News and Information
Digital RF Technology, Inc. (DRFT) has been in the process of creating the highest resolution, full range scale, weather radar display system to date. Our software, known as SKYSWEEP TM , has been in development for the last 4 years with the main broadcast test facility located at KWTV-9 in Oklahoma City.
There are several features that distinguish our product from other competitors in this market. The first, and most significant, is data resolution. Because data resolution is a function of sample rate, the more often a sample is taken the better the processed image will appear. In turn, this will provide the meteorologist with more accurate information for use in determining the most severe area of a thunderstorm. Operating at full intensity range, typically 250 miles, competing products only sample data every 1 kilometer. As the radar dish turns these products will sample the data every 1-degree. The result is an image that has a “blocky” appearance when zooming in further and further on a particular storm. To minimize this appearance steps are taken to smooth the data into a form, which makes it more pleasing to the viewing audience. Unfortunately, once any smoothing has been applied the integrity of the underlying data is lost and the meteorologist must rely more on preprogrammed algorithms to determine threat areas. Even if smoothing does not take place the 1-kilometer by 1-degree resolution makes it very difficult to analyze a severe storm.
HIGH RESOLUTION DATA
By implementing special processes in computer software code combined with high-end computer technology, DRFT's SKYSWEEP TM system is capable of sampling radar intensity data every 150 meters in range and every 0.08 degrees in azimuth while operating through the radar's full range. If operating in Doppler mode, the specifications remain unchanged and the effective range is reduced to approximately 75 miles depending on the pulse rate of the particular radar. The radar images produced by SKYSWEEP TM will give the meteorologist a major competitive advantage when warning the viewing audience of threats such as tornadoes or other severe weather. In addition, no smoothing processes are required so the data integrity remains at the highest possible level. Selectable range integration is provided to enhance the display on long (>125 miles) scales when detailed analysis is not required. Another key advantage of SKYSWEEP TM is the ability to view simultaneous Doppler and intensity radar data. Each display position has two monitors that can be configured on-the-fly depending on the user's needs. For example, one monitor can display Doppler data while the other displays intensity data. The user can also view intensity data on each monitor or Doppler data on each monitor. These changes can be made with a simple click of the mouse. There is also the capability to independently pan or zoom one monitor without altering the appearance of the other monitor. This is a very powerful tool when analyzing two storm cells located in different parts of the DMA.
MULTIPLE DISPLAY POSITIONS
The SKYSWEEP TM system also has another key advantage over other competitors: the ability to have more than one display position connected to a radar unit. Although a typical installation would be comprised of a position located “on-set” and the other located “off-set”, the software allows the second position to be located anywhere a T1 telco circuit or LAN connection is available. With two positions and their associated monitors, the meteorology staff now has four times the viewing capability of any competing products. The second position operates independently of the first, allowing four different storm locations, county/state views, etc. to be at the station's disposal simultaneously. The system has been designed to accommodate as many display positions as possible and is only limited to the number of physical LAN or T1 connections. During the May 9, 2003 tornado event in Oklahoma City, a total of three display computers were connected to the same radar unit without any system degradation.
HEADLINE
IRaDS Adds First Value-Added Reseller Client
STORY
(Norman, Oklahoma, September 10, 2004) Integrated Radar Data Services (IRaDS), a program of The
University of Oklahoma and the leading top-tier provider of NEXRAD Level-II weather radar data
transmission, has signed its first value-added reseller master agreement with Digital RF Technology of
Corsicana, Texas. The agreement allows Digital RF Technology to market top-tier data feeds originating
from IRaDS in conjunction with Digital RF Technology's fast processing and weather radar visualization
software. The data will be delivered, via the IRaDS Level 2 Internet point-of-presence (POP), directly to the
end-user's facilities where the image processing will occur. This will significantly reduce latency times and
common points of failure found in the broadcast industry.
Steve Huffman, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Digital RF Technology, said, "IRaDS has been a
positive experience from the start. Not only do they give excellent service and support, they also approach
each situation with a passion for helping small business and weather commerce succeed. Their new valueadded
reseller approach looks right on target for us!"
Joel Martin, the IRaDS program director, said, "We're excited about our new value-added reseller approach
because it allows a business to grow weather commerce by leveraging the stable data provisioning
technology developed here at the University of Oklahoma."
BACKGROUND
Corsicana, Texas-based Digital RF Technology, Inc. (DRFT) has created the highest resolution, full range
scale, weather radar display system to date. DRFT software, known as SKYSWEEP™, has been in
development for the last 4 years with the main broadcast test facility located at KWTV-9 in Oklahoma City.
DRFT incorporates proprietary data processing techniques, which calculates over 16 million data samples
per radar sweep, to produce fast and accurate displays of weather radar images. Oklahoma residents will
recognize the DRFT software, which produces Gary England's MOAR high-resolution radar display.
Integrated Radar Data Services (IRaDS) is a program of the University of Oklahoma developed as a top-tier
provider of data transmission, at cost. IRaDS evolved from the award winning Collaborative Radar
Acquisition Field Test (CRAFT) under the Center for Analysis and Prediction of Storms (CAPS) at OU. IRaDS
became the operational implementation of CRAFT-developed research technologies following a
memorandum of agreement between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and OU in
April 2004. Prof. Kelvin K. Droegemeier, the director of CAPS, also serves as executive director for IRaDS. Joel
D. Martin, a retired Air Force colonel, was brought in as IRaDS director and Carl Sinclair moved from CRAFT
to IRaDS as technical director.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Digital RF Technology (DRFT)
(903) 872-8306
On the Web: http://www.drftradar.com/
Steve Huffman E-Mail: steve@drftradar.com
DRFT Mailing Address:
2829 West 7th Avenue
Corsicana, TX 75110
Integrated Radar Data Services (IRaDS)
24x7 Toll-Free Sales and Support: 1-866-33-IRADS (1-866-334-7237)
On the Web: http://www.RadarServices.org/
Joel Martin E-Mail: Joel.Martin@ou.edu or csinclair@ou.edu
IRaDS Mailing Address: Sarkeys Energy Center
100 East Boyd, Room 1110, Norman, OK 73019-1011
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