[SGVHAK] What is this?

[Claude Felizardo]

Yeah the stuff on top is definitely weather but I'm curious about the
thing hanging -- I thought it was a microphone at first.  And again,
no wind direction, just speed and what ever is in the shaded pagoda.


On Thu, Mar 28, 2013 at 7:25 AM, James McDuffie <mcduffie at pitfall.org> wrote:
> This morning I saw this at CalTech:
> 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."""
> http://www.ambientweather.com/weather-stations-for-solar-power-monitoring.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.
>
> http://www.thalesgroup.com/Portfolio/Defence/Thales_GunShot_Detector/
> http://www.notbored.org/gunshot-detectors.html
> http://www.pressking.com/press-releases/GUNSHOT-DETECTION-SYSTEM-SLASHES-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 <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" <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.
>
> http://www.wunderground.com/weatherstation/about.asp
> 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 <mcduffie at pitfall.org> wrote:
>
>
> Looks very much like a weather station.
>
>
> 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?
>
>
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