[SGVHAK] What is this?

[James McDuffie]

This morning I saw this at CalTech:

[1]http://i.imgur.com/oXPQntw.jpg



It is a "solar weather monitoring station" near a large install of
solar panels. Looks similar to the one Braddock saw.



"""Weather Stations are a useful tool for solar power site surveys,
efficiency analysis for installed systems, and energy consumption as a
function of ambient conditions. Weather Stations with solar radiation
sensors (pyrometers) and temperature sensors allow you to calculate
efficiency and power production vs. consumption. In addition,
connectivity to environmental monitoring systems (SCADA) provide
automated feedback systems."""

[2]http://www.ambientweather.com/weather-stations-for-solar-power-monit
oring.html





On Mon, Mar 25, 2013, at 03:41 PM, James McDuffie wrote:

I don't think what you saw is a gunshot detector. A cursory search
online shows that acoustic gunshot detectors look pretty different.
Also, the gunshot detectors usually seem to be accompanied by a camera.



[3]http://www.thalesgroup.com/Portfolio/Defence/Thales_GunShot_Detector
/

[4]http://www.notbored.org/gunshot-detectors.html

[5]http://www.pressking.com/press-releases/GUNSHOT-DETECTION-SYSTEM-SLA
SHES-GANG-VIOLENCE-IN-CITIES-AND-TOWNS-017246



On Mon, Mar 25, 2013, at 03:24 PM, Braddock wrote:

Gunshot detector.  I like it.  That would explain why there were (at
least) two - and maybe they need wind speed to help the calculation?



Just the type of superfluous thing the South Pasadena City Council
would waste my money on.  I'll write them and see if they can confirm.



-braddock





On 03/25/2013 11:49 AM, Richard Scobey wrote:

I remember hearing that sensors were being installed throughout the Los
Angeles area to detect gunshots. Using triangulation, they are able to
pinpoint the source.

Does anyone know what those look like?



Rick Scobey



Sent from my iPad



On Mar 25, 2013, at 11:11 AM, Dan Buthusiem
<[6]dan.buthusiem at gmail.com> wrote:



I've noticed quite a few popping up recently. One in South Pasadena
seemed to be the best WiMax spots back when it was still in deployment.
I doubt they're all weather stations, seeing as I don't see the use of
having such a dense sensor distribution for tracking weather. I can
only guess it'd be for seismic activity (they are working on adding
sensors to the seismic detector network), or the possibility they're
antennas for some sort of urban wireless network. Whatever they are,
they're definitely growing in number. Good to know I'm not the only one
to notice them.
On Mar 25, 2013 9:47 AM, "James McDuffie" <[7]mcduffie at pitfall.org>
wrote:

I was curious too. I looked both at the Weather Underground and NOAA
station locator websites and could not find anything listed at those
cross streets.

[8]http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/about.asp
[9]http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/

Some questions that might lead to more answers:
* Is pole on private or public property?
* Do you see a control box on the ground? I am guessing the control and
communication equipment is mounted above the radiation shield.
* Is there a wire going from the station into the pole?

Maybe its a station for a local school.

On Mon, Mar 25, 2013, at 08:20 AM, Braddock wrote:

Do cities regularly install weather stations?  What for?  And two on
one block?



I'm very curious.



-braddock





On 03/24/2013 03:44 PM, Claude Felizardo wrote:

Yuppers.  Definitely looks like a wind speed sensor, possibly a rain
gauge on top and a ventilated temp and/or humidity sensor.  Surprised
that there isn't a wind direction sensor.



They could be monitoring for other stuff.  Air pollution but then they
usually need easy access to a particulate filter fairly often.





On Mar 24, 2013, at 2:32 PM, James McDuffie <[10]mcduffie at pitfall.org>
wrote:



Looks very much like a weather station.


[11]braddock at braddock.com wrote:

There are two of these things mounted on poles one block apart on
Mission and Fair Oaks in South Pasadena.



What are they? Is the city running some kind of weather station?

References

1. http://i.imgur.com/oXPQntw.jpg
2. http://www.ambientweather.com/weather-stations-for-solar-power-monitoring.html
3. http://www.thalesgroup.com/Portfolio/Defence/Thales_GunShot_Detector/
4. http://www.notbored.org/gunshot-detectors.html
5. http://www.pressking.com/press-releases/GUNSHOT-DETECTION-SYSTEM-SLASHES-GANG-VIOLENCE-IN-CITIES-AND-TOWNS-017246
6. mailto:dan.buthusiem at gmail.com
7. mailto:mcduffie at pitfall.org
8. http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/about.asp
9. http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cdo-web/
  10. mailto:mcduffie at pitfall.org
  11. mailto:braddock at braddock.com
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