RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ligado Networks and George Mason University will partner to provide the public with real-time access to critical weather and atmospheric data, helping students and scientists better research, track and predict weather.
Prior to this arrangement, certain National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather data was available only to a small group of users at significant expense. The partnership between Ligado and Mason will demonstrate the feasibility of delivering NOAA real-time weather data to more users across the country at a lower cost, using a cloud-based network.
“It’s an honor to collaborate with George Mason University on such an important, cutting-edge project,” said Doug Smith, Ligado Networks’ president and chief executive officer. “The network we’ve developed will give the university unprecedented access to real-time public weather data, making it possible for the school’s weather research programs to better study our atmosphere and develop useful tools that will benefit the broader American public.”
“This is a great opportunity that speaks to our commitment to building strong partnerships,” said Dr. Ángel Cabrera, George Mason University president. “We look forward to the advancements and advantages that this partnership with Ligado will provide for students, faculty and the community at large.”
George Mason University is Virginia’s largest public research university. Thanks to its pursuit of research of consequence, Mason was named to the elite group of 115 tier-one research institutions as ranked by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
“Extreme weather events have a huge impact on people, including their families, homes and businesses,” said Deborah Crawford, Mason’s vice president for research. “Faster and more accurate climate modeling and weather prediction will help people and organizations – including emergency responders – better prepare for and respond more quickly to weather-related events such as tornadoes, floods and wildfires, saving lives and livelihoods.”
“Mason’s climate researchers have increased our understanding of how changes in the oceans and in the atmosphere affect the weather we and others experience,” Crawford added. “Their work is helping communities become more resilient to extreme weather conditions. Our partnership with Ligado assures that the Mason community will continue to develop more accurate climate models and prepare the next generation of climate researchers, including students in Mason’s new bachelor’s program, in atmospheric sciences.”
Under the partnership, Mason and Ligado will compare the delivery of the weather data from existing satellite systems with the new cloud-based content delivery network. This will include measuring the speed and reliability of data delivery to users across the country. The initiative also includes reviewing and improving the accuracy of weather forecasting models and advance detection of meteorological conditions, such as the formations of tornadoes and dense ground fog. Additionally, the new information extraction tools will be made available to the public for free.
“This type of network could also be expanded so schools, libraries and the general public have access to NOAA data, which will go a long way to advancing science, technology, engineering and mathematics education,” Smith said. “It’s hard to imagine all that may be possible by opening up access to this data, and together with Mason, we look forward to exploring those possibilities over the coming years.”
Mason’s College of Science includes the Department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Earth Sciences (AOES) and the Center for Ocean-Land-Atmosphere Studies (COLA). Both AOES and COLA offer research programs, undergraduate and advanced degrees for atmospheric science, ocean and estuarine science and paleontology.
Ligado provides highly dependable and secure communications throughout North America via strategic partnerships with technology and service providers. It is readying plans to deploy an advanced satellite and ground-based network that would further position the U.S. as a leader in wireless technology and infrastructure by delivering unprecedented performance and enabling the emerging 5G and Internet of Things markets.
About Ligado Networks
Ligado Networks is readying an advanced satellite-terrestrial network unlike any that currently exists in North America, providing pervasive, highly secure and ultra-reliable connectivity to critical industries anywhere, all the time. Utilizing one-of-a-kind technologies and capabilities and working with our leading technology partners, Ligado Networks is making stronger connections. For more information, visit: www.Ligado.com, or follow Ligado on Twitter.
About George Mason University
Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls 35,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. For more information visit gmu.edu.
Forward-Looking Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements and information regarding Ligado Networks and its business. Such statements are based on the current expectations and certain assumptions of the company’s management and are, therefore, subject to certain risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements expressed herein relate only to information as of the date of this release. Ligado Networks has no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release, nor is there any assurance that the plans or strategies discussed in this release will not change.
