A PROPOSAL FOR FUNDING A MESONETWORK OF AUTOMATED ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SYSTEMS ACROSS KENTUCKY by the Kentucky Mesonet Task Force University of Kentucky 243 Agricultural Engineering Bldg. Lexington, KY 40546 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 2. BASIC RATIONALE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 3. ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSED KENTUCKY MESONETWORK . . . . . . 12 Data Communications System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Data Collection at Observing Sites . . . . . . . . . 13 Maintenance of System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Central Processing Facility. . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Interface with Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Archiving Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Public Displays in Kentucky. . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Management Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 4. BRIEF SURVEY OF POTENTIAL BENEFITS. . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Agriculture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Improved Flood Watches and Warnings. . . . . . . . . 20 Improved Winter Forecasts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Forestry Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Improved Climatological Information. . . . . . . . . 23 Education and Basic Scientific Research. . . . . . . 23 Wider Access to Weather Information. . . . . . . . . 25 Kentucky in a Leadership Role. . . . . . . . . . . . 26 5. APPENDICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28-41 APPENDICES Appendix A. Site Criteria and the Potential Location of Stations 28 Appendix B. Field Data Acquisition and Information Dissemination System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Appendix C. Summary Table of Procurement, installation and Start-Up Costs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Appendix C.1. Justification of Procurement, Installation and Start-up Costs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Appendix D. Summary Table of yearly Recurring Costs for Maintenance of Network. . . . . . . . . . . 36 Appendix D.1. Justification of Yearly Recurring Costs For Maintenance of Network. . . . . . . . . . . 37 Appendix E. Schedule and Milestones. . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Appendix F. Letter of Support. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 41 A PROPOSAL FOR A MESONETWORK OF AUTOMATED ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING STATIONS ACROSS KENTUCKY by the Kentucky Mesonet Task Force 243 Agricultural Engineering Bldg. University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40546 The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture proposes to establish real-time, research quality weather stations for industry and public use across Kentucky. INTRODUCTION Weather has such a pervasive influence on people's lives and the functioning of society that observed and forecast weather information is sought eagerly by nearly everyone. Despite the need, limited real-time weather information is available in Kentucky, a state with 120 counties covering almost 40,000 square miles. Only 10 stations across the state report the weather at least hourly (See Figure 1). This means that each of these stations supposedly represents the weather conditions over an area averaging 4,000 square miles, or about five counties. Unfortunately, the weather observation sites are unevenly distributed across the state with some sites closing at night. During "fair" weather conditions, such representation is probably adequate to serve most potential end-users. However, during the variable and often stormy weather that can characterize Kentucky's meteorology, this limited network often fails to detect and depict localized conditions responsible for major inconveniences even death and destruction upon the general population. SEE STATIONS.JPG IN ABOUT THE MESONET Figure 1: Map of current weather stations in Kentucky. The Green and Red symbols indicate stations that report hourly or less. The Blue symbols indicate stations that report daily. SEE MESONET.JPG IN ABOUT THE MESONET Figure 2: Map of proposed weather station placements for the Kentucky Mesonet. On the other hand, there exists an official network of 120 stations in Kentucky operated by the National Weather Service that was established for the purpose of defining the temperature and precipitation climatology of the state. Once each day, cooperative observers at these sites record maximum and minimum temperatures and/or rainfall. Unfortunately, data from this network becomes available to most outside users when it is published months later by the National Climatic Data Center. The nearest to real-time access of data from this climatological network is afforded by single reports each weekday from 10 agricultural weather stations. Unlike most other observation stations in other states, data from Kentucky agricultural weather stations are based on the 24 hour period from 7 PM to 7 PM. Of the 11,000 cooperative climate stations in the U.S., most are AM stations. Overall, reporting consistency of Kentucky's agricultural weather stations tends to peak at about 80% of the reports expected (observer sickness, vacation and motivation account for some of the "missing" observations). Thus, considerable utility of the information from this dense climatology network is lost due to the unavailability of data until its publication several months later. We propose to activate a dense network of 120 automated weather stations across the state (See Figure 2), observe the agricultural, hydrological and meteorological conditions every 15 minutes and make this data available to statewide users through the Internet within minutes of each observation time. These data will also be processed and assembled to provide climatological information over time periods ranging upwards from a day to a year or longer. Each site will serve as the focus to feed local data into a statewide Internet system. Potential weather station sites are University of Kentucky Agricultural Research Stations, 4-H Camps, parks, government sites, and voluntary farm owners to name a few. Details on the site criteria are provided in Appendix A. The proposed network will be designed to serve diverse enterprises across Kentucky to guarantee continuity, interest and support from individual users. Even so, the proposed network will not be designed as a "white elephant" since every concept behind this proposal for Kentucky can be duplicated across the United States. The development of a dense, statewide network of observation stations (hereafter called a "mesonet") that reports data in real-time follows a similar example in Oklahoma and less ambitious examples operating in California, Nevada, Arizona, Nebraska and Minnesota. The concept of sharing environmental information below the county level mirrors a flood warning system developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the National Weather Service for the Passaic River Basin in New Jersey. For Kentuckians, the development of this proposed mesonet opens the door of opportunity to mirror and improve upon the high-tech, fully integrated network operated by the Oklahoma Climatological Survey. An unusually strong spirit of cooperation exists in Kentucky among a variety of private interest, local, state and federal government agencies, and the University of Kentucky. This vital fact, coupled with recent and continued technological advances in computer, telecommunications and automated weather-station industries, signals that the time is right for such a network in Kentucky. Thus, Kentucky has an opportunity to join Oklahoma in being a national leader in minimizing the adverse economic and health impact of severe weather-related events upon society, while also providing an opportunity to enhance profitability for agriculture in Kentucky and improve quality of life for the general public. BASIC RATIONALE Three broad categories of weather information are in demand: weather of the past (climatology), weather of the present (current observations), and weather of the future (forecasts). Past weather information is essential to assess, plan and design for the variety of weather sensitive activities that exist across Kentucky. For example, the engineering of highways and bridges along with water conservation and the mitigation of flood damages are heavily dependent on rainfall depth-duration frequencies provided by the appropriate assembly of past weather information. Airport runways are aligned by the wind history for the area the airport will serve. In addition, the agriculture community has seen a dramatic increase in its use of climatological, present and forecast weather information in their experimental and operational models built to assess production strategies. Even the legal community traditionally has been a heavy user of climatological information. Present weather information is of considerable value to a myriad of users who seek to optimally manage resources during their daily activities. Interests such as agribusiness, water and forestry management, aviation, energy distribution, construction, transportation, chemical and petro-processing, recreation, law enforcement or just planning the proper dress for work and school are all dependent upon knowing what is happening right now in the weather. Likewise, weather forecasts are essential for all of the above-mentioned interests and more. In bare essentials, forecasting the weather is essentially a process of projecting a trend in time beyond what is going on at any moment in the atmosphere. Knowledge of present weather and why it is happening form the basis for making skillful weather forecasts. Without detailed information and an understanding of what is happening now, weather forecasters are like those who start on journeys without a sure knowledge of their starting points. The same is true of agricultural and hydrological forecasters: their forecast accuracies depend directly on the quality and timeliness of weather-related observations. Our understanding of the weather and its consequences, along with an ability to forecast the vagaries of nature have grown at a pace governed by the amount of weather data available to researchers and forecasters. With World War II came an acceleration in the development of world-wide weather observing systems. Since that time, many research programs have been designed and executed that depended on having networks of observing sites packed together more closely than the routine reporting sites. These networks usually operated only for brief periods and over relatively small areas, but they provided the basis for most research into understanding important local weather systems and their consequences. The message has been the same from each research effort: new concepts for understanding and forecasting broad scale weather patterns depend critically on details in the atmosphere that are not collected by existing observing systems other than the Oklahoma mesonet. A major limitation to the practical value of this past research has been the short- term, intermittent nature of these special networks. Societal benefits do not accrue from the research because meteorologists, hydrologists and agricultural specialists are unable to take full advantage of the knowledge gained since detailed network information is not available routinely. Because these special purpose observations are so localized, the relationship between them and those from the much more widely-spaced conventional systems has remained hidden. The proposed mesonet will surely spawn research concerning meteorological, hydrological and agricultural linkages between the two scales of observation systems. More importantly, the proposed network will permit an almost immediate application of past research bringing societal benefits to Kentuckians impacted by atmospheric phenomena. ELEMENTS OF THE PROPOSED KENTUCKY MESONET TO COLLECT AND DISSEMINATE AGRICULTURAL, METEOROLOGICAL, AND HYDROLOGICAL INFORMATION An operational system of agricultural weather observation and dissemination sites requires several elements to function routinely. The primary subsystems include: (1) observation instrumentation and local communications hardware and software at each site; (2) communications capability to and from each site to a central data-collection facility; and (3) data processing hardware and software at the central site. Details of the field data proposed for collection and the information dissemination system are described in Appendix B. Until recently, instrumentation required to operate a dense statewide network of observation sites was cost prohibitive and impractical. However, major advances in technology have opened the door to this feasible yet challenging project. Further, an opportunity has arisen in Kentucky to overcome one of the more difficult obstacles in operating a wide-area network: The need for an integrated, rapid and cost-effective communications subsystem...the INTERNET. Data Communications System Direct access to network data sources via conventional phone lines or their interface to satellite downlinks is prohibitively expensive, making real-time access to the mesonet impractical. Sometimes, the integrity of data being retrieved can be compromised through information exchanges via conventional land lines. Network sites may even be located where land lines do not exist. Indeed, most network expenses can be borne if the continuing cost of communications are cost-effective. Our solution to this fundamental requirement for real-time telecommunications is an exciting alternative to installing numerous land lines or satellite downlinks. Thus, the foundation supporting this proposed network is its communications subsystem..the INTERNET. Data Collection At Observing Sites The type of observation stations proposed for the network are basic agricultural weather stations. At each of the proposed 120 sites across the state, a basic package of weather sensors will provide 15 minute observations of wind speed and direction, dewpoint temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, air and soil temperature, soil moisture, solar radiation, evapotranspiration, and precipitation. Sites can eventually be augmented with additional sensors if needed to serve site-specific observational requirements (e.g., fuel-moisture, stream stage and water temperature). It is important to note that the modular design of this network in conjunction with the INTERNET capacity means that sensors and sites can be added to the network as needs dictate. A detailed discussion of the data collected at each site is contained in Appendix B. First year start up costs are estimated at $5.7 million. Details are provided in Appendix C. Maintenance of System Proper system maintenance is critical to the operation of a real-time observation system. This includes keeping the platforms and enclosures clean and well maintained, providing emergency repairs, calibrating the sensors, and verifying the continuity and integrity of the observation and communications system. Our objective is a steady flow of reliable and accurate weather-related information; anything that degrades the data quality or interrupts its flow is detrimental to the project. Maintenance and calibration would be performed by the electronics technicians from the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department, University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY. Since these technicians would be involved in system development, acquisition, and deployment, it is logical for them to oversee maintenance as they assume network responsibility. Annual recurring costs to maintain the Kentucky mesonet (which includes funds to replace equipment every 10 years) are estimated at $900,000. Details are provided in Appendix D. Central Processing Facility Another key subsystem is the central data processing facility, located in the U.K. Agricultural Engineering Bldg on the Lexington campus. The integration of a central processing unit into the communications system is crucial to providing service for data users since that facility will control virtually all of the data processing and publication associated with the mesonet. Details are provided in Appendix B. Interface with Users of the Data There are many potential users of the real time observational data, from federal, state and local agencies to non-governmental organizations and individuals. Although University of Kentucky is attempting to make all data available for free over the Internet, a policy fee of quid-pro-quo to access the data is still being formulated; that policy will be made in light of a successful funding strategy for annual recurring costs. Those needing tailored products could obtain them directly on the Internet from the computer facility at Lexington. U.K. will assume full responsibility to implement and operate the central processing facility, including quality assurance, operation of the data archive, and filling user requests. Archiving Facility U.K. would operate the central data collection system and archive its data base through the U.K. Agricultural Weather Center. The U.K. archiving facility will be as close to "state of the art" as practical to minimize storage costs and maximize flexibility in accessing the data to meet users needs. Public Displays in Kentucky A potential element in marketing this proposal is the development of public information display systems that will be located throughout Kentucky. Possible locations include rest areas/welcome centers on Kentucky Interstate highways, various government buildings, state/county fairs and expos, and other high visibility functions. Each public display will be interactive for immediate response to an operator's selection of products. The central data collection facility will be tasked to support these public displays. The purpose of these displays is to inform Kentucky citizens of the existence of the mesonet and to promote use of is environmental information in planning and decision making. In order to acknowledge those who actively supported development of this network, each public display will list contributing agencies that helped make the network a reality. Management Structure The proposed management structure found will begin with the Mesonet Director, who will oversee all aspects of the mesonet project. The next level will be the Project Manager, Senior Computer Programmer, and the Quality Assurance/Data Manager. The Senior Computer Programmer and Quality Assurance Manager will report to the Project Manager who will in turn report to the Mesonet Director. The computer programmers and web designer will report to the Senior Computer Programmer. The mesonet operators will report to the Project Manager while the meteorological technicians will report to the Quality Assurance Manager. The Mesonet Director, Project Manager, Senior Computer Programmer, and Quality Assurance Manager will be the members of a "steering committee" for the mesonet project. This committee will be created to make major decisions about the mesonet. BRIEF SURVEY OF POTENTIAL BENEFITS Since the initial cost of the mesonet is significant, societal benefits should begin accruing as soon as possible. Thus, this section is intended to justify network expenditure by detailing the diverse areas of society where network information will have an economic impact. Agriculture Agriculture is one of many industries that is extremely dependent on the weather. Since Kentucky agriculture is the single largest industry in the Bluegrass state and brings in over $3 billion in sales annually according to the Kentucky Agricultural Statistics Service, Kentucky's economy also depends a great deal upon the weather. With Kentucky's economy being so weather dependent, any system that improves the accuracy and type of measurements of past, present, and future weather will benefit all Kentuckians not just those in the agricultural industry. A way to improve the industry was discussed in a report on Agricultural Weather Information Systems published at Michigan State University that noted that "in an era when efficiency has replaced increased yields as the route to improving farm profitability, better weather information is a key to restoring the health of American agriculture. When used as part of a modern farm management system, weather information can, in essence, substitute for supplies, services and capital. ... of equal importance is the use of weather- based information to help minimize impacts of agriculture on the environment. By reducing unnecessary and untimely use of water, pesticides and fertilizers, the quality of water supplies, farm soils and the American food supply can be improved." While these statements provide strong support for the proposed mesonet, more specific utility of network information is detailed below. (1) Irrigation Scheduling The current economic situation in agriculture has placed greater emphasis on the efficient use of irrigation water and the energy associated with pumping that water. Instead of making irrigation decisions based on very subjective information such as the crop appearance or the number of days since the last irrigation, farmers are interested in better matching water applications to the need of the crop. This involves irrigation scheduling, the process of deciding when to irrigate and how much water to apply. Weather-based estimates of crop water use are an important input for effective irrigation scheduling programs. Implementation of such programs in Kentucky has been hindered by a lack of timely and complete weather information. The mesonet would enable agricultural research and extension to provide county by county crop water use estimates on a daily basis throughout the growing season. This should lead directly to water and energy conservation, and improved profitability in agriculture. One need only to recall the drought of 1999 to recognize the importance of weather information to agriculture. (2) Crop Growth Simulation Models Crop growth models are receiving increased attention as useful tools in improving on-farm decision making. Such models can be used in a variety of ways, including analyzing the effects of various production inputs on crop yield and assisting