WDT has been working with the Indonesian weather agency, Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi dan Geofiskia (BMKG), since 2009. I have had the opportunity to travel to Indonesia four times now to help with the radar integration project. This is an important project for the country of Indonesia and the work has been very enjoyable: getting to experience different cultures, eat delicious foods, travel to some remote and beautiful locations and work with some great people. In September, I traveled to two radar sites on the island of Java and a third site in Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo. From the top of the radar tower at Jogjakarta, I could see the peaks of Mount Merbabu and the active volcano Mount Merapi.

We also had a free morning available to tour the Prambanan TempleCompound, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Another colleague, from WDT, traveled to an additional two radar sites on the islands of Sulawesi and Papua. Each location offers new challenges, as well as different experiences and culture.

Prior to the radar integration by WDT, the meteorologists at each forecast office were only able to see the data for their local radar, including the meteorologists at the head office in Jakarta. Now, WDT has brought all of the radar data to the central office in Jakarta, and we have installed our world-class HydroMeteorological Decision Support System (HDSS). Thanks to the expertise of WDT’s meteorological developers, we are able to process radar data from any manufacturer and present a single system for viewing and interrogating the data. Our iMap web display allows BMKG meteorologists at all locations throughout Indonesia to see the full radar network and quality derived products, such as rainfall estimates from radar and rain gauges. WDT is proud of our partnership with BMKG and the promise of more work as the radar network expands.

Indonesian Radar Network. Red radars were integrated during the latest  phase in 2015

For more information about HDSS or WDT’s other international systems: