Airport
Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS)
Eleven (11) North Dakota Airports
Client: North Dakota Aeronautics Commission
Interstate Engineering was selected by the North Dakota State Aeronautics Commission (NDAC) to be the lead engineer on the purchase and construction of an Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) at eleven (11) airports throughout North Dakota. The airports; located in Carrington, Cavalier, Cooperstown, Crosby, Grafton, Harvey, Langdon, Linton, Oakes, Rugby and Watford City, signed over their entitlement money for 2006 to the NDAC for the purchase and installation of the AWOS’. The NDAC was the project sponsor while, as the lead engineer, Interstate served as the NDAC’s representative throughout the project.
This project consists of purchasing and installing an AWOS III P/T U for each of the eleven airports. The systems included sensors that monitor wind speed and direction, ambient temperature, dewpoint, pressure, visibility, cloud height, precipitation accumulation and thunderstorm detection. All systems utilized an ultra sonic wind speed sensor in lieu of the traditional cup and ball bearing system and also included a 17 inch flat screen monitor which was placed in the airport’s pilot’s lounge to display current weather conditions to the pilots.
Completion of this 1.5 million dollar project included installation of a four foot high chain-link fence around the perimeter of the AWOS, as well as a weed barrier fabric and aggregate to reduce weed growth.
