If you want to use the smart metering, you need to know what water meters are used in your area. Not every water meter is suitable for fitting of the reading head. All water meters with impulse or induction output are suitable for fitting. We will be happy to process the summary of the water meters to you. If you make the summary on your own, do not forget to acquire the following information for each supply point: type and age of the water meter, annual volume supplied, GPS coordinates, identification of customer.
How to start
“SMART METERING” IS EASIER THAN YOU MAY THINK
Starting with the smart metering may seem to be too tricky, expensive, or useless. In neither case it may be true, provided that you will not neglect preparation and invest some energy in the field. At least essential summary of general steps is explained below for those who would like to start on their own. Naturally for those who are interested in the smart metering but prefer a tailor approach with proactive customer approach, our expert consultants in the field of utilities are available to and ready for taking care of you. – Counselling
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Step 1
Make a summary of the existing water meters
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Step 2
Verify availability and quality of the IoT network’s signal.
Prior your investment in the remote reading technology we recommend you that you check availability and quality of the IoT network’s signal in the intended areas. Initial information
about availability of the network may be obtained from coverage maps available on IoT network operator’s website, be they Nb-IoT, LoRaWan or Sigfox network (ČRA, Vodafone). We can implement the remote reading of the water meters anywhere. It is always a question of financial consideration on return of said investment.
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Step 3
Describe your information systems (IS)
To successfully implement and effectively use the remote reading and all related advantages, the summary of all information systems to be used for administration of customers, billing, and technical administration of the water meters is needed. Frequently, it is a customer information system (ZIS) and technical information system (TIS). Provided that we have a precise IS specification of your organization, we can tailor our quotation for successful implementation of a comprehensive solution. At the same time, server installation of a database may be ordered to acquire structured data from the reading and all other SW may be implemented in your own or using third party SW solutions.
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Step 4
Implement a pilot project
We recommend that operation of the remote reading technology is verified in the pilot project. The number of water meters is not limited for the pilot project. Importantly, the water meters with impulse or induction output must be selected. At least 20 water meters is recommended. The location should be selected in line with the step 2 – Verify availability and quality of the IoT network’s signal. Transmitters may be fitted either by trained staff of the client, or IoT.water staff. In addition to checking function of the technology, the pilot project also focuses on verification of working with data with respect to decision of the client to use the existing information systems (IS). As agreed, the pilot project takes 3–6 months. Based on results from the pilot project, the client has all information needed to adopt decision on implementation of the remote reading system within its area of competence.
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Step 5
Successive switch to the remote reading
The implementation of the remote reading technologies should be successive and thoroughly elaborated process. There are some fundamental strategies. The first one, fitting of the water meters depending on volume of water taken through them. In this strategy, remote reading is possible from 40% of all water meters through which up to 80% of all water is supplied. The other one is successive fitting of the remote reading based on natural replacement of the existing water meters. In other words, when a new water meter is installed, the remote reading transmitter is deployed as well. Of course, the strategies may be combined depending on client’s decision.
