Weather Sensors
OSI has designed the most advanced Optical Weather Sensors for monitoring Precipitation and Present Weather conditions in the World!
Our patented scintillation technology utilizes over 30 years of research and development resulting in a series of weather sensors with unprecedented accuracy and Reliability.
- APG-815-DS - instantaneous rain and snow, liquid water equivalent and accumulation as well as precipitation ID.
- OWi-430-DS - Advanced Present Weather sensor providing visibility and precipitation amount and ID with over 60 NWS/WMO weather type codes reported.
- ORG-815-DS - instantaneous rain rate and accumulation for temperature climates (rain only)
- HIP-100- Hail and Ice Peller Sensor can tie into the APG-815 (ran/snow) or our OWI-430 WIVIS (present weather and visibility sensor)
OSi’s Optical Weather Instrument Lineage
Our original research resulted in a series of weather sensors with unprecedented accuracy and reliability. In the years following we have refined and enhanced our analysis techniques. Combined with added features and improved electronics, our weather sensors now offer the most value for you - ever.
Unlike other vendors who make extravagant claims of their sensor’s capabilities and present their own in-house data to support them, OSi has a real track record in varied environments and markets to fully prove our performance claims. Our claims are derived from actual field performance and from extensive data collected primarily at airports and government test facilities, including the NWS Test & Evaluation Facility in Sterling, Virginia. Product improvement is based on real-life experience gained in the field. Designed for rugged, unattended operation, more than 5000 OSi optical weather instruments have been field proven in adverse environments around the world on
every continent in the world, including Antarctica. As of 2018, OSi has accumulated more than 600 million unit-hours of field experience with our optical precipitation sensors! That figure far exceeds the experience of all other present weather sensor vendors combined! OSi has executed over 30 optical sensing projects since 1985 and has pooled its resources to assemble a uniquely qualified team with all the requisite support skills. Optical sensing of environmental parameters is not a sideline for us – it is our core business. The high degree to which we meet and exceed ourcustomer’s needs is reflected by this.
The current NWS Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) present weather sensor, the Light-Emitting Diode Weather Identifier (LEDWI), was developed by OSi (then Scientific Technology Inc.) in the 1980’s and became the key sensor in the ASOS. This sensor, fielded at over 1000 locations across the United States, continues to meet the original design requirements with a solid track record of high reliability. Most of these LEDWI are now over 25 years old and all are still operating in the field – a testimony to OSi’s design and production philosophy and capabilities! The capability of LEDWI to differentiate between rain and snow is unmatched by any other sensor
or technology. The LEDWI does however have limited drizzle detection sensitivity and limited ability to properly identify hail and ice pellets. With increased concerns over more accurate detection and quick response to all types of hazardous weather, the need for reporting precipitation parameters beyond the original specification has continued to develop.
At the beginning of the ASOS acquisition phase, the design of the LEDWI was frozen for the ASOS application requirements at that time. Various measures to enhance the sensor to meet the new requirements were pursued both in-house and with NWS funding. OSi continued to improve on the original sensor in-house with the development of a commercial series of present weather and combined present weather/visibility sensors – the OWI-120 Optical Weather Identifier and the OWI-240 Weather Identifier and Visibility Sensor. In addition, an acoustic add-on sensor was developed to add hail and ice pellet detection capability to the LEDWI, OWI and WIVIS. Through
the use of hardware design optimization and newer software techniques for algorithm development, OSi has greatly enhanced the commercial sensor's detection sensitivity as well as accuracy. With the asymmetric packaging of the optical head for the second generation series of OWI / WIVIS sensors, the susceptibility of the LEDWI to wind-induced vibration was overcome as well. More than 3500 of these sensors have found widespread use in highway, airport, commercial and international applications.
