GIS white paper

1.0 Abstract
The use of GIS, combined with new types of advanced and localized meteorological data sets, is now being used to solve a wide range of complex business and safety issues. Examples include improved fleet transportation routing efficiencies, more accurate energy industry load forecasting, precise advance analysis of hurricane damage potential, enhanced public safety with lightning monitoring, improved water district management and flash flood forecasting, and more efficient emergency response to an airborne bio-terrorist attack. The unique combination of GIS with appropriate meteorological data sets produces intriguing synergies and possibilities for improved problem solving in the future.

For many years GIS has been used to primarily static geo-referenced data sets for analysis and solution of a multitude of complex business problems. Unfortunately, access to, and management of, complimentary dynamic data sets such as weather information were virtually non-existent. However, today an extensive suite of reliable, consistent, and quality-controlled weather data sets, in Esri GIS format, as well as software components designed to help manage this weather data, are now available from Meteorlogix. The ability to “weather-enable” traditional GIS applications is now a reality and provides a host of new, wide-ranging opportunities to better solve increasingly complex business problems.

Over the past 30 years, the Esri data formats have become the de facto standard in the GIS industry. Due to Esri’s leadership role in the industry, Meteorlogix, the world’s largest commercial weather service provider, chose to convert the weather data into the Esri GIS data formats. This represents the first time that a comprehensive suite of high-quality, commercial-grade weather information, from worldwide sources, has been made available to GIS users, making it possible to immediately integrate “real-time” weather information into Esri-based applications. Established in October 2001 through the merger of three weather service leaders — business-to-business provider DTN Weather Services, broadcast and aviation weather forecaster Kavouras, and long-range forecaster and climate predictor Weather Services Corporation — Meteorlogix represents more than half a century of experience and weather information acumen. The company serves more than 22,000 customers with a focus on the energy, public safety, broadcast media, transportation, and aviation industries.

Combining real-time and forecast weather information with a GIS has significant potential for developing a weather-enabled decision support system. GIS offers much more than a typical “display” of weather graphics; a GIS provides the capability of combining the weather data itself with virtually any other geographically based information and, perhaps most importantly, provides a means to perform advanced spatial analysis capable of calculating meaningful value-added results. Meteorlogix quality-controlled weather data, combined with a GIS, can immediately unlock analytical potential that was previously incomprehensible and help solve more complex business problems.

An example of National Weather Service watch/warning/advisory information displayed in ArcView

Meteorlogix introduced the merging of GIS technology and weather information to the broadcast television industry in the form of a weather radar display and storm tracking system. Today, the Meteorlogix MxWeatherSpan StormCommander system is an advanced GIS application built upon the Esri MapObjects applications development toolkit. StormCommander utilizes GIS to display weather layers in conjunction with detailed map backgrounds that are dynamically generated while on-the-air, give TV viewers a better understanding of the precise location of severe storms relative to familiar landmarks. The location of individual storm cell epicenters, combined with their movement characteristics, allow calculation and depiction of the future storm path over time.

Figure 3.1

The MxWeatherSpan Meteorlogix StormCommander system is a GIS-based radar display and storm tracking system used by television stations throughout the United States

Starting in the early 1990’s, the National Weather Service (NWS) began to deploy a national network of new Doppler weather radar systems. Code-named WSR-88D (Weather Surveillance Radar 1988-Doppler), they have come to be commonly referred to as the NEXRAD (Next Generation Radar) system. With a maximum range of over 240 nautical miles (primarily limited by physical characteristics of radar beams curving away from the earth’s surface as distance increases), the NEXRAD network of over 150 systems can monitor most of the United States with a contiguous 1-kilometer spatial resolution.

NEXRAD radars have two distinct advantages over older radars. First, they are Doppler radars, which means that the radar can calculate the velocities of raindrops within storm cells. Second, they scan the entire volume of space above the radar (literally a cylinder 240 miles wide and 80,000 feet tall), producing one scan every five to 10 minutes, depending upon the precipitation detected. The combination of these two characteristics allows a NEXRAD radar to create a three-dimensional picture of precipitation, and to discern features such as individual storm cells, and even small phenomena like tornados and hail.

While individual radars provide good local information, often times information over a wider area is required. The establishment of an overlapping network of NEXRAD radars provides this expanded coverage. With a network of weather radars in place, the combination of multiple, overlapping, and time-synchronized weather radar images, into a single image, introduces additional value. But in order to do this effectively, non-precipitation entities in the weather radar image also needs to be eliminated.

