Advanced metering infrastructure training set for Nov. 30 in Waco

Contact: Dr. Allen Berthold, 979-845-2028, taberthold@ag.tamu.edu

WACO —  The Texas Water Resources Institute and Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station along with Johnson Controls are coordinating an advanced metering infrastructure system training for water utilities Nov. 30 in Waco.

The free workshop will be from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Brazos River Authority, 4600 Cobbs Drive.

Seating is limited to 45 people. Participants should preregister at http://nrt.tamu.edu/ami by Nov. 25. Lunch will be provided to those preregistered by that date.

Dr. Allen Berthold, Texas Water Resources Institute research scientist in College Station, said the training is open to municipal employees interested in learning more about various aspects of advanced metering infrastructure, or AMI, system technology. This technology uses water meters to wirelessly transmit household usage information to water utilities and then potentially to water users through a customer website.

The Texas Water Resources Institute, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station and Johnson Controls Inc. are coordinating the workshops, with speakers from the water institute and Johnson Controls.

“Efficient household water use is crucial to meeting Texas’ future water demands,” Berthold said. “Using the 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, 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, and installing AMI. There also will be a discussion of a business case in which AMI technology was used, along with lessons learned.

“The training will provide public utility providers considering adopting an AMI system with different viewpoints and key factors 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 Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, TWRI and Texas A&M Engineering.

“This project aims to measure changes in water consumption as a result of making hourly water use available to residents,” he said.

For information on the upcoming workshops, go to http://nrt.tamu.edu/ami or contact Berthold at 979-845-2028, taberthold@ag.tamu.edu.

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