Overview of Satellite Data Collection System

The DCP's transmit near-real-time data from USGS gaging stations and other sites, which are collected by Local Readout Ground Stations (LRGS's), processed into the USGS's National Water Information System (NWIS), and updated to the World Wide Web. The total time from field transmission to the Web is usually 7-8 minutes.

Under normal hydrologic conditions, field sites with high data rate (HDR) DCP's transmit data every hour and field sites with low data rate (LDR) DCP's transmit data every 3 to 4 hours. DCP's can be programmed to transmit every 15 minutes to 1 hour for special purposes, such as flood warning, reservoir operations, and water management.

Overview of the USGS Real-Time System in Washington