Advanced metering infrastructure system workshops set for Weslaco, Corpus Christi
Contact: Dr. Allen Berthold, 979-845-2028, [email protected]
WESLACO – Advanced metering infrastructure system trainings for water utilities are set for May 13 in Weslaco and May 14 in Corpus Christi.
Dr. Allen Berthold, Texas Water Resources Institute research scientist in College Station, said the trainings are open to municipal employees interested in learning more about various aspects of advanced metering infrastructure, or AMI, system technology. The technology uses water meters to wirelessly transmit hourly household water usage information to water utilities and then potentially to water users through a customer website.
The Texas Water Resources Institute, Texas A&M Engineering and Johnson Controls Inc. are sponsoring the workshops with the water institute and Johnson Controls presenting.
The institute is part of Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University.
The Weslaco workshop is at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center, 2415 E. Highway 83. The Corpus Christi workshop is at the AgriLife Extension office in Nueces County, 710 E. Main Ave., Suite 1 in Robstown. Both workshops are free and each will last from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
“Efficient household water use is crucial to meeting Texas’ future water demands,” Berthold said. “Using AMI system technology can help water utilities be more efficient by detecting and managing leaks and encouraging water conservation by residents.”
Craig Hannah, engineering manager for Johnson Controls’ municipal utility solutions team in Amarillo, said training topics include AMI system components, transmitting options, network schematics, mobile automatic meter reading versus fixed-base AMI, line-of-sight communications, comparisons of AMI systems for water-only utilities, health and privacy concerns, installing AMI, a business case and lessons learned.
“The trainings will provide public utility providers considering the adoption of an AMI system with different viewpoints and key factors that they should consider,” Hannah said.
“Participating in this training is a great opportunity to not only learn about various topics related to AMI systems, but also to network with other utilities and gain some insight into their key considerations and lessons they have learned thus far,” Berthold said.
Berthold will also present information on a current AMI technology research project of AgriLife Research, AgriLife Extension, Texas Water Resources Institute and Texas A&M Engineering.
“This project aims to measure resident’s changes in water consumption after making hourly water use available to them,” he said.
Participants should preregister for either event at http://nrt.tamu.edu/ami by May 7. Lunch will be provided to those who preregister by that date. Seating is limited to 45 people.
The institute and Johnson Controls are presenting a series of these workshops around the state, according to organizers. Additional workshops are scheduled for June 24 in Dallas and June 25 in San Angelo.
For more information on upcoming workshops and to preregister, go to http://nrt.tamu.edu/ami or contact Berthold at 979-845-2028, [email protected] .