The NEXRAD radars are very sensitive, so that they can effectively detect light precipitation. Although weather radars are, by design, most sensitive to detect particles the size of raindrops, they also sometimes detect nearby objects such as high elevation terrain features, buildings and other ground features that intercept the radar beam. They sometimes detect birds, insects, and suspended water vapor particles. This "clutter" generally provides little usable meteorological information and may in fact introduce confusion in the interpretation of the radar display, as it is often difficult for a non-meteorologist to differentiate between the actual precipitation and clutter close to the radar.

To address this issue, Meteorlogix, a leading commercial weather services provider, developed a unique technique that utilized additional information from the NEXRAD, along with other current meteorological information, to suppress, or eliminate clutter areas from the precipitation areas. The overlapping radar coverage allows adjacent radars to fill in clutter-suppressed areas if actual precipitation is indeed present. This innovative approach allows for the automated production of a Doppler weather radar mosaic image, essentially clear of clutter contamination. Considerable additional value is added by the automatic removal of radar ground clutter and other false radar signals. The resultant radar mosaic represents a depiction of actual precipitation, not simply raw radar echoes – a very significant difference.

The weather radar mosaic was further enhanced with information on the precipitation state (liquid, frozen, or mix) integrated into the display. Introduced to the industry by Meteorlogix, this allows the user to determine not only the location and intensity of precipitation, but also whether the precipitation is falling as snow, rain, or an ice mixture. This allows the tracking of large areas of snow and/or ice precipitation relative to service areas. This is of particular value to the dispatch operations group as an aid in determining potential outages due to ice accretion.

Figure 3.2.1

The Meteorlogix NEXRAD radar mosaic removes ground-clutter and other false-radar echoes plus encodes rain/snow/sleet characteristics

The NEXRAD radar introduced a new series of data sets making possible the automated tracking of individual storms. A series of complex meteorological algorithms identify individual clusters of storms, and perform a pattern recognition correlation on recent data to determine storm movement. Additional algorithms calculate the attributes of individual storms, including the likelihood of the presence of hail, damaging winds, and potential developing tornadoes. Using this information, it is now possible for utilities to pinpoint the precise location of a storm cell, where it is moving, and what assets it will affect, along with an Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA). Storms that are in a utility’s service area can be monitored and tracked in near real-time since the radar data is updated every five minutes. Utilities can monitor speed and direction, intensity, presence and size of hail, and presence of possible tornadic activity. The integration of mosaic weather radar (with precipitation state information) and overlay plots of current and future storm cell locations has been accomplished and integrated into the Meteorlogix MxVision WeatherSentry™ and MxVision StormSentry™ PC desktop display systems.

Figure 3.2.2

Monitoring global surface and upper-atmospheric weather conditions within a GIS is now a relatively easy task. Meteorlogix provides both current weather observations and forecast information (up to 10 days into the future), for the entire earth, in Esri point shapefile and grid format respectively. Current observations from over 7,000 locations are continuously received, processed, and distributed. Data from global weather prediction models are available at least twice daily. GIS grid tools such as Esri ArcView Spatial Analyst provide maximum analysis potential.

An example of global temperatures, displayed in ArcView with Spatial Analyst. The Metwork FileServer converts WMO GRIB format into Esri Grid format.

Note: image size/quality is degraded in order to conform to publication guidelines

The effect that weather can have on service interruptions and the ability of an electric utility to consistently deliver energy to its customers is well known. The generation group is mostly concerned with forecast weather conditions. Their requirement is to know how hot or cold it’s going to be today and tomorrow in order to efficiently manage the production and generation of energy. The non-regulated marketers also monitor forecast weather so they are prepared to buy and sell power due to fluctuating demand, often driven by weather conditions. Meanwhile, transmission operations are on the lookout for adverse weather conditions such as lightning, severe storms and winds. If there is weather-related damage, or potential for damage, the transmission engineer must be prepared to re-route energy or dispatch repair crews to return the grid to full operation. Finally, the distribution operations group monitors weather information, such as radar and lightning data, to manage field crews. As storms move into the service area, dispatchers need to know where to be prepared to direct repair crews and whether or not to pull them off jobs or put off-duty crews on standby. New storm tracking technology introduces the ability for an electric utility to monitor dynamically developing severe weather storm cells for much improved and more efficient decision-making.

Energy related industries, that have historically used GIS, could gain new benefits from using Meteorlogix supplied weather data in GIS data formats. A new GIS-based Decision Support System from Meteorlogix — MxInsight EnergyWatch™ — can help utilities make more informed weather-related decisions. MxInsight EnergyWatch is an integrated suite of real-time GIS weather data and software that provides decision-support tools for dispatch and transmission/distribution managers of utility companies. Weather data is collected from a variety of sources, converted to GIS format, and delivered to a utility’s network, allowing for the integration of the weather data with the utility’s own operational maps. The viewing and query of data can be accomplished within a Browser via an Intranet or over the Internet. MxInsight EnergyWatch is a customized, turnkey solution that is easy to use and tailored specifically to each utility customer.

