LASER RANGING SENSOR FOR WATER LEVEL MONITORING

THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS (COE) OPERATES A LARGE NUMBER OF GAGES TO MEASURE AND MONITOR CHANGES IN TIDE AND WATER LEVELS. THESE GAGES ACQUIRE ESSENTIAL DATA FOR HYDROLOGICAL STUDIES, HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYS, FLOOD CONTROL AND FLOOD WARNING MISSIONS. NONE OF THE EXISTING GAGES FULLY MEET THE COE REQUIREMENTS FOR A RELIABLE, ACCURATE, UNATTENDED GAGE WITH REMOTE QUERY, COMMAND AND DATA ACCESS. AN ALTERNATIVE TO EXISTING GAGING TECHNIQUES IS THE USE OF LASER RANGING TECHNOLOGY, WHICH WARRANTS SERIOUS CONSIDERATION FOR TRANSFER APPLICATION TO MEET THE COE TIDE GAGE REQUIREMENT. SHENANDOAH SYSTEMS COMPANY PROPOSES THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION OF A REAL-TIME SATELLITE REPORTING TIDE GAGE SYSTEM BASED ON LASER RANGING TECHNOLOGY TO OVERCOME EXISTING GAGE DEFICIENCIES AND FULFILL ALL COE REQUIREMENTS.