Evaluation of the Radar Stage Sensor Manufactured by Forest Technology Systems, Incorporated—Results of Laboratory and Field Testing
Dates
Publication Date
2018-01-26
Start Date
2015-11-04
End Date
2016-06-24
Citation
Kunkle, G.A., 2018, Evaluation of the Radar Stage Sensor Manufactured by Forest Technology Systems, Incorporated—Results of Laboratory and Field Testing: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F71C1VSR.
Summary
Two identical Radar Stage Sensors from Forest Technology Systems, were evaluated to determine if they are suitable for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) hydrologic data collection. The sensors were evaluated in laboratory conditions to evaluate the distance accuracy of the sensor over the manufacturer’s specified operating temperatures and distance to water ranges. Laboratory results were compared to the manufacturer’s accuracy specification of ±0.007 foot (ft) and the USGS Office of Surface Water (OSW) policy requirement that water level sensors have a measurement uncertainty of no more than 0.01 ft or 0.20 percent of the indicated reading. Both of the sensors tested were within the OSW policy requirement in both laboratory tests and [...]
Summary
Two identical Radar Stage Sensors from Forest Technology Systems, were evaluated to determine if they are suitable for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) hydrologic data collection. The sensors were evaluated in laboratory conditions to evaluate the distance accuracy of the sensor over the manufacturer’s specified operating temperatures and distance to water ranges. Laboratory results were compared to the manufacturer’s accuracy specification of ±0.007 foot (ft) and the USGS Office of Surface Water (OSW) policy requirement that water level sensors have a measurement uncertainty of no more than 0.01 ft or 0.20 percent of the indicated reading. Both of the sensors tested were within the OSW policy requirement in both laboratory tests and within the manufacturer’s specification in the distance to water test over tested distances from 3 to 15 ft. In the temperature chamber test, both sensors were within the manufacturer’s specification for more than 90 percent of the data points collected over a temperature range of –40 to +60 °C at a fixed distance of 8 ft. One sensor was subjected to an SDI-12 communication test, which it passed. A field test was conducted on one sensor at a USGS field site near Landon, Mississippi, from February 5 to March 29, 2016. Water level measurements made by the radar during the field test were in agreement with those made by the Sutron Accubar Constant Flow Bubble Gauge.
All initial testing was performed with RSS firmware version 1.05. A second temperature chamber test was performed on a single RSS in 2016 to verify performance with a newly released firmware version 1.09. Test results confirmed the results of the first temperature test.
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Related External Resources
Type: Related Primary Publication
Kunkle, G.A., 2018, Evaluation of the Radar Stage Sensor manufactured by Forest Technology Systems—Results of laboratory and field testing: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2017–1085, 12 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20171085.
Data were obtained as part of an instrument evaluation of the FTS Radar Stage Sensor. This data set was used to evaluate whether the sensor met USGS Office of Surface Water accuracy requirements over its full operating temperature range. Instrument and equipment evaluations are done primarily to determine if particular devices would be suitable for use by USGS personnel for hydrologic data collection. Results presented herein were obtained with the instrument model and firmware used at the time of testing, and may or may not represent results obtained from software updates and instrument model improvements. The instrument evaluation results presented are not indicative of an endorsement by the USGS of the tested instrument.