With this new technology, a user can use MxInsight EnergyWatch to determine how wide a buffer between company assets and severe weather is necessary for safe operation. Then, if lightning, ice, heavy rains or high winds enter that “safe” area, company decision makers will have pertinent information in advance.

Example of weather radar and storm tracking merged with energy assets via Internet and/or Intranet delivered browser based client

Meteorlogix is now able to provide information from GAI National Lightning Detection Network in the Esri Shapefile format. This allows easy integration of lightning data directly into GIS applications. In addition to the traditional display of the location of lightning activity on a map, a GIS provides the opportunity for precise calculations of the proximity of lightning activity relative to golf courses, outdoor concerts, fuel storage facilities and a multitude of lightning sensitive events for any geographical point. The introduction of lightning data directly into GIS applications opens up new ways to provide solutions to weather related problems.

Figure 3.5

GAI lightning data, updated each minute, is now available in Esri shapefile format from Meteorlogix ready for direct integration into GIS systems

Emergency management agencies, already a user of GIS technology for advance planning purposes, can now easily integrate real-time weather data from Meteorlogix into their operations to improve decision making and allow faster response times during threatening weather situations. Large-scale weather events such as hurricanes can now be monitored directly within a GIS. Numerous smaller-scale weather events can also be utilized with a GIS. For example, Meteorlogix provides continuous real-time access to individual storm cells and their corresponding meteorological characteristics including speed and direction of movement, intensity, presence and size of hail, and presence of possible developing tornadic activity. Emergency management agencies, equipped with GIS tools and the appropriate weather data, can be more proactive and responsive towards many natural disasters.

Significant large-scale weather events, such as tropical storms and hurricanes, can now also be monitored directly within a GIS. The combination of weather satellite, weather radar, and forecast hurricane tracks, combined in a GIS and cross-referenced to demographic data, can provide insight to possible future damage to the electric utility infrastructure and what extent outages to expect. GIS spatial analysis tools make it possible to objectively calculate meaningful damage estimates, providing information for advanced logistics planning. With GIS-enabled weather information, utilities have the ability to more quickly make better decisions that can reduce losses.

The forecast track of a tropical storm or hurricane can be monitored within a GIS

Many land transportation management systems can benefit from the integration of weather into their GIS. One example is the railroad industry, interested in increasing overall efficiencies and reducing costs from weather induced derailments (high winds blowing material off rail cars and/or blowing rail cars off track). Meteorlogix recently implemented an advanced automated weather alert system for a major railroad. The system was based on a variety of real-time weather information, the Metwork FileServer and Esri ArcView components. Specific weather events, as defined by the railroad, are continuously monitored. When a particular weather parameter exceeds a pre-defined threshold, and threatens to affect a particular section of railroad track, a strictly coded alert message is automatically sent to the individual dispatcher responsible for the affected section of track. This system allows continuous monitoring thousands of miles of track for user specified weather conditions. The combination of GIS technology and weather information makes possible advanced automated alert systems like this which have the potential to save substantial money due to smoother operations and fewer weather related disruptions of service.

Figure 3.7

GIS tools make possible automated monitoring of railroad track segments for threatening weather.

Meteorlogix has developed the capability to integrate truly real-time weather observations into a GIS, delivered directly from a network of weather sensors located at customer locations, via the Internet. This innovative use of the Internet brings essentially “live” weather directly into a GIS. Typical sources for surface weather observations (i.e. National Weather Service) have a nominal update frequency of one hour. The deployment of local sensors, at strategic locations, provides real-time weather data, updated as often as every 3 seconds.

Real-time weather information integrated into SAIC "CATS" software allows precise calculation of hazardous plume

Figure 3.9

An example of a typical weather sensor that can be remotely deployed at strategic locations, providing real-time weather input to GIS applications

The merging of GIS technology with properly formatted near real-time weather data from Meteorlogix will make possible a new level of weather-GIS information analysis systems and will likely supplant the attention formerly given strictly to weather visualization. Bringing weather data into the world of GIS can benefit users and drive new applications. This is a new paradigm—merging high-quality, up-to-the-minute weather information with powerful GIS analysis and visualization. Quite simply it will give users the ability to do things that have never before been available.

Meteorlogix became an Esri business partner in the 1996 and the two companies continue to work together to provide solutions to weather related problems that can benefit from GIS technology. Meteorlogix will continually increase the amount and variety of weather information that will be available in GIS-ready formats. GIS-ready weather data from Meteorlogix is available today via high-speed communications satellite delivery in conjunction with a properly configured Meteorlogix Metwork FileServer and also via the Internet. Please see www.meteorlogix.com for more information.