Uses and products.

Lightning

WiGolf is directly connected to the most extensive European lightning detection network, which reports lightning strikes and their location minute by minute. This information is processed immediately to determine whether any of the lightning strikes are within the safety area established around the course, in two concentric circles: the first for alerts, the second for warnings.

If an alert or warning is activated, a message is sent to the specified users, who can consult the storm development screen to make a timely decision based on the information: clear the course, disconnect installations, and so on.

Precipitation

WiGolf combines two sources of information for forecasting precipitation: six-day meteorological models, with hourly rainfall information, and meteorological radars, which are a real-time measurement of rainfall in the territory. hyds (hydrometeorological innovative solutions) technology enables these radar data to be processed and forecasts changes for the next two hours, with quantitative data that enable the extent of the precipitation and whether it is arriving, continuing or ending to be established precisely and accurately. The information is updated every 10 minutes with the arrival of new images, activating any alerts that have been configured. Knowledge of the duration and intensity of precipitation is extremely valuable, due to their impact on course irrigation and maintenance, as well as sporting events on the course.

Winds

Wind has an evident impact on golf: over a certain intensity, the ball moves on the green and it is no longer possible to play. Furthermore, it is inconvenient when carrying out irrigation or spray treatment, as the irrigated surface areas are distorted and uncontrolled.

As it is a highly changeable parameter throughout the day, it is important to have good hourly forecasts, such as those provided by WiGolf. An animation can be seen for the same day, and its development can be seen in the weekly meteograms and associated maps. Naturally this is also related to the alert system, so that the right decision can be made in time.

Temperatures

In the winter seasons, frosts prevent the use of the courses and snow means they have to be permanently closed. WiGolf reports hourly changes in temperature, so that the opening time can be correctly and precisely established. Also, alerts are activated and messages sent for the programmed maximum or minimum temperature.

Evapotranspiration

Evapotranspiration (moisture lost by plants) is the result of the combination of temperature, humidity, rain and wind at any given moment. Correct monitoring of evapotranspiration ensures perfect care of the course. Previously, the greens keepers with the most advanced techniques measured evapotranspiration for the previous day at a meteorological station, adding water for the next irrigation. However, if this value was high, the plant would suffer and dry out. With six-day forecasts, drying can be avoided with preventative irrigation, which is three times more economical than corrective irrigation.

Plagues and Diseases

Meteorological conditions often favour massive growth of toadstools and other plagues which, if detected after they have begun, are very difficult to eradicate and require highly aggressive, polluting and expensive chemical treatment. Even so, they are often ineffective if the plague is already well advanced. WiGolf enables the risk of such plagues to be established beforehand, since, as experts know, in situations of high humidity and temperature or long leaf wetness duration (all parameters provided by the programme), plants are particularly vulnerable. In these cases, if plants are given revitalising and preventative elements a few days beforehand, the impact of the plague is minimised, thus optimising the cost of maintenance while also obtaining healthier greens.

Alert system

WiGolf uses a powerful system to activate warnings and alerts for any of the atmospheric parameters chosen, so that every minute the program is reviewing the atmospheric forecast and comparing it to the limits established by the user for said activation. There are three alert levels (yellow, orange and red), which represent three control levels or thresholds. Red is the highest, followed by orange and then yellow. The values for each level can be set up by the user.

When an alert is activated, and according to that decided upon by the user, a message informing of the type of alert and its level is also sent via email or SMS, which means that one is aware of the situation without having to consult the forecast.

Different user profiles can be set up in an account, so that the alerts for the greens keeper are different from those for sports directors or club managers.

Technical Specifications

Product

Description

Units

Resolution

Alert

Precipitation (meteorological radar)	Quantitative precipitation information every 5-10 minutes, distinguishing areas of rain, snow and hail	mm/hr.	1-2km²	Rain, snow, hail
Precipitation forecast for the next 2 hours	Quantitative forecast information for the next 2 hours (every 5-10 minutes), distinguishing areas of rain, snow and hail	mm/hr.	1-2km²	Rain, snow, hail
Precipitation forecast for the next 6 hours	Quantitative forecast information on rain and snow for the next 6 hours using a combination of radar data and meteorological forecast numerical models	mm/h	1-2km²	Rain, snow
Accumulated rainfall	Accumulated rainfall using a combination of radar data and rain gauges	mm	1-2km²	-
Lightning	Information on lightning recorded in the last 2 hours (earth-air and inter-cloud)	-	-	Lightning detection
Precipitation forecast	Accumulated information on rainfall/snow for the next 6 days (every hour)	cm	4 to 12 km-grid	Accumulated rainfall
Wind forecast	Average wind information for the next 6 days (every hour)	km/h	4 to 12 km-grid	Viento (max, min)
Humidity forecast	Average humidity information for the next 6 days (every hour)	%	4 to 12 km-grid	Humidity (max, min)
Cloudiness forecast	Average cloudiness information for the next 6 days (every hour)	%	4 to 12 km-grid	Cloudiness (max, min)
Frost forecast	Information on frosty areas for the next 6 days (every hour)	-	4 to 12 km-grid	Frosts
Accumulated rainfall forecast	Information on forecast accumulated rainfall over the next six days, for different periods (6, 12, 24 hours)	mm	4 to 12 km-grid	Accumulated rainfall
Accumulated snowfall forecast	Information on forecast accumulated snowfall over the next 6 days, for different periods (6, 12, 24 hours)	cm	4 to 12 km-grid	Accumulated snowfall
Evapotranspiration forecast	Average hourly evapotranspiration information for the next 6 days (every hour)	mm	4 to 12 km-grid	Evapotransp. (max, min)
Leaf wetness duration forecast	Leaf wetness duration information for the next 6 days (every hour)	min./hr.	4 to 12 km-grid	LWD (max, min)
Ground temperature forecast	Average ground temperature information (1-10 cm) for the next 6 days (every hour)	ºC	4 to 12 km-grid	Ground temp. (max, min)
Weather station information	Weather station data (precipitation, wind, temperature, pressure, etc.)	mm, km/hr., ºC, etc.	-	-

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