PLANO, TX, March 12, 2008 -- The city of Portsmouth, N.H., has contracted with Datamatic to install the MOSAIC mesh network automated meter reading system for its municipal water utility. In stages, Datamatic will install the MOSAIC AMR system with approximately 8,000 total water FIREFLY® Meter Interface Units in the City. Datamatic has been a utility technology leader since 1980 and supports customers worldwide.
"MOSAIC is an advanced AMR system that offers the flexibility, dependability and functionality that utilities need to increase their efficiency, improve their customer service and better manage their assets,' said Datamatic CEO Ken Kercher. "In areas like Portsmouth, high property values and historic preservation regulations can prevent the installation of expensive towers for automated meter reading. MOSAIC is a cost-effective solution that can be ramped up methodically as the utility moves from handheld collection to a fully automated system in a short period of time."
Portsmouth is an historic seaport that is a popular summer tourist destination and home to approximately 21,000 residents. Founded in 1623, the picturesque coastal city is known for its beautiful downtown district and Victorian homes along the banks of the Picatagua River.
"Our team conducted a comprehensive review of available AMR systems and chose Datamatic's MOSAIC mesh network for three reasons," said David Allen, Deputy Director of Public Works for the city of Portsmouth. "First, we were keen on features like full two-way communications with the FIREFLYs. Secondly, the rich information available from their ProfilePLUS£ datalogging system was important to us. And finally, MOSAIC is much less intrusive to install and does not require extensive replacement of existing meters. Dollar for dollar, MOSAIC offers Portsmouth the best return on our investment."
MOSAIC is the first AMR system capable of reading water, gas and electric meters via handheld, mobile and mesh network collection platforms from the same FIREFLY endpoint, which is compatible with virtually any meter. MOSAIC FIREFLYs are meter independent, which effectively eliminates the need for meter changeout in an implementation and can save a utility 30 to 40 percent on the cost of a project.
When the utility is ready for full network operations, MOSAIC gateways are installed and connected to a data backhaul. Once commanded, FIREFLYs automatically locate all neighboring meters and possible pathways to installed gateways. The system forms its "mesh" by linking each FF to its neighbors via two-way, spread-spectrum radio. Each FF functions as both a meter interface unit and a repeater; data is "hopped" between them as they create multiple, redundant pathways to the gateway.
"Though the city of Portsmouth has a quaint charm, the local officials strive to leverage cutting-edge technology to continually improve efficiency," added Rich Sanders, Director of Business Development. "MOSAIC fits within their philosophy."
Installation of the Datamatic AMR system will begin in March 2008 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year. Utilities interested in FIREFLY for water meter applications should contact Rich Sanders at (972) 234-5000.
Datamatic is a leader in utility data collection solutions, providing design, implementation and support of advanced utility meter reading and field data collection solutions for water, gas and electric utilities.
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