Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Optimal Planning of a Weather Radar Network

R. Minciardi Interuniversity Research Center for Environmental Monitoring (CIMA), Savona, Italy

Search for other papers by R. Minciardi in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
,
R. Sacile Interuniversity Research Center for Environmental Monitoring (CIMA), Savona, Italy

Search for other papers by R. Sacile in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
, and
F. Siccardi Interuniversity Research Center for Environmental Monitoring (CIMA), Savona, Italy

Search for other papers by F. Siccardi in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
Print Publication:
01 Sep 2003
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0426(2003)020<1251:OPOAWR>2.0.CO;2
Page(s):
1251–1263
Restricted access

Abstract

An approach to the optimal planning of a weather radar network is presented. In the approach, several aspects affecting the planning decision, including terrain blockage, the need to measure with two Doppler weather radars in some regions, and the environmental impact of their installation, are taken into account using a proper mathematical formulation. The decisional problem takes on a form that closely resembles a well-known combinatorial optimization problem, that is, the weighted set-covering problem. The proposed mathematical approach can serve as a methodological basis of a decision support system, the function of which is to assist decision makers in the selection of optimal sites for the installation of weather radars in a given region. In this paper, the methodology is presented, as are the preliminary results stemming from its application to the planning of the forthcoming Italian weather radar network.

Corresponding author address: Dr. R. Sacile, Interuniversity Research Center for Environmental Monitoring (CIMA), Via Cadorna 7, Savona 17100, Italy. Email: roberto.sacile@unige.it

Abstract

An approach to the optimal planning of a weather radar network is presented. In the approach, several aspects affecting the planning decision, including terrain blockage, the need to measure with two Doppler weather radars in some regions, and the environmental impact of their installation, are taken into account using a proper mathematical formulation. The decisional problem takes on a form that closely resembles a well-known combinatorial optimization problem, that is, the weighted set-covering problem. The proposed mathematical approach can serve as a methodological basis of a decision support system, the function of which is to assist decision makers in the selection of optimal sites for the installation of weather radars in a given region. In this paper, the methodology is presented, as are the preliminary results stemming from its application to the planning of the forthcoming Italian weather radar network.

Corresponding author address: Dr. R. Sacile, Interuniversity Research Center for Environmental Monitoring (CIMA), Via Cadorna 7, Savona 17100, Italy. Email: roberto.sacile@unige.it

Save
Cover Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology
Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology

  • Beasley, J. E., 1987: An algorithm for the set covering problem. Eur. J. Oper. Res., 31 , 85–93.

  • Bruen, M., 2000: Using radar information in hydrological modeling: COST 717 WG-1 activities. Phys. Chem. Earth, 25B , 1305–1310.

  • Bruintjes, R. T., Clark T. L. , and Hall W. D. , 1994: Interaction between topographic airflow and cloud precipitation development during passage of a winter storm in Arizona. J. Atmos. Sci., 51 , 48–67.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Chvátal, V., 1979: A greedy heuristic for the set-covering problem. Math. Oper. Res., 4 , /3. 233–235.

  • Colle, B. A., and Mass C. F. , 1998: Windstorms along the western side of the Washington Cascade Mountains. Part I: A high resolution observational and modeling study of the 12 February 1995 event. Mon. Wea. Rev., 126 , 28–51.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Collier, C. G., Ed.,. 1992: International Weather Radar Networking. Kluwer Academic, 344 pp.

  • Collier, C. G., 2000: COST-75 final report—A summary. Phys. Chem. Earth, 25B , 817–822.

  • Doviak, R. J., and Zrnic D. S. , 1984: Doppler Radar and Weather Observations. Academic Press, 593 pp.

  • Doyle, J. D., 1997: The influence of mesoscale orography on a coastal jet and rainband. Mon. Wea. Rev., 125 , 1465–1488.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Etcheberry, J., 1977: The set covering problem: A new implicit enumeration algorithm. Oper. Res., 25 , 760–772.

  • German, U., and Joss J. , 2000: Spatial continuity of alpine precipitation. Phys. Chem. Earth, 25B , 903–908.

  • Gilmore, P. C., and Gomory R. E. , 1961: A linear programming approach to the cutting stock problem. Oper. Res., 9 , 849–859.

  • Golestani, Y., Noorian A. M. , and Hudak D. R. , 2000: Design considerations for the two C- and one S-band Doppler weather radars in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Phys. Chem. Earth, 25B , 991–994.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Guzzetti, F., 2000: Landslide fatalities and the evaluation of landslide risk in Italy. Eng. Geol., 58 , 89–107.

  • Guzzetti, F., Cardinali M. , and Reichenbach P. , 1994: The AVI project: A bibliographical and archive inventory of landslide and flood in Italy. Environ. Manage., 18 , 623–633.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Houze, R. A., Rutledge S. A. , Matejka T. J. , and Hobbs P. V. , 1981: The mesoscale and microscale structure and organization of clouds and precipitation in midlatitude cyclones. III: Air motions and precipitation growth in a warm-frontal rainband. J. Atmos. Sci., 38 , 639–649.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Johnson, D. S., 1974: Approximation algorithms for combinatorial problems. J. Comput. Syst. Sci., 9 , 256–278.

  • Joss, J., and German U. , 2000: Solutions and problems when applying qualitative and quantitative information from weather radar. Phys. Chem. Earth, 25B , 837–841.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Köck, K., Leitner T. , Randeu W. L. , Divjak M. , and Schreiber K. J. , 2000: OPERA: Operational Programme for the Exchange of Weather Radar Information: First results and outlook for the future. Phys. Chem. Earth, 25B , 1147–1151.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Leone, D. A., Endlich R. M. , Petriceks J. , Collis R. T. H. , and Porter J. R. , 1989: Meteorological considerations used in planning the NEXRAD network. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 70 , 5–13.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Marwitz, J. D., 1983: The kinematics of orographic airflow during Sierra storms. J. Atmos. Sci., 40 , 1218–1227.

  • Meischner, P., and Hagen M. , 2000: Weather radars in Europe: Potential for advanced applications. Phys. Chem. Earth, 25B , 813–816.

  • Ohlsson, M., Peterson C. , and Söderberg B. , 2001: An efficient mean field approach to the set covering problem. Eur. J. Oper. Res., 133 , 583–595.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Rauber, R. R., 1992: Microphysical structure and evolution of a central Sierra Nevada orographic cloud system. J. Appl. Meteor., 31 , 3–24.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Reichenbach, P., Pike R. J. , Acevedo W. , and Mark R. K. , 1993: A new landform map of Italy in computer-shaded relief. Boll. Geod. Sci. Affini, Rivista IGM, LII. 1) 21–44.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Rossa, A. M., 2000: COST-717: Use of radar observations in hydrological and NWP Models. Phys. Chem. Earth, 25B , 1221–1224.

  • Siccardi, F., 1996: Rainstorm hazards and related disasters in the north-west Mediterranean region. Remote Sens. Rev., 14 , 5–21.

  • Subramaniam, C., and Kerpedjiev S. , 1998: Dissemination of weather information to emergency managers: A decision support tool. IEEE Trans. Eng. Manage., 45 , 106–114.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Westrick, K. J., Mass C. F. , and Colle B. A. , 1999: The limitations of the WSR-88D radