An Automated Tide Gauging Network

A system has been developed for automatic acquisition and telemetry of tides and water levels from a network of permanent gauging stations. Called TATS, for Tidal Acquisition and Telemetry System, the new instrument consists basically of a specialized microcomputer interfaced to a water level sensor and a dial-up telephone line. Designed as a low cost, reliable instrument for remote, unattended gauging sites, TATS operates under program control, sampling the water level as required, storing the data in memory, and transmitting the information over the telephone lines upon request. Although the data is normally accessed automatically once a day by a central computer with dial-out capability, the information is also available to anyone with a data terminal equipped with a modem or acoustic coupler. TATS can also control a teleannouncer or a dedicated landline or radio link in addition to the dial-up telephone interface.