# Presentation: 727730

## GOES DATA COLLECTION SYSTEM(DCS)

- KAY METCALF
- NOAA GOES DCS PROGRAM MANAGER

## What is DCS?

- Data Relay System
- From Surface Based Systems
- Through Satellite Transponder
- To Ground Receiving System

## Who?

- Government Users
- Federal
- State
- Local
- International
- Canada
- Mexico
- Central and South America
- Island nations in the Pacific, Atlantic, Carribean
- Western Hemisphere in GOES footprint

## What?

- Meteorological Observations
- Land Based Platforms
- Ocean (fixed) buoys
- Oceanographic Observations
- Ship Observations
- Tide Monitoring
- Hydrologic Observations
- River and Dam Monitoring
- Reservoir Levels
- Water Quality

## MAJOR U.S. USERS

- United States Geological Survey and Army Corps of Engineers
- Flood Monitoring
- Dam Management
- U.S. Forest Service and other Land Management Agencies
- Fire Monitoring
- National Weather Service
- Weather, Flood Monitoring, Ocean Buoys
- State and Local Agencies
- Reservoir Levels, Fire Monitoring, Flood Monitoring

## Major International Users

- Canadian Environment Service
- Weather, Ocean Buoys
- Mexico National Weather Service
- Weather, Fire Monitoring
- Central and South American Hydromet
- Chile, Colombia, Peru, Guatamala, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Ecuador, etc...

## Usage Regulations

- Regulated by Federal Law
- Government Users, or Data of Government Interest
- Environmental Applications
- Limited National Security
- Non Competition with Private Sector

## Statistics

- Approximately
- 16,000 Active Platforms
- 	400 User Agencies
- 100,00 messages per day

## Transmitter Characteristics

- Transmission Rates of 100, 300 or 1200 BPS
- Most Have Multiple Sensors
- Battery or Solar Powered, Some Electric
- Remote Locations
- Infrequent Maintenance Required
- Most Newer Platforms have GPS for Timing Accuracy

## Assignment Characteristics

- 200 Channels Available for Domestic Use
- Most New Assignments Hourly
- Most at 300 baud
- No New 100 Baud Assignments Allowed
- 1200 Baud Requires 2 Channels
- Stringent Requirements for Message Length
- Most Use Primary Self-Timed and Secondary Random Assignments

## Random Messages

- Event Triggered
- May Occur as Often as Every 2 Seconds
- No Time Allocation Required
- Specific Channels Set Aside for Random
- Messages Transmitted Multiple Times to Avoid Collisions
- Useful for Emergency Conditions When More Frequent Observations Required

## User Responsibilities

- Keep Platforms Operating Properly
- Regular Maintenance
- Immediately Repair Improperly Operating Platforms
- Keep Database Records Up to Date
- User Contact Information
- Platform Location
- Parameters Reported

## Data Reception Options

- DCS Automated Processing System (DAPS)
- Direct Readout Ground System (DRGS)
- Directly from GOES satellite
- Commercial Satellite Broadcast
- Continental U.S.
- Limited Canada, Limited Central and South America
- Not Dictated by Contract, so may change
- Global Telecommunication System (GTS)

## Benefits

- Low Cost
- Ideal for Remote Locations
- Real Time Data Reception
- Easily Shared Among Users

## Other DCS Systems

- Eumetsat Meteosat (MSG)
- Japanese GMS
- Russian GOMS
- China FY-2
- India INSAT
- Argos DCS
- French Instrument on NOAA Satellite

## How to Access International Satellite Systems

- Most have web sites
- Most are Members of the WMO Committee on Geostationary Meteorological Satellites (CGMS)
- Contact your WMO Representative
- NOAA HAS NO INFORMATION ON INTERNATIONAL ACCESS POLICIES

## HOW TO CONTACT US

- On the Internet:
- _[http://noaasis.noaa.gov/DCS](http://noaasis.noaa.gov/DCS)_
- Through Email:
- _[Goes.dcs@noaa.gov](mailto:Goes.dcs@noaa.gov)_
- By Phone:
- 301-457-5681
- By Fax:
- 301-457-5620