At the turn of the century, OSi committed to developing the third generation of present weather / visibility sensor, based on all digital electronics. In 2005, the DSP-WIVIS (OWI-430) was released. This third generation sensor has at its core a high speed Digital Signal Processor (DSP) that replaces the previous sensors’ analog electronics enclosure. All of the processing electronics are now contained in the head which greatly simplifies maintenance and installation. The DSP-WIVIS implements the basic architecture and analog circuitry of the WIVIS in a high-performance single-board DSP engine. This approach has been well proven and is now commonplace in a wide array of electronic equipment and sensors, including test equipment, avionics gear, and a host of consumer electronics products. Whereas earlier generation sensor required periodic field calibrations (which were difficult to do during extreme heat or cold), the new DSP based sensors have virtually eliminated temperature sensitivity and have no trimpots or variable components to adjust.
The DSP-WIVIS combines the original in-beam scintillation technology used in LEDWI with the addition of an off-axis optical forward scatter channel. It is known that optical forward scattering is sensitive to small particles such as fog or drizzle. By combining the in-beam scintillation and the off-axis forward scattering, the DSP-WIVIS is much more sensitive to drizzle than the first and second generation sensors and in addition, adds visibility measurement capability. Firmware updates are now done by software upload over the serial port. Nearly 2000 of these third generation sensors have been fielded to date. Through these and other enhancements, OSi has been able to produce a new generation of present weather sensors that greatly improves on the versatility and accuracy of the earlier ASOS LEDWI and commercial OWI. With the optional Hail and Ice Pellet Sensor add-on, the DSP-WIVIS / HIPS combination can report nearly every published NWS and WMO weather code.
The Mini-WIVIS (OWI-650) incorporates the same architecture of the DSP-WIVIS on a faster yet lower power DSP engine. By utilizing an intermittent power-up mode of operation and tuning the algorithms to handle the non-continuous operating mode, the Mini-WIVIS puts all the power of the DSP-WIVIS into a much smaller / lighter package that can be battery operated and more easily field deployed. These features and the optimized algorithms yield a sensor that provides the highest degree of accuracy, versatility and reliability possible, to date.
Please note that throughout this document and other OSI reports and performance verification data, any graphs, data, specifications, or other references to the OSi LEDWI / OWI / WIVIS and DSP-WIVIS very closely apply to the Mini-WIVIS, which as the latest DSP-based sensor utilizes the same virtual hardware architecture and basic firmware algorithms, with sequentially further enhancements through fine tuning of the advanced weather algorithms and the hardware. With each generation of sensor, all of the performance specifications have either remained the same or in most case, have been improved.
There have been a few newcomers to the present-weather sensor market in the past five or ten years. While it is possible save a few dollars on one of these newcomers, you will not be able to find better performance and reliability. OSi has always been very conservative in our published specifications but the same is not necessarily true for the competition. With algorithms based on over 600 million unit-hours of field data, it is impossible to find a better solution to your visibility, precipitation and present weather sensing needs!
/Asset/OWI-650-PICTURE-2.jpgAutomated Weather Stations
Optical Scientific was a key player in the development of the National Weather Service (NWS) ASOS system and has over 500 million hours of present weather sensor experience. We have worked with and continue to work with US army, NOAA, ETL, EPA and NASA to develop both sensors and systems.OSI has been word leader in developing intelligent Optical Sensors for monitoring precipitation, present weather, air flow and atmospheric turbulence (Cn2) for over 30 years.
We are now proud to offer AWOS AV, fully certified by the Federal Aviation Administration!
OSI can provide both FAA certified and Non FAA certified weather stations and systems that can be networked or and or stand alone. The Modular design of our MAWOS design makes the interfacing of new sensors or interfacing to other systems and easy task for OSI engineers. The OSI design is factory configurable for just the sensors needed.
- Modular Automated Weather Observation system (MAWOS)
- Automated Surface Observation System (ASOS)
- Low Power Automated Weather stations (LP-AWS)
- Hazmet-100 portable SAM (Station for Atmospheric Measurement) works with EPA's ALOHA plume dispersion modeling software)
- OWI/APG based weather stations (our optical precipitation gauges can easily be converted into a full blown weather station)
Do you have a need for an automated weather station?
