Case Study

Washington State Ferries: Mobile Weather Stations

Project Summary

Application Type:
Providing Puget Sound meteorological data to the public

Location:
Puget Sound, Washington USA

Products Used:
CR10X 

Contracting Agencies:
University of Washington and Washington State Department of Transportation

Measured Parameters:
Wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, temperature, and relative humidity

Mobile weather stations have been installed on several ferries in the State of Washington ferry system. The stations measure meteorological parameters along their routes at locations in the Puget Sound where such data was previously unavailable. The weather stations were integrated into the already existing Ferry Tracking System and consist of a CR10X data logger and temperature, barometric pressure, relative humidity, and wind speed and direction sensors. The movement of the ferries makes measuring wind speed and direction especially tricky. Accurate data is obtained by correcting the reading with the ferry's gyrocompass, a GPS, and an RF modem. The project was integrated by Meteor Communications Corp.


Sites with Additional Information

7-page Report by Meteor Communications Corp. (PDF)
Summary by Meteor Communications Corp.
Washington State Ferries
MeteorComm
Technical Application Note


Expanded Version (PDF)

Ferry Weather - Puget Sound, WA, USA


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