evolution™ AMI...Its Emergence is Reshaping the Industry's View of Water AMR.

MEETING THE NEED FOR A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION

While inductive touch, walk-by and mobile radio AMR technologies deliver on the promise of reduced meter reading costs and estimated bills, they lack the flexibility to provide a comprehensive water utility solution that enables daily scheduled meter reading, on-demand meter reading, variable pricing options, integration with information systems, and self-monitoring and real-time alarm alerts.

Elster AMCO Water, Inc., an industry leader and world-class provider of advanced water metering technology and intelligent metering solutions, has created evolution AMI to address the industry's growing demand for greater meter intelligence and a complete end-to-end, utility-wide solution.

Evolution... the Superior Technological Alternative

Elster AMCO's evolution AMI is the next-generation solution for water utilities and cooperatives who wish to go beyond the limitations of AMR to enjoy the advantages of the higher functionality afforded by a truly intelligent and automated metering infrastructure.

Outstanding advantages of the evolution AMI system:

Time-based rates
Remote valve actuation
On-demand consumption readings
eal time notification of leaks, tampering, or backflow
In-home consumption monitoring
Fully automated scheduled reads

Migrating Beyond the Limitations of AMR

Elster AMCO's evolution AMR system is the only advanced meter reading technology that offers utilities the benefit of a fully migrateable mobile system to complete AMI fixed network solution without system change out. Utilizing advanced Wavenis* radio networking, well known as the leading low-power technology, evolution Radio Transceiver Module endpoints (evoRTM Endpoints) offer flexibility for all installation environments. The intelligent two-way communications capability of evolution AMI over one-way AMR offers the advantages of modified mesh network topology, including self-installation and self-healing, extended radio coverage, non-mandatory line-of-site operation, and easy system scalability.

Elster AMCO's evolution delivers the added advantages of long-range capabilities for hard-to-reach environments, a qualified 20+ year operating life, and secure and reliable transmissions using frequency-hopping spread spectrum. Competitively priced for high and low volume deployments, the evolution AMI system's low infrastructure and administrative costs put the system within the financial reach of any utility, regardless of size.

Evolution AMI System Features and Benefits

Migrateable - Radio based platform enables utilities to move from mobile to AMI fixed network without system change out
Advanced - Intelligent two-way communications combined with accessible value-added endpoint capabilities
Versatile - A single endpoint for all installation environments
Robust/Reliable - Globally proven Wavenis RF communications technology
Peace-of-Mind - Available 20 year warranty on mobile and fixed network endpoint products
Affordable - Competitively priced for any size utility

Fixed-network Features and Benefits Access to a Wealth of Meter Intelligence

Elster AMCO Water's evolution AMI solution represents true AMI in every technological aspect. A web-based network management application running on the utility's server handles two-way, end-to-end communications throughout the entire network from a central location. The system's intelligent two-way communications capability not only allows the utility to acquire 'on demand' readings, it also provides the medium necessary to receive information about various events from the RTM as these events occur.

These include residual or burst leaks, tampering, low battery and backflow. This information is automatically transmitted back to the head end.

Fixed network AMI highlights

Unlicensed, 902 - 928MHz operation, FHSS
Self routing and self healing network
Star, tree and modified mesh network topology options
Automatic, real-time alarms to head end
Data back-haul options from the evoGate Central Collectors include cellular GPRS and Ethernet-based options

A Complete End-to-end Fixed Network AMI Solution

Full end-to-end, two-way communications
Built on globally proven Wavenis RF technology
Ultra-low-power consumption, long-range wireless solution
Highly flexible single endpoint design
Extended radio coverage for remote locations
Non-mandatory line-of-site propagation
Secure and reliable transmission using FHSS technology
Self installing and self healing capabilities
Easy system scalability and retrofits
Available 20 year battery life warranty
Reduced infrastructure hardware costs
Low installation and network maintenance costs
In-home, end-user consumption displays
Remote valve actuation
Affordable for any size utility evoWalk™ and evoDrive™ features and benefits
Low infrastructure and network maintenance costs
Reduced infrastructure hardware
Low installation costs
Easy retrofits and system scalability
Licensed wake-up tone in the 952-956Mhz band required
RTM replies in 902-928Mhz, unlicensed band
Status of all flags - leak, tamper, battery warning and backflow
Data logging - 36 daily reads
Two-way communications capable
Flexible hardware options for utility customers
Integral register configuration available
Endpoint can be field programmed to fixed network mode without change out
Seamless migration to fixed network

evoValve™ Remote Actuator Valve

An effective tool for reducing time and labor costs associated with field disconnects and re-connects, evolution's remote valve actuation feature enables utilities to simply and easily shut-off or decrease water pressure to a particular end-user from the head end.

evoValve features:

IP68 rated, fully submersible, fully potted and sealed
Connects directly to a dedicated RTM, which manages its position
Configurable through fixed network via evoNet Manager software
Designed for 10 year use with multiple turns per month

evoTrak™ The Benefits of Demand Response and Conservation

Utilities can effectively promote conservation by leveraging evolution's ability to generate usage data for a particular time period, also known as time-based rates or time-of-use (TOU). With the evolution system's in-home user display, utilities can quickly and easily provide consumers with a real time picture of daily water consumption, effectively encouraging their participation in utility conservation and TOU rate reduction initiatives.

evoTrak features and benefits