assets – General term used to refer to the physical components (i.e.. endpoints, encoders, meters, gateways, mobile data collection devices, etc.) in a BEACON portfolio.
backdate – The process of entering a date that is in the past. In BEACON, backdating is typically performed to restore usage history when a service agreement start date defaults to “today” (the date of an import) and hides data from an EyeOnWater user dashboard.
backfill – Backfill is the process of filling in missing data, typically meter reads that were not received because a scheduled communication with an endpoint was missed. When communication is re-established and the next endpoint message includes the missing reads, those reads will be backfilled and shown as blue bars in the Monitor page Consumption Graph. See FAQ: ORION Endpoints and Data Backfill for more information.
backflow – (also referred to as reverse flow) – The undesired reversal of water flow in a piping system, causing water to flow in the opposite direction from its intended path.
backhaul – Telecommunications term that refers to the network connection used to carry data to and from servers, gateway and endpoints.
billing read – The meter reading used for billing purposes.
billing resolution – The smallest unit of water consumption measured for billing purposes. (i.e. 1,000 gallons)
billing unit of measure – Describes the measurement of water consumption that appears on a customer invoice. For example, CCF (Centum Cubic Feet or hundreds of cubic feet), 1000 GAL (KGAL or thousands of gallons), etc.
Cards (also referred to as Meter Cards) – BEACON Monitor page user elements which display details about each meter in the system. See Cards for more information.
compound meter – A hardware asset with two measuring elements that measure flow – one for high flow and another for low flow. High flow and low flow consumption values must be added together to measure total water consumption for that meter.
Configured Import (also referred to as Configured Importer) – Term used to describe a custom importer, configured by the Badger Meter Software Services team, for bringing Badger Meter legacy reading data management system data files into BEACON in lieu of Data Exchange.
Consumption – Term used to quantify water usage.
Continuous Flow – Name of a tag used to identify service locations where continuous (24/7) water consumption is expected (e.g. hospitals, hotels, manufacturing facilities,cooling towers).
Customer Information System (CIS) – The water service provider’s software platform of record for customer accounts, billing, and service operations. CIS is the source of truth for this data; BEACON reflects or syncs with CIS rather than serving as the primary system.
Data Exchange – Term used to describe the System Sync process (passing information between CIS and other systems and BEACON). See Data Exchange for more information.
- Data Exchange file – A spreadsheet that conforms to the Data Exchange Specification.
- Data Exchange Specification – The guidelines which define the columns and rows required to import, synchronize and update utility data in BEACON. See Data Exchange Specification.
- Data Exchange Starter Spreadsheet – A Data Exchange Specification-compliant spreadsheet file that contains a subset of data fields required to associate an endpoint with utility account data in BEACON. See Understanding the Data Exchange Starter Spreadsheet for more information.
dials – Refers to the quantity of numeric digits (mechanical or electronic) displayed on a water meter register. Dials represent total water consumption, like the way an odometer records mileage in a vehicle.
DMA (District Metered/Metering Area) – Defined, discrete zone of a water distribution network that has been isolated (usually via valves) so that inflow can be metered and monitored. See DMA for more information.
DMA Zone – A defined section of a water distribution network that has been categorically isolated in BEACON so the water flow in (referred to as supply meters) and out (referred to as demand meters) may be measured. DMA Zones aid water utilities in leak detection, non-revenue water (NRW) reduction, pressure measurement and demand forecasting/planning. See DMA for more information.
encoder (also referred to as encoder register, register or encoder) – A term used to describe the hardware asset used to record a meter’s water consumption. Usage is displayed locally at the meter and communicated to BEACON via AMI and AMR endpoints.
endpoint – A term used to describe the hardware device connected to a meter/encoder for the purpose of capturing and communicating water meter reads and meter status information. In the water industry, depending on the manufacturer, endpoints may also be known by alternative terms (e.g. Meter Interface Unit/MIU, Module, or Remote Terminal or Telemetry Unit/RTU, transmitter.
Events – Events are user-definable conditions, applicable to network meters, that when met become active events. When the conditions are no longer met, the event has ended. See Events Pages for more information.
exceptions – Encoder, endpoint and meter conditions that trigger various alerts in BEACON.
