Smart metering

Abstract

This project aims to improve the reliability, timeliness and cost-effectiveness of the collection of data from smart water meters. This is accomplished by analysing smart meter data collected at base stations, which is provided by Water Services Corporation (WSC). The smart meter data stored by the WSC contains the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) at the receiver of the base station when the metering data is received. Using the meter location data and the location of the base station antennas, the distance between the smart meter transmitter and the base station receiver can be calculated. A Hata propagation model was implemented in MATLAB, which calculates the Path Loss between the meter and the base station based on the distance between them, the height of the transmit and receive antennas and the frequency of operation. The model was then used to study how well the RSSI correlate with distance and Path Loss values. It was found that the model predicts the average RSSI histogram values and the spread consistently, but the empirical RSSI spread is very large and not easily modelled. The Hata model was found to predict the Path Loss values consistently, with an average standard deviation of around 13dB. MATLAB scripts were also coded to analyse the RSSI signals received at base stations from all meters, and the RSSI signals for all metering packets generated by one meter. These can be used to analyse faults at meters and base stations respectively. Scripts with a simple to use Graphical User Interface (GUI) were coded in MATLAB to select meters and base stations under study from a map representation, using mouse clicks. A MATLAB script was also coded to aid in the efficient placement of new base stations, by calculating the number of meters that would benefit from the new base station based on the Hata propagation model.