Contact OSI and we can help get the process started. /Asset/Picture1.png
Emissions Flow Monitoring
OFS technology has proven successful in a variety of challenging flow applications that include high temperatures, high and variable opacity and dust concentrations, including Thermal Oxidizers, wet scrubbers, flare stacks, incinerators, SRU, Cat Crackers, glass furnaces and similar processes with entrained/suspended liquid droplets. Industries include chemical, Petrochemical Refineries, Cement, Glass, Aluminum, Waste to Gas, Terminal loading stations, Pulp and Paper, Steel Plants, Electric Arc Furnaces and more.OFS measurement is Unaffected by changes in:
- Temperature
- Pressure
- Gas Density
- Gas Composition
- Humidity
- Moisture
- Opacity
- Design DP
- Gas Densities
- Differential Pressure
- Humidity
- Speed of Sound or the Speed of Light
- Beta Ratio
- Temperature
All OFS 2000 sensors meet or exceed requirements set by the Environmental Protection Agency, and California's South Coast Air Quality Management District.
- EPA Method 14
- EPA MACT RSR 40 CFR 63.670
- EPA 40 CFR part 60 and 75
- EPA 40 CFR part 60 sub part J and Ja
- SCAQMD rule 1118
Process Flow
OSI's patented Optical Flow Sensors (OFS) can be utilized to monitor Air/Gas flow in a variety of applications where accurate flow measurements are critical. OFS technology is a very pure measurement and has zero effect from changes in temperature, pressure, gas densities, molecular weight or humidity.OFS technology allows you to precisely measure air inflow to the combustion process for optimum combustion.
Why use OFS?
- OFS technology allows you to monitor flows from .03-170 m/sec
- OFS has the highest turndown 5000/1
- OFS is Non-intrusive (nothing in the flow)
- No interference/dependence on media composition. (hydrogen is not a problem)
- No repiping required OFS can be installed as close as 2 diameters leading and 1 diameter trailing
- OFS measurements are based on light fluctuations and not absolute light intensity
- OFS can work in very difficult Flow applications weather other technologies struggle.
OSI has recently developed a Laser Level Meter. The LLM-100 is a compact industrial laser level sensor that utilizes an infrared laser and advanced micro-processor to measure levels in industrial storage tanks, large commercial process bins and agricultural silos.
The LLM controller is a simple substitute for a PLC or a laptop if one is not available. The LLM-100 will also work stand alone with RS485 (multi drop output) AND 4-20 ma output so if the user has a PLC or a laptop, they will not need the LLM controller.
The LLM head has a 4 line back lit LCD but due to where the LLM is installed, it may be hard to access. The LLM-100 controller will show the LCD display of up to 4 LLM Sensors as well as providing the power to them.
Do you have an application reach out and let us know how we can help. /Asset/2-1.jpg
Atmospheric Turbulence and Crosswinds
The Long-baseline Optical Anemometer (LOA™) measures path averaged crosswind and turbulence over distances of 100 meters to over 10 km.OSi's Optical Wind and Vortex sensor (OWV) is a breakthrough in measuring turbulence, large body air/wind movement over a long path (50 to 300 meters or more) - all in a single, low cost sensor.
There are many advantages to utilizing LOA technology as a tool for tracking movements of large bodies of air, hazardous wind movements and atmospheric turbulence. LOA technology has been extensively tested as part of NASA's Airspace Systems Program to help airports detect the effects of a wake vortex on or near ground level.
LOA was developed in the 1970's by ERL/NOAA, and has proven useful in a number of diverse applications including monitoring pollution drift from Denver to Greeley Colorado, monitoring airflow velocity of HF gases from aluminum smelting operations, which has received EPA method 14 approval) as well as tracking the movement of noxious odor from a large scale hog Farm.
The preliminary data indicates that when LOA is combined with other open path gas sensors it provides more accurate tools to regulatory bodies to monitor and regulate large source emissions.
