Global Science & Technology To Build Mobile Environmental Data Platform For National Weather Service

GREENBELT, Md.--Global Science & Technology, Inc. is proud to announce its team will build a Mobile Platform Environmental Data observation network (MoPED) for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – National Weather Service (NWS).

“Collecting environmental data from vehicles for weather forecasting and prediction has never successfully been done before,” said GST Vice President and General Manager Brian Bell. “We’re excited to build this capability for NWS that will identify environmental conditions in valleys, mountains, and near critical infrastructure from data acquired from vehicles.”

MoPED ‘s objective is to validate that the data can support surface transportation weather applications and if successful will be included as part of the National Mesonet system. A mesonet is a network of weather stations that observe weather phenomenon ranging from 1 mile to 150 miles. Mobile observations, such as GST will provide, are currently not included.

As an operational system MoPED will ultimately collect data from vehicles as they travel along and near critical areas including bridges, highway inter-changes, mountain peaks, valleys and transportation corridors that sensitive to weather (e.g. drifting snow) or critical to regional users (e.g. I-79 from Pittsburgh, PA to Charleston, WV). The result will help decision makers and weather predictors who need accurate and timely information.

The MoPED project, valued at more than $1 million over a period of nine months, will be the first project to utilize GST’s new Innovation Laboratory. The Innovation Lab will house the software development environment, accommodate the MoPED team and serve as the primary facility for all project activities.

“Our team will collaborate with a broad cross-section of prospective data providers, data users, universities, and government agencies to ensure that MoPED meets requirements and offers features and functionality that is of value to the government,’ said Bell.