Critical Emergency Response Incidents Benefit from Weather Data Integrating with Plume Modeling Software

We recently received this question: Are CWS weather stations compatible with CERES hazmat software? Yes, they are! In case you were wondering … 

CERES is a popular public-safety software application used by hazmat teams to help manage preparation, response, and analysis of chemical incidents, fires, and explosions. All of these scenarios benefit from meteorological data to aid critical decision-making with enhanced situational awareness.

“Accurate weather information is essential in any emergency response situation, but it is especially critical when dealing with hazardous material incidents. Integrating local live weather data with plume dispersion modeling and gas detectors can greatly enhance the ability to respond effectively and protect the public from harm,” says Cristian Stochina Streinescu, Founder and Managing Partner of Vlahi Systems, maker of CERES. 

Using the Weather MicroServer interface, data from any Columbia Weather Systems weather station can be incorporated easily into CERES to provide hyper-local met data for plume modeling and environmental awareness. Cristian adds, “The met station is very easy to connect to. It has an SAM station (ALOHA) output and CERES can be feed directly from that.”

“The Weather MicroServer interfaces with CERES software using Modbus TCP/IP interface. This makes the software compatible with all of our weather station models with a seamless interface,” explains Nader Khoury, President of Columbia Weather Systems. “The customer can then choose the system and configuration that best suits their needs.”

A recent training created this Sensor Driven-Plume Scenario with CERES where the data acquisition system was connected to a CWS weather station installed on the local Fire Department’s HAZMAT truck in The Woodlands, Texas.  The vehicle was purchased through Siddons-Martin Emergency Group.



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