POTEKA Weather Observation and Information Service

POTEKA collects information from small weather meters certified by the Japan Meteorological Agency on a global cloud server and provides it via the Web. If meteorological gauges are installed in a detailed area (target 2km mesh), accurate weather information can be pinpointed. In principle, real-time weather information is made public and can be shared with anyone via the Web, making it possible to make independent decisions. The basic items are temperature, barometric pressure, relative humidity, wind direction and speed, solar radiation, rainfall, etc. Various sensors such as water level, snow depth, cameras, etc. can be added as options.

 

【Observation items】　Equipped with a rain gauge and seven weather sensors
The following eight elements of meteorological data can be measured: air temperature*, air pressure*, relative humidity*, wind direction and speed*, solar radiation, rainfall*.　(*: with JMA certification)








【Optional sensors】
Various sensors such as water level meter, camera, snow, PM2.5, CO2, radiation, etc. can be installed.











【Installation】
With a 1m x 1m south-facing open space for the solar panels, and access to a cell phone, it only takes an hour to assemble. You can start observing right away.


【Method of providing data】
POTEKA's weather information is provided via POTEKA.net, which can be accessed by anyone with a PC or smartphone on the Web, and can also be provided via WebAPI to import data into your existing system.

 
 
【Applications for disaster prevention】



Measures against flooding and inundation
There are many areas that suffer from flooding and inundation due to weather changes such as localized heavy rains and storm surges caused by sudden changes in atmospheric pressure. By installing POTEKA in areas that are prone to flooding and inundation due to topography, it is necessary to properly monitor actual rainfall conditions and prepare for disasters.





To prevent landslides
 Landslides and other disasters are caused by localized heavy rainfall, but sudden heavy rainfall is difficult to predict. POTEKA uses an ultra-dense observation network to monitor the location and amount of rainfall in detail. The POTEKA system uses an ultra-high-density observation network to monitor the location and amount of rainfall in detail, enabling an accurate understanding of the situation in and around hazardous areas and prompt response. It is also possible to determine the possibility of river flooding based on actual measurements.







To prevent heat stroke
POTEKA calculates the "heat index" from the observed temperature and humidity. Also, since the "heat index" changes even at a distance of about 2 km, POTEKA's detailed observation network is useful. It is possible to alert people to heat stroke in units such as schools and communities where the system is installed.









For　unexpectedly strong rain
POTEKA is a real-time observation system, and it is easy to see where a large amount of rain is falling.
Based on the meteorological database accumulated by the meticulous observation network, POTEKA can detect the direction of rainfall in real time, and inform you of the occurrence of localized heavy rainfall.
 The system can also be used by schools to decide when to dismiss students in groups to avoid guerrilla rains for their safety.







To protect against wind gusts
In order to protect our daily lives from wind gusts and tornadoes, which are said to be on the increase in recent years, it is important to catch the signs as soon as possible, and POTEKA captures sudden weather changes at observation points, increasing the possibility of detecting weather changes as a sign before a wind gust occurs.