Using two or more LOA's can provide a large area 2-deminsional wind vectors that no other sensors could possibly measure. Adding three of more sensors to form a closed contour, provides not only 2-demensional wind vectors but it can measure the total emissions from the site in real time. /Asset/loa.jpg
Hydromet-Agrimet
Understanding precipitation is challenging. In most cases involving very low or very high rain rates, mechanical rain gauges will perform poorly and underestimate both high and low rain rates. OSI engineers have developed a series of optical technologies to measure precipitation induced optical scintillations. The APG-815-DS (All Precipitation Gauge) uses OSI’s proven and patented optical scintillation technology to serve as both a rain gauge (precipitation rate and accumulation) and a snow gauge (water equivalent rate and water equivalent accumulation).The APG-815 is a unique and very advanced sensor for measurement and discrimination of the various types of precipitation, unmatched by any other technology in terms of accuracy, performance, high reliability and its ultra-low maintenance design.
The ORG/APG/OWI family of sensors all use the same digital DSP "engine" technology for practical unattended weather observations and will provide critical ground truth to satisfy global-scale precipitation and climate monitoring requirements.
Even our first generations optical weather sensors - the LEDWI - of which 1100 have been fielded with one in every airport throughout the US as part of the National Weather Service (NWS) ASOS program are all still in operation 25 years later!
OSI is the only sensor manufacturer in the entire ASOS program that has not been totally replaced at least one time.
Do you want to better understand Storm water precipitation?
The APG-815-DS data string includes:
Time, Weather code, Rain rate in inch/hour or mm/hour, Accumulated rain in inches or mm, Diagnostic, Carrier strength, Raw signal, Baseline and Temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius.
Specifications and features that together are unique to the APG:
- Measurement principle: Optical Scintillation (far more reliable than optical scatter and mechanical techniques)
- Algorithms continually refined from over 800 million hours of proven field operation in applications on every continent
- All digital / DSP based design with no temperature sensitive analog components
- No Moving Parts
- No small collection or measurement orifices to get clogged with dirt / debris
- No need for high power heaters or chemical antifreeze for snow measurement
- No periodic maintenance required
- No scheduled / regular cleaning of optics required
- Insensitive to dirt buildup on optics
- Simple polled / unpolled (user selectable) ASCII data string over RS-232
- Include MODBUS RTU over serial RS-232 I/O format as standard
- Options for RS-485, Ethernet, Limited Distance Modems (LDM) and Cellular Modems
- Discriminates between rain, snow, drizzle, freezing drizzle, freezing rain, etc.
- Ability to add acoustic hail / ice particle sensor (HIP-100)
- Minimum 10 weather identification codes for both NWS and WMO weather codes
- Measurement dynamic range: 0.001 to 500 mm/hr rain, .03 to 500 mm/hr snow
- Optional extended measurement ranges over 500 mm/hr
- Reports both instantaneous rain rate and accumulation
- Rain / snow measurement accuracy: 5% accumulation
- Rain / Snow measurement resolution: 0.001 mm
- Full data update rate; once per minute; Instantaneous intensity every 10 seconds
- Power requirements: nominal 12 VDC / max 400 mA (solar compatible)
- Operating temperature range; -50º to 60º C (-58º to 140º F)
- Built-in continuous self-test / self-diagnostics and performance monitoring
- Ultra-reliable operation 24/7/365 with virtually zero maintenance
- Mean-Time Between Failure (MTBF) in excess of 80,000 hours
- No adverse effects from high winds, evaporation, and other common errors of mechanical gauges
- Technology field proven for over 30 years (long track record)
- Can operate on unstable / tilting platforms such as data buoys and ships
- Easy installation / no cement pads; simply clamp to a 1.5-2" pipe w provided U-bolts
- Widely used by NOAA / NWS, military, airports, state DOTs, etc.
A little clarification. Modbus is a protocol (another is ASCII output) and it can be used with different physical links (RS232, RS422, RS485....). Since the physical output on APG is RS232 (Modbus RTU), if you want to have a TCP/IP output, then you will need to order the Moxa Modbus TCP/IP convertor. /Asset/APG.jpg