Telemetry consultation and validation

Telemetry installed on water meters will provide better, more accurate, information about water use in Queensland. It will also make it easier for water users to meet their obligations to provide water meter reads to the department.

The challenge is to ensure devices are able to cope with Queensland’s harsh conditions, as well as meet the strict requirements of the Queensland Government Information Security Classification Framework that specifies how government departments handle and manage digital data.

Trial

To test device connectivity and accuracy and data transfer and management, we trialled 47 devices across 11 remote sites in the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin.

The trial found that telemetry is possible with a range of devices and networks, and that the data can be captured, transmitted, stored, and used within the department.

DRDMW engaged Tractix to provide an independent review of the telemetry trial (PDF, 2.76 MB), focussing on telemetry devices, network carriers and third-party platforms.

Consultation

Industry stakeholders including manufacturers, suppliers, installers and service providers were invited to provide information on telemetry devices and services available in the market.

We sought feedback about technical and quality specifications and how the department’s systems can work with the data that meters will produce. The feedback helped identify and respond to any critical gaps between existing industry solutions and the minimum requirements to meet Queensland Government data reliability, quality and security needs in the future.

We also asked water users to tell us about the meters and telemetry they already use.

Based on the feedback, a standard to guide the use of telemetry in Queensland is being developed and will be published with the Water Regulation amendments.

Next steps

The Australian Government is providing funds to subsidise the cost of installing compliant telemetry devices in high risk catchments areas of the Queensland Murray-Darling Basin.

More information

• Find out more about subsidising telemetry.
• Read about strengthened water measurement.
• Find out more about water metering in Queensland.