Export Fieldset – A customized data export. Export fieldsets can be public (shared across the utility) or private (accessible only by the user that created the export fieldset). See Utility Settings > Export Fieldsets for more information.
EyeOnWater – BEACON-enabled consumer engagement web portal and smartphone apps which provide a utility’s end consumers easy access to their personal water consumption data. See EyeOnWater for more information.
Filter – An element available in various BEACON pages and modules, which allows user to restrict their view of data to only items meeting a specified condition. See Monitor Page Filters for more information.
Network Gateway Transceiver (also referred to as a gateway) – A hardware component in a traditional fixed network AMI system which receives, stores and sends water metering data from surrounding ORION Fixed Network (SE) meter endpoints to the BEACON cloud-based software via a cellular data network or LAN backhaul.
leak (also referred to as potential leak or suspected leak) – In residential and commercial water systems, a leak represents an unintended, uncontrolled loss of water from plumbing systems, fixtures, appliances, or water distribution infrastructure. See FAQ: Leak Reporting and Notifications for more information.
Leak Alert – For networked meters, an alarm triggered when flow exceeding a set threshold has been detected every hour of the 24-hour period prior to the latest AMI endpoint communication. For non-AMI meters, the flag triggered by the water meter or encoder indicating continuous usage every hour of the 24-hour period prior.
Leak Rate – The leak rate displayed in the EyeOnWater Leak Module for meters that collect hourly reads represents the lowest volume of water measured during the previous 24 hours from the most recent time your meter communicated with the system. For meters that collect reads every 15 minutes, the leak rate is the lowest volume 15-minute flow segment in a given hour multiplied by four.
location – A term used to identify a premise or place where the utility company supplies water. In BEACON, unique locations are defined by a Location ID plus a Service Point ID.
networked meter – A meter connected to an AMI endpoint (ORION Cellular, ORION SE fixed network or GALAXY fixed network).
portfolio – Term that describes each utility’s unique and specific resources in BEACON. A portfolio encompasses a utility’s hardware assets (endpoints, encoders, meters, mobile reading technology, etc.), customers and accounts, users with access to BEACON, and BEACON SaaS data and configurations. Badger Meter personnel initially create a utility’s portfolio during the onboarding process, and utilities manage their respective portfolio thereafter.
provisioning (also provision or provisioning process) – The process of associating endpoints with utility customer account information in BEACON. Once provisioned, the system uses data collected from the encoder for billing and water management purposes to improve customer service, increase operational efficiency and help users understand their water consumption.
read resolution (also register resolution or, resolution) – Factor of the rightmost movable digit (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100, 1000, etc.) of an encoder/register. Taken together with the register unit of measure, resolution represents the smallest unit of change that the register can report. See Read Resolution Values for more information.
rollover – Term that describes when a meter or encoder register reaches its maximum reading and reverts to zero (for example, when 99999 advances to 00000). BEACON automatically detects rollovers and calculates flow across the reset, so consumption is reported accurately.
service – A specific location where the utility company supplies water.
service point – Physically, a service point is where a water pipe connects to a meter, and if applicable, an encoder register and an endpoint. It is a place where a utility delivers water service to its customer.
Status – An Assets page column which displays the current operational status of endpoints associated with the portfolio.
- Available status means the endpoint is associated with your BEACON portfolio but not yet activated.
- Decommissioned status means the cellular backhaul for the endpoint has been permanently cancelled and cannot be reactivated. Assessment of monthly service unit charges will continue for that device until it is removed from the portfolio. Badger Meter will automatically decommission cellular endpoints returned on RMA for warranty evaluation and found to be non-operational and remove those endpoints from the originating portfolio. For non- warranty returned endpoints (i.e. non-operational due to customer damage), contact Technical Support to initiate the decommissioning and removal process.
- Preprovisioned status means the endpoint has been activated and has successfully communicated with BEACON, but it is not associated with utility account data. NOTE: preprovisioned endpoints that are successfully connected to an encoder produce raw read data. Pre-provisioned endpoints that are not connected to an encoder produce no read values.
- Provisioned means the endpoint is both activated and associated with account data in BEACON.
tolerance (also referred to as read tolerance or read time tolerance) – A term used to describe how old a meter reading can be to be considered valid/acceptable for billing purposes. Tolerance is set by the Utility, according to its business practices.
totalizer – A device or meter that records a count total.
