After stepping into the Meteorological Technology World Expo 2023, it’s clear to see why it is seen as the top event for meteorology worldwide. With over 145 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, this year’s expo emerged as a dynamic hub for meteorology and environmental monitoring enthusiasts. The diverse attendee base included experts from national weather agencies, research centers, renewable energy companies, and universities, making it a unique convergence of meteorological minds.
Exhibitor Landscape
The exhibition floor showcased an array of emerging meteorological technologies, featuring everything from traditional weather stations and radars to innovations like IoT devices, meteodrones, advanced data loggers, and specialized air/cloud sensors. To transform the data into insights, a spectrum of software tools for weather prediction and meteorological parameter analysis further enriched the experience. Together, these tools empower us to sense, comprehend, and forecast the weather parameters that shape our world.
Upon analyzing the landscape of the exhibitors, two main categories stood out. One group, the “Sensor and System Manufacturers”, revealed their latest data collection devices, while the “Data Processors” showcased software solutions for data aggregation, analysis, and application. It was evident that these two categories complemented each other, with the former providing raw data and the latter transforming it into actionable insights.
OTT HydroMet Innovations
At the OTT HydroMet booth, you could find a hydrometeorological monitoring station equipped with instrumentation from our product brands OTT, Lufft, and SUTRON. Rounded out with our latest innovation for measuring solar irradiance, the Kipp & Zonen SMP12.
As the industry has seen numerous advancements, we recognize the potential for enhancement and strive to develop new solutions to meet customer needs in the field.
The focus for designing the SMP12 was to tackle environmental issues like accumulation of dew and frost, offsets, instability from humidity and UV exposure, response time, movement of elements, and inaccuracies in signal processing. Additionally, we wanted to address equipment-specific challenges, emphasizing tilt angle accuracy, protection against transients and surges, and ensuring both scalability and compatibility.
How we tackled environmental challenges:
- Dome Heating: Developed to mitigate concerns of dew, frost, and snow buildup, it ensures functionality from dawn to dusk and reduces maintenance requirements. Additionally, it aids in keeping the dome free from dust accumulation.
- Enhanced Thermopile and Diffuser: By introducing a compact thermopile and a white diffuser, we’ve improved insulation and sunlight measurement.
- Tilt Sensor: This feature ensures the device is correctly aligned. If there are any discrepancies, users are promptly alerted.
- Internal Humidity Sensor: Upon user feedback, we integrated this function to monitor moisture levels inside the instrument.
- Surge protection: We’ve integrated multiple layers of protection on both data and power lines, enhancing the SMP12’s defense against transients and surges.
As expected, the Meteorological Technology World Expo 2023 displayed the industries latest advancements and breakthroughs. The OTT HydroMet team is already looking forward to the next time we gather to continue effectively addressing pressing environmental challenges and establishing new standards in weather technology.
Interested in learning more about the Kipp & Zonen SMP12 or complete hydrometeorological monitoring stations?
The author
Sajad Badalkhani | Manager, Technical Support and Services, OTT HydroMet
Sajad Badalkhani is the Technical Support and Service Manager for Europe – Solar at OTT HydroMet, where he specializes in providing consultation and assistance for projects related to solar radiation measurement. With a PhD in Electrical Engineering and a passion for renewable energy, Sajad has a strong background in photovoltaic (PV) system design, realization, optimization, and performance assessment. In his role at OTT HydroMet, he contributes to numerous projects, helping to maximize the efficiency and reliability of PV systems through accurate measurements and tailored solutions.
