A sneak preview of our weather risk management projects
After recently completing two site visits to Fort Moore (formerly known as Fort Benning), our Smart Bases team successfully deployed two micro-weather stations at the installation. This work is part of our Smart Installation and Community Dashboard (SICD) project at Fort Moore. The goal of the SICD is to offer installation leaders a common operating picture brought together by an IoT smart sensor network that monitors real-time conditions.
The newly installed micro-weather stations will help collect and feed data to the SICD’s weather risk management application. This application will use the data to deliver real-time alerts, warnings, and recommendations directly to Fort Moore’s weather forecasters and training safety officers to help reduce the risk of heat-related injuries.
In this blog, we share pictures and three insights our team acquired to help all project managers deploy IoT devices in close collaboration with partners.
1 – Test Configuration and Connection before Deployment
We worked closely with Intellisense Systems, the supplier of our micro-weather stations, to set up and test the devices at our headquarters in Washington, DC. This trial allowed US Ignite and our partners from ERDC an opportunity to establish the Iridium Satellite network connection and work with the Quantimet cloud-based customer portal to view data and remotely command the unit. The team had a lot more confidence in deploying the sensor in a remote location after getting comfortable operating it in a controlled environment.
2 – Solar Powered Superpower
When selecting a micro-weather station to deploy at Fort Moore, one crucial feature we specified was that the device be solar-powered. We knew a solar-powered device would be required in remote locations that lack access to power. Therefore, through a competitive request for quote (RFQ) procurement process, we selected the Intellisense MWS-M635 micro-weather station. This weather station can collect a comprehensive array of environmental observations and transmit the information over a two-way secure Iridium Satellite network. Deploying this device is very quick and easy since it does not require the installation of power or communications infrastructure.
3 – In-person meetings help projects advance
Ahead of going out to Fort Moore to deploy the weather station, we worked closely with Fort Moore leaders to understand how the training areas are utilized and where weather observations would provide the most insight into the conditions soldiers experience while out on the range. Once on site, Range Control gave us a tour of the available deployment locations for the micro weather stations. Seeing the locations in person and discussing them in real time with the stakeholders helped us select the best location to install the devices.
The presence and participation of ALL of the project partners and stakeholders helped us arrive at a consensus faster and make decisions quickly. Meeting in person offered us a chance to discuss all of the use cases, their current status, and potential next steps face-to-face with an extra level of clarity available only in synchronic meet-ups.
We will be sharing updates on the Weather Risk Management Application and other applications of the SICD in the upcoming months. Stay in the loop by signing up for our newsletter and following us on X and LinkedIn.