in management decision related to water, diseases, and pests. Accurate and timely weather data are absolutely essential for the use of such models. (3) Drought Analysis A Kentucky mesonet also provides the opportunity for drought analysis at a county level instead of a regional level. This means that the Palmer Drought Severity Index and Crop Moisture Index, which are the main indices used in drought analysis, can be calculated for each county in the state. Drought analysis for each county provides an opportunity for better water management practices in each county and allows the governor and other government officials to have a more accurate assessment of each county's condition when considering implementation of water restrictions and declaring emergencies for providing relief funds to those areas that actually need the relief which could lead to less payment of disaster relief. (4) Pests and Diseases The mesonet could also improve pest and disease forecasts. Improved forecasts could mean better management of pesticides. With improved current and forecast weather conditions for the farmer's area instead of the area two counties away could decrease the amount of these chemicals wasted and found in run-off due to over application or improper conditions at time of application. Improved Flood Watches and Warnings This type of network can also improve flood watches and warnings. With the data, especially rainfall data, collected in the network forecasters will be able to have a more accurate account of how much water has fallen in an area which can lead to earlier and more accurate warnings allowing people more time to get out of flooding areas to safety. This data can also help emergency managers direct emergency services and relief to the most affected areas in a timely fashion. Improved Winter Forecasts An important key to improved winter weather advisories is a real-time reporting network with observations on a scale much smaller than the present surface network. The availability of this type of information is of paramount importance if forecast products are to skillfully highlight the correct areas of concern, initiate proper responses by safety, transportation and utility agencies, and protect lives and property. Thus, the proposed Kentucky-wide mesonet represents an important step in eliminating the information short- fall which frequently accompanies critical winter weather events. Forestry Management Before each growing season begins, many farmers, ranchers and foresters across Kentucky initiate prescribed burns on their property as a modern-day approach in effective land management. The purpose of these controlled burns is just that: to control the burning of undesirable underbrush for healthier, more productive land. The alternative long since rejected by forestry agencies across the United States is to permit nature to take its course through random wildfires. That scenario often creates out-of- control fires that produce excessive heat and destroy vital soil material in the process. Thus, the modern-day land manager and forester have developed a keen eye for the weather in order to suppress wildfires, and schedule prescribed burns to ensure healthy, productive land. Timely weather information plays a vital role in these activities in the following ways: (1) Spot weather forecasts of wind direction and wind speed for a prescribed burn dictate the burn strategy. Once a burn is underway, unpredicted wind conditions can mean the difference in controlling the burn, protecting personnel and equipment versus losing control of the fire and endangering all resources. These situations become more complex when expensive equipment and aerial ignition from helicopters are involved. Obviously, once a considerable amount of fire is ignited, unpredicted weather conditions can be devastating. (2) In some areas of our nation, the U.S. forest Service uses current weather information to determine initial responses to a fire. Their objective is to minimize operating expenses by sending only the people and equipment required. Once on the scene, real-time weather information is used heavily in decisions to protect personnel and extinguish the fire. (3) Finally, each controlled burn has a legal liability that accompanies the smoke created should it unexpectedly drift over highways, camp sites, resort and residential areas. Decisions regarding smoke dispersion and smoke drift critically depend upon the local wind and temperature field. The proposed statewide mesonet will provide the critical information needed by these diverse interests and thus, will assist with more effective land management across Kentucky. Improved Climatological Information - Higher Resolution Although climatological information, by its very nature, does not depend on real-time access to the data, having a mesonet reporting several times hourly will offer higher quality, higher resolution weather data for climatological analysis. The result will be a more detailed and more informative climatological database about Kentucky weather patterns. Those statements can best be appreciated in light of comments made recently by H.Tennekes of the Netherlands Meteorological Institute: "High-resolution maps of wind, radiation and precipitation climatology are needed to help solve problems of zoning, site selection for industrial plants, agricultural use patterns, surface water control, irrigation, flood protection and many other interests." While these comments were made with regard to European meteorology, they can just as well apply across the Unites States and in Kentucky. The proposed Kentucky