for the measurement of wind speed and direction, air temperature, humidity and barometric pressure. Employing sonic anemometry, the wind sensor does not have any moving parts and as such offers high levels of reliability and low levels of maintenance. This sensor is available in two formats; the OTT SWS (Sonic Weather Sensor) for wind speed and direction and the OTT CWS (Compact Weather Sensor) which is a single unit with SDI-12 or RS-485 output for temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction and barometric pressure.

Commenting on the launch of the new smart sensors, OTT's UK Managing Director Simon Wills said:"Meteorological sensors are often deployed in remote locations and exposed to the most extreme weather. Our product development activity is therefore focused on finding technologies that are able to maintain high levels of performance with a low power requirement, but without a need for frequent maintenance or calibration. Our latest smart sensors reflect this strategy and provide us with even greater options for the remote monitoring systems and networks that we provide."