1. AWS Network Requirements Analysis and Network Planning
David Muchemi
Assistant Director
Kenya Meteorological Department (KMD)
RA-I WIGOS Workshop on
Automatic Weather Station (AWS) networks (Windhoek, Namibia, 19 – 21 November 2018

2. Table of Contents Introduction Requirements Analysis
Project Definition
Conclusion
RA-I WIGOS Workshop on
Automatic Weather Station (AWS) networks (Windhoek, Namibia, 19 – 21 November 2018

3. Introduction Observing networks Manual observatories
Rainfall
Climate
Synoptic
Agromet
Hydromet
Specialised
Automatic Weather Stations (AWSs)
Various types
RA-I WIGOS Workshop on
Automatic Weather Station (AWS) networks (Windhoek, Namibia, 19 – 21 November 2018

4. Challenges – Manual Stations
Maintaining an adequate pool of :-
Experienced observers,
Experienced Instruments technicians,
Spares and other resources.
Maintaining the quality of manual observations
supervision,
monitoring and
evaluation
Technological Changes,
Frequency of Observations
Limited
RA-I WIGOS Workshop on
Automatic Weather Station (AWS) networks (Windhoek, Namibia, 19 – 21 November 2018

5. Automation seen as a Solution
AWSs offer–
Reduced human intervention
Centralised Human Supervision
Automated Supervision
Wide range of frequency of observations
Available spares though expensive
Components need less maintenance
More Accurate?
RA-I WIGOS Workshop on Automatic Weather Station (AWS) networks (Windhoek, Namibia, 19 – 21 November 2018

6. Requirements Analysis
Users Identification
Users Engagement
How?
Requirements Identification
Framework
Data Communication
Data Processing/Storage/Archival
RA-I WIGOS Workshop on Automatic Weather Station (AWS) networks (Windhoek, Namibia, 19 – 21 November 2018

7. Requirements Identification
Type of AWS
Routine
Special
Long Term
Short Term
Where it will be installed
Gaps Identified
Parameter
Temperature, Precipitation, ...
Resolution
Temporal
Spatial
Accuracy
RA-I WIGOS Workshop on Automatic Weather Station (AWS) networks (Windhoek, Namibia, 19 – 21 November 2018

8. AWSs Network Planning Develop an optimised National observing network
Map all
Existing Stations
Active & Silent Stations
Document Metadata
Integrate with stakeholders
Engage stakeholders
Collect Metadata
Map stakeholders Stations
Identify redundancies
Identify Gaps
RA-I WIGOS Workshop on Automatic Weather Station (AWS) networks (Windhoek, Namibia, 19 – 21 November 2018

9. AWSs Operation Phase Planning
Installation/Commission Plan
Sites survey, procurement (works, equipment, labour), operation
Training Plan
Security Plan
Maintenance Plan
Monitoring and Evaluation Plan
RA-I WIGOS Workshop on Automatic Weather Station (AWS) networks (Windhoek, Namibia, 19 – 21 November 2018

10. Project definition
User requirements (global and regional based on WMO-No and national – National Observations Strategy), i.e. a gap analysis considering requirements for integration within existing NMHS and non-NMHS systems
Long-term Sustainability
Lifetime cost and return on investment consideration
Building hydromet observing and sustaining hydromet observing networks in developing countries requires that these factors be addressed holistically.
Proactive approaches to addressing challenges provide NMHSs with opportunities to procure, deploy and sustain observing networks as the first element in the end-to-end systems they need to properly serve their countries. The proactive approaches include tailoring solutions and providing supporting technical capacity so as to contribute to long-term sustainability.
RA-I WIGOS Workshop on Automatic Weather Station (AWS) networks (Windhoek, Namibia, 19 – 21 November 2018

11. Project definition Working with Partners
Business arrangement(s) / working with Partners and Donors
Network design (high-level consideration)
Strategy for automation
Integrated management and software solution to fully exploit possibilities offered by the new automatic observing infrastructure
Building hydromet observing and sustaining hydromet observing networks in developing countries requires that these factors be addressed holistically.
Proactive approaches to addressing challenges provide NMHSs with opportunities to procure, deploy and sustain observing networks as the first element in the end-to-end systems they need to properly serve their countries. The proactive approaches include tailoring solutions and providing supporting technical capacity so as to contribute to long-term sustainability.
RA-I WIGOS Workshop on Automatic Weather Station (AWS) networks (Windhoek, Namibia, 19 – 21 November 2018

12. An example of the planning activities
Assess the current level of meteorological observing networks and monitoring capacity.
Review observing systems and their relevance for users.
Identify barriers and propose how they may be overcome.
Building hydromet observing and sustaining hydromet observing networks in developing countries requires that these factors be addressed holistically.
Proactive approaches to addressing challenges provide NMHSs with opportunities to procure, deploy and sustain observing networks as the first element in the end-to-end systems they need to properly serve their countries. The proactive approaches include tailoring solutions and providing supporting technical capacity so as to contribute to long-term sustainability.
RA-I WIGOS Workshop on Automatic Weather Station (AWS) networks (Windhoek, Namibia, 19 – 21 November 2018

13. An example of the planning activities
Quantify the costs and benefits of the identified approaches, and provide advice on cost-effective strategies.
Identify business models, including public-private partnerships and key private sector players that can ensure the sustainability of observations.
Make recommendations.
Building hydromet observing and sustaining hydromet observing networks in developing countries requires that these factors be addressed holistically.
Proactive approaches to addressing challenges provide NMHSs with opportunities to procure, deploy and sustain observing networks as the first element in the end-to-end systems they need to properly serve their countries. The proactive approaches include tailoring solutions and providing supporting technical capacity so as to contribute to long-term sustainability.
RA-I WIGOS Workshop on Automatic Weather Station (AWS) networks (Windhoek, Namibia, 19 – 21 November 2018

14. Conclusion
AWS Data user/stakeholder needs to be actively involved at each phase of an AWSs project.
Users requirements need to be captured in a realistic doable and accurate manner, well before the implementation of an AWS Network
RA-I WIGOS Workshop on
Automatic Weather Station (AWS) networks (Windhoek, Namibia, 19 – 21 November 2018

15. Thank you for your attention
RA-I WIGOS Workshop on Automatic Weather Station (AWS) networks (Windhoek, Namibia, 19 – 21 November 2018