mesonet will fulfill this need. Education and Basic Scientific Research Over the past 3-4 decades, research mesonetworks, other than the Oklahoma mesonet, generally have been temporary in nature, collecting data during limited time periods rather than functioning 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, every year. This means that many interesting weather phenomena have not had as many as 120 observing sites operating nor have many covered an entire state with nearly uniform density. Real-time access to such an extensive mesonet, with such a complete package of sensors, is unprecedented in Kentucky and all of the United States except for Oklahoma. Therefore, it is manifestly evident that the proposed mesonet can add in a substantial way to research studies of Kentucky weather systems of all types during all seasons. As with other components of the rapidly-changing operational observing systems, the mesonet's value in research will be materially enhanced in combination with other means of obtaining weather data through the NEXRAD systems, wind profilers and sophisticated satellite- borne observing systems. The Kentucky mesonet can be of benefit to all types of research not just meteorological. Many different areas of agricultural research could benefit from the extensive weather data collected by the mesonet. Energy and engineering research could also benefit to name a few. With the mesonet comes new opportunities for critical and exciting research that can benefit all Kentuckians not just from the results but also from the increased revenue from grants, etc. that would otherwise be unavailable if not for a Kentucky mesonet. The mesonet can also provide a fun and exciting means for educating Kentucky children. The data collected could obviously be used in many different types of science lessons, but also could be used to teach mathematics and computers to the students of Kentucky schools. These examples are only a few ways the mesonet can benefit Kentucky teachers and children. Wider Access to Weather Information The first tangible benefit will be the real-time, statewide availability of weather data and information to a myriad of users in much greater detail than existed previously. It will ameliorate the continuing problems faced by the National Weather Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in getting critical weather-related information to the public. Weather watches and warnings have traditionally been handled by the media, an association which should continue to be productive. However, many communities across the state are not served by major media outlets. Occasionally, highly perishable weather information is slow to arrive in rural communities when life-saving weather information is not transmitted by meteorologically sensitive broadcasters. Access to network information along with other perishable products should be of considerable benefit to the using public in these areas. In fact, more efficient service to local law enforcement and emergency management personnel to help these groups save lives is one reason this mesonet is being proposed for Kentucky. Another obvious immediate benefit is simply the return of a ten-fold increase in the number of real-time observing sites across Kentucky which will provide details in weather patterns heretofore unseen in Kentucky that will be of immediate value to a host of potential users. It is easy to imagine how farmers, construction and trucking companies, energy-generating utilities, law enforcement, recreational interests, and even the general public will benefit from more detailed and timely weather data whose access is easier than ever before. Regular regional weather round-ups, weather at (or near) recreational sites across the state, and detailed daily precipitation summaries, do not require sophisticated processing and should be available on a regular daily basis as soon as the mesonet commences operation. Kentucky in a Leadership Role An intangible immediate by-product of this mesonet would be the recognition of Kentucky's leadership role along with Oklahoma in making new technology serve society's real needs. If properly funded and administered, there is nothing in this network proposal that cannot be replicated elsewhere. Other states seeking to duplicate Kentucky activities would look to Kentucky for leadership. Activities within Kentucky seeking to apply the new network information would be in a pioneering position. This capability would not only benefit Kentucky, but it would be of value in other states across our nation. Although we cannot anticipate all future breakthroughs, we offer some ideas about how the new data may contribute to society in the future by looking at how the Oklahoma mesonet has benefitted society. History teaches that information in unprecedented detail leads to significant practical improvements. Such gains have tended to be overestimated in the short term, but long run effects are often underestimated. Perhaps the most exciting possibility is that routine agricultural, hydrological and meteorological forecasts will become substantially more detailed and accurate. Such an outcome depends not only on the mesonet, but also on how well the science of agriculture, hydrology and meteorology handle data from the new and improved observing systems such as radars and satellites. It seems likely that the mesonet would complement other systems to improve our understanding of these sciences. Important increases in understanding should result in improved forecasts. This is particularly valid at the University of Kentucky, where basic and applied researchers are working to transfer knowledge and technology into the operational agricultural forecasting environment. APPENDIX A SITE CRITERIA AND THE POTENTIAL LOCATION OF STATIONS Some of the proposed locations of stations in the Kentucky Mesonet range from University of Kentucky Research Stations, 4-H Camps, to volunteer farm owners. Priority considerations used to select the general location of stations locations include: - Every county shall have at least one network station within the county. - All Agricultural Research Stations in the University of Kentucky (UK) system shall be the site of an agricultural weather station. - All 4-H Camp locations shall be the site of an agricultural weather station. - If a UK Agricultural Research Station is located within a county, the first station to be located in that county shall be at the Research Station. - If a 4-H Camp location is located within a county and there is no UK Agricultural Research Station located in that county then the first station to be in the county shall be located at the 4-H Camp location. - Major public attractions in the area such as reservoirs, state and national parks, and recreational areas are considered excellent locations for network sites. Except for the UK Agricultural Research Stations and the Kentucky 4-H Camp locations, specific sites are not fixed for each weather station in a proposed community. The actual location of each station will become firm at the time of a site survey. Station locations on the UK Agricultural Research Stations, 4-H Camps, and at the community sites will be selected according to well established principles that guarantee the meteorological representativeness of the data collected. APPENDIX B FIELD DATA ACQUISITION AND INFORMATION DISSEMINATION SYSTEM The Kentucky Mesonet System will consist of three principal subsystems: (1) field data acquisition and local information dissemination; (2) the communications network of the INTERNET; and (3) a central, computerized data-management and information system. A description of the three components follow. Data Acquisition, Local Dissemination and Equipment Costs A typical data acquisition system for network sites transfers data from a station to the central processing facility by use of the Internet. The weather station automatically senses and monitors hydrometeorological, agrometeorological and special purpose parameters every 15 minutes. These data are telemetered directly or sent by repeater (VHF and UHF radio) to its base station "terminal" at or nearby the station. A terminal is equipment that intercepts and interprets the data transmitted from the station to prepare for transfer over the Internet. Upon receiving the latest weather observation, the terminal routes the new data through the Internet to the central database in Lexington. The Basic Weather Station A basic configuration of weather-related sensors will be provided at each of the 120 proposed sites in the network. The basic equipment will detect the following: BASIC AGRICULTURAL WEATHER STATION DATA MEASUREMENTS Wind Speed Wind Direction Dewpoint Temperature Relative Humidity Barometric Pressure Air Temperature at 2 different heights Soil Temperature under sod and bare Soil Moisture at different depths Solar Radiation Evapotranspiration Precipitation Leaf Wetness The leaf wetness and soil moisture are parameters that will be unique to the Kentucky Mesonet compared to the Oklahoma Mesonet in being measured statewide. Oklahoma currently does not measure leaf wetness but does measure soil moisture only at specific stations. Additional sensors can eventually be added to stations to augment the stations detecting capability due to the mesonet's modular design. A self-reporting weather station, with capabilities and equipment similar to that described above, is priced at $20,500 per station. APPENDIX C Summary Table PROCUREMENT, INSTALLATION AND START-UP COSTS TASKS COST A. Station and Communication Network Survey and Design, Bid Specification and Evaluation $ 115,927 B. State-wide Network Installation $ 90,927 C. Weather Station and Base Station Equipment $2,995,600 D. Weather Center Stand-Alone Computer, with Redundancy Capability, and Peripheral $ 100,000 E. Spare Parts Inventory $ 175,000 F. Public Display Systems in Kentucky $ 225,000 G. Electronic Technician and Electronic Shop Start-up tools and Equipment $ 20,000 H. Project Management and Support $ 494,580 I. Central Processing Facility Upgrade $ 250,000 J. Telecommunications $1,200,000 K. TOTAL ONE TIME COST $5,667,034 APPENDIX C.1 JUSTIFICATION OF PROCUREMENT, INSTALLATION AND START-UP COSTS TASKS COST A. Station and Communication Network Survey and Design, Bid Specification and Evaluation $115,927 1. Preliminary State-wide Weather Station and Communication Network Design: including site survey and selection JUSTIFICATION 120 sites x 2.0 days/site x $50 per diem = $ 12,000 Travel: 120 sites x 200 miles/site x .30 per mile = $ 7,200 Coordination, deliverables, paperwork Labor: 6 mos x $4000/mo = $ 24,000 Labor for 240 days of site selection and survey 240/22 = 10.9 man months 10.9 months x $3000 = $ 32,727 SubTotal $ 75,927 2. Final State-wide Weather Station and Communication Design; Preparation of bid specifications and bid evaluations $ 40,000 B. State-wide Network Installation $90,927 JUSTIFICATION Per diem: 240 days x $50 per day = $ 12,000 (120 sites x 1.0 day/site x 2 people) = 240 man days Travel: 240 days x 100 miles/day x .30 = $ 7,200 Labor: 240 man days 240/22 = 10.9 man months 10.9 months x $3,000 = $ 32,727 Tools/Equipment/Materials (cement, forms, etc.) $300/station x 120 stations = $ 36,000 Preinstallation Set-up Time and Labor $ 3,000 SubTotal $ 90,927 C. Weather Station and Base Station Equipment $2,995,600 JUSTIFICATION 1. 120 Agricultural Weather Stations 120 x $20,500 = $2,460,000 2. 60 Repeaters 60 x $7,260 = $ 435,600 3. Basic Station Sensor Augmentation $ 100,000 4. Total $2,995,600 D. Weather Center Stand-Alone Data Acquisition and Processing Computer, with Redundancy Capability and Peripherals $ 100,000 E. Spare Parts Inventory $ 175,000 F. Public Display Systems in Kentucky $ 225,000 G. Electronic Technician and Electronic Shop Start-up Tools and Equipment $ 20,000 H. Project Management and Support (Assume one year installation time) $ 494,580 5. Project Manager $ 60,000 6. Quality Control Manager $ 50,000 7. Electronic/Meteorological Technicians & Station Installation Inspector $ 160,000 8. Computer Programmer (2) (program Weather Center computers; program public displays) $ 95,000 9. Student computer operators (6) 24hrs/day x $8.00 x 365 days/yr = $ 70,080 10. Supplies/Expendables $ 2,000 11. Telephone $ 2,500 12. Travel (installation QC, etc.) $ 15,000 13. PC Computer (2) & peripherals $ 40,000 TOTAL $ 494,580 I. Central Processing Facility Upgrade $ 250,000 J. Telecommunications 120 x $10,000 = $1,200,000 K. TOTAL ONE TIME COST $5,666,980 APPENDIX D SUMMARY TABLE YEARLY RECURRING COSTS FOR MAINTENANCE OF Kentucky MESONETWORK TASKS COST A. Inspection and maintenance of Network NOTE: These costs are included in Project Management below. B. Parts & Repair of Field and Computer Equipment $ 123,000 C. Improvement Fund for Replacement/Upgrade of Field Network $210,290 D. Mesonet Improvement Fund for Replacement/Upgrade of Weather Center Central Computer/Work Station and Public Display Systems $ 58,334 E. Project Management $370,950 F. Telecommunications $120,000 G. TOTAL YEARLY RECURRING COSTS $882,574 APPENDIX D.1 JUSTIFICATION OF YEARLY RECURRING COSTS FOR MAINTENANCE OF Kentucky MESONETWORK TASKS COST A. Inspection and Maintenance of Network $113,950 NOTE: These costs are reflected in Project Management (E) below. 1. Routine Inspections JUSTIFICATION (120 sites x 3 visits/year) \ 3 station visits/day = 120 days labor Per diem: 95 days Travel: 120 days x 200 miles/day = 24,000 miles/year 2. Emergency Visit to Repair/Replace Sensors JUSTIFICATION Assume Malfunctions at 4 stations/wk x 52 weeks = 208 repairjobs 1 repair job/day = 208 days Labor 1/2 jobs require per diem = 104 days Travel: Average 250 miles/day/job; 208 jobs x 250 miles/job=52,000 miles/year 3. Costs Summary a. Labor 1. Routine Visits 120 days 2. Emergency Visits 208 days 3. Shoptime (repair) 88 days 4. Records/Documentation 44 days 5. Order Parts/Tests, etc. 44 days 6. Leave (sick/annual) 35 days 539 days \ 22 days/mo = 24.5 months Conclusion: Requires Two Electronic/Quality Control Technicians to maintain network. Total Cost: 2 People x $40,000 year = $80,000 b. Travel (Mileage) 7. Routine 24,000 8. Emergency 52,000 9. Local 4,000 10. Total Miles 80,000 11. Cost: 80,000 miles x 0.30 = $24,000 B. Parts & Repair of Field Equipment, Computer Equipment, and Displays $123,000 JUSTIFICATION 12. TOTAL Cost of Equipment to be maintained is $2,460,000 13. Estimate that Parts & Repair Costs yearly will be 5% of Total System Costs ($2,460,000) = $123,000 C. Improvement Fund for Replacement/Upgrade of Field Network After 10 Years $210,290 JUSTIFICATION Assume: Field and Community Equipment cost $2,102,900 14. Lifetime is 10 Years 15. No Salvage Value at Eng of Lifetime 16. Interest on Improvement Fund is Offset by Inflation and Costs of Technological Advances 17. Yearly Replacement Cost = $2,102,900 \ 10 Years= $210,290 D. Improvement Fund for Replacement/Upgrade of Weather Center Central Computer/Work Station and Public Information Displays $ 58,334 JUSTIFICATION Assume: Computer and Display Equipment Cost is $350,000 18. Lifetime is 6 Years 19. No Salvage Value at End of Lifetime 20. Interest on Sinking Fund is Offset by Inflation and Costs of Technological Advances 21. Yearly Replacement Cost = $350,000 \ 6 Years =$58,334 E. Project Management (Year Basis) $370,950 22. Project Manager = $60,000 23. Quality Control Manger = $50,000 24. Computer Programmer(2) (Maintain System Software) = $95,000 25. Lab/Calibration Technician = $40,000 26. Supplies/Expendables = $ 2,000 27. Telephone (2 lines) = $ 4,000 28. Travel/Per Diem = $ 3,000 29. Test Equipment/Tools for Electronic Techs = $ 3,000 30. Maintenance of Network = $113,950 (From A Above) 31. Electronic Techs = $80,000 32. Travel = $24,000 33. Per Diem = $ 9,950 Total $113,950 Total Cost of Project Management = $370,950 F. Telecommunications $120,000 G. TOTAL YEARLY RECURRING COSTS $882,574 APPENDIX E SCHEDULE AND MILESTONES TASKS A. PREPARING PROJECT PROPOSAL 1. Prepare draft "stawman" outline 2. Review of draft "strawman" 3. Prepare draft proposal B. SELLING THE PROJECT 1. Prepare briefing, materials 2. Conduct briefings, talks, visits 3. Secure letters of support 4. Rewrite draft proposal to final proposal form/incorporating new information 5. Peer review of final draft 6. Prepare final proposal C. SOLICITATION OF FUNDS 1. Direct proposal to funding source for network equipment and installation 2. Receive reply to proposal D. NETWORK PLANNING SPECIFICATIONS 1. Conduct preliminary site surveys 2. Prepare final site survey report E. NETWORK INSTALLATION 1. Secure site leases (if needed) 2. Preliminary site preparation 3. Equipment delivery begins 4. Install network 5. University of Kentucky assumes network 6. Network officially begins operation APPENDIX F LETTER OF SUPPORT (Attached)