RE: Not sure if this patent impacts CAP work in any way.

Should not be an issue with CAP but thought I would share this 
anyway.

 

Carl

 

Meteorlogix Awarded Patent on GIS Based Automated Weather 
Alert Notification System 
Printer 
Friendly 

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 18 -- Minneapolis-based 
Meteorlogix, DTN's commercial weather services brand, announced that it was 
recently issued a U.S. patent for its GIS (Geographical Information System) 
Based Automated Weather Alert Notification System. 

"Meteorlogix can now 
provide improved location specific weather support to businesses," said Ron 
Sznaider, vice president of business development, Meteorlogix. "We have 
engineered an innovative merge of GIS technology with geo-referenced weather 
information resulting in an automated, location-based monitoring and alert 
system, with targeted message distribution." 

Meteorlogix's U.S. patent 
(#6,753,784) describes weather applications for GIS technology. Meteorlogix 
software cross-references weather with business assets -- where they're located 
and which set of weather parameters are of particular interest. For example, a 
golf course will want to know if lightning is expected to hit their course and 
can now take necessary actions to keep golfers and employees safe. Airports want 
to know about reduced visibility levels and highway construction crews are 
concerned about the onset of rain on their newly poured concrete. The weather 
parameters differ depending on the line of work and the varying types of weather 
conditions a business is concerned about. The selection of weather parameters 
and thresholds is entirely configured by the user. 

Meteorlogix's 
database also indicates who at a business needs to be contacted should weather 
conditions exceed the alert thresholds specified; the primary contact is 
notified when specified weather stands to impact their location. To follow the 
golf example, when lightning is expected to hit a golf course, the golf course 
manager is contacted. The secondary contact might be the greens superintendent. 
The system can continue to make additional notifications until the message is 
received and verified. The final option is how the contact person receives their 
weather alert -- this can happen via cell phone, PDA, e-mail or pager -- making 
sure no matter where key management personnel are located, they are kept 
up-to-date on developing weather conditions impacting their particular worksite. 

The end result is completely customized location-based weather service. 
A weather alert notification system like Meteorlogix's WINS technology (Weather 
Information Notification System) looks at a specific location (or set of 
locations) and determines the type of weather approaching these locations. 
Alerts are sent out in the manner in which contacts are sure to see them, and if 
primary contacts aren't available, the technology sends alerts to secondary 
contacts to make sure people at the work site are informed and can make 
necessary decisions. Other examples of how GIS weather technology is being used: 

-- Alerts sent to railroads notify when high winds occur along rail 
lines so management is warned ahead of time when there is a potential for 
derailment.
-- Alerts sent to construction companies indicate when storms are 
expected to hit a job site. Advance notification allows crew members to move to 
other construction sites with better weather and allow expensive materials to 
get put away before the storm hits.
-- Alerts sent to electric utilities 
indicate when storms are expected to move through their coverage areas. Advance 
weather information helps utilities efficiently staff repair crews to restore 
power faster after the storms have passed.
-- Alerts sent to sports 
facilities help determine if outdoor games should be played or delayed, help 
decide if stadium roofs should remain open or closed, and determine whether 
costly chemical applications should be applied or routine maintenance work 
performed. 

About Meteorlogix ( http://www.meteorlogix.com ) 

Meteorlogix, DTN's brand of commercial weather services, delivers 
industry-specific weather management capabilities for its customers to manage 
business risks, maximize personal safety and minimize financial loss. 
Meteorlogix serves more than 20,000 customers with a focus on construction, 
public safety, transportation, energy, turf and aviation industries. Its client 
roster includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Reuters, Bloomberg, 
Union Pacific Railroad, Tennessee Valley Authority, US Airways, and the City of 
Orlando. 

OGC: Helping the world to communicate geographically...

 

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