Test and Evaluation Software for a Prototype Network of Water Level Measurement Stations

The National Ocean Service is replacing its National Water Level Observation Network with the Next Generation Water Level Measurement System. A prototype network of 20 field units will be used to test and evaluate the initial design concept and to define final technical specification. Special Test and Evaluation (T&E) software was developed to support this field evaluation. The T&E software, which is written for an IBM PC/AT, acquires data directly from the field units via telephone and via the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite system. These data are decoded, reformatted, and maintained in a relational database. The software exports data for supplementary analysis by other applications that use LOTUS 123 spreadsheets and graphic output and others that use the existing tides analysis software.