What is Weather Intelligence?
Weather intelligence is a piece of technology that takes weather-related data, analyzes them, and provides the user with useful information and suggestions. It is something that can not only make predictions or warn you of impending dangers but can also help you decide as to what you can do to reduce the impact of those dangers.
Traditional weather forecasts can only tell you what is about to happen. However, with intelligent weather reporting, these forecasts and related data are used to tell you how you should act if certain things take place. It is as if the app or tool is taking the decision on your behalf.
Weather intelligence is closely tied to artificial intelligence and machine learning. These two technologies are used in unison to develop such intelligent systems, along with big data analysis.
How does it work?
Weather intelligence can work in a variety of ways.
For starters, it will use your GPS to identify the location you are in, and then adjust certain settings and parameters as necessary. For instance, if you are in Japan, the app will automatically show you the data around Japan, and more specifically, around the exact location, you are residing in. It might even show the weather in Japanese.
Weather intelligence can also be used to generate various predictions and suggestions based on current and historical data analysis.
For example, you own farmland that is located in a very hot part of the country. During certain times of the year, the rainfall over there is so severe, that flooding takes place and all your crops are destroyed. Weather intelligence will be aware of these historic weather-related events. It will then continuously monitor the current weather to find similar patterns, and the moment it identifies the possibility of such heavy rainfall, it will notify you.
The system will also pass suggestions like whether you should harvest the crops or not, how much water might accumulate on your farm, and what you should do to protect yourself as well as your livestock.
How does it help your business?
By deploying weather intelligence, you will be helping your business save and properly utilize three things – time, money, and assets. Weather intelligence can help you utilize your assets in ways that will save you a lot of money and time. It will also guarantee the safety of your assets and workforce if they have to work under extreme weather conditions.
Let us study an example and break this down.
Truck drivers in the arctic or snowy regions rely heavily on weather reports. Weather intelligence can help them make certain decisions that would otherwise be very difficult or time-consuming to take. The report can tell them how thick the snow might be, how much tire pressure is needed in their trucks, should they put chains on the wheels, and so on. If the weather is too bad, the report will simply ask them to avoid driving completely.
So by telling the driver not to drive, or to drive by taking certain precautions, the report is helping you save your asset and manpower. It is also saving you time by suggesting modifications for your truck so that it can drive more comfortably over the snow. Besides, by making these changes, you are preparing your truck for the worst possible scenario. Hence, you do not have to worry about the truck being damaged due to the snow and spend money on fixing those damages.
In what industries can you apply this technology?
Weather intelligence can be applied to lots of different industries. At present, most businesses need weather data for smoothly running their day-to-day operations. Currently, most of these businesses rely on traditional forecasts to run their operations. However, once they integrate weather intelligence into their operations that are developed specifically for their business, they will be able to make decisions faster than before.
Weather intelligence is already being used for farming and logistics. The technology used in trucking can be modified for regular vehicles. Weather intelligence can benefit mining and the shipping industry as well. It can also be used to monitor pollution in industrial areas and suggest possible solutions to the problem.
Any sort of industry that relies on the weather for its day-to-day operations should consider deploying weather intelligence to their businesses.
