With the growth and reliability of mobile data networks based on 3G and 4G technology, Vaisala had requests from clients for the weather stations with dual cameras and infra red lamps in remote locations where power was either not available or too expensive to bring to site. To meet this requirement a solar & wind powered solution with mobile communication capability was developed. The new system allows rapid deployment in challenging locations without the need to run expensive fixed infrastructure such as broadband or power.

As Gerry Sharp, Project Manager for Vaisala explains, “We had used Mobotix for a number of years and the cameras have proven extremely reliable in our existing deployments so we naturally evaluated the technology as part of the development of the new solar & wind powered solution.

Vaisala already has over 500 Mobotix cameras deployed as part of road monitoring services used primarily by the UK Highways agency and other similar organisations. Some of the sites have Mobotix cameras that have continuously delivered high resolution images for over 7 years and Gerry states that, “We have had very few cameras fail over the years and many of these locations are extremely exposed to the elements.”

For the new solar based monitoring stations, low power was a critical requirement alongside ruggedness. “The Mobotix cameras have no moving parts, require no heaters or fans and use only 3 watts in operation,” explains Gerry, “The cameras are also extremely good in low light and can react to IR light level changes very quickly. In addition, the MxPEG file format means that we can transmit smaller files which use less power for the 3G transceiver.

So far, Vaisala has deployed 4, in a variety of configurations, of the new solar and wind based units at some high risk yet extremely remote roadside locations across England and Scotland. “The use of the Mobotix cameras has been proven in real deployments and the energy efficiency of the solution means battery exchanges are not necessary which keeps down our service delivery costs,” Sharp added.

Commenting on the solution, Mike Lewis, Business Development Director - UK & Ireland for Mobotix added, “Power consumption, reliability and ability to withstand the elements should always be on the list of considerations when deploying an outdoor solution. Our work with Vaisala is an extreme example but the benefits it has achieved are a clear example of how our advanced Mobotix technology provides leadership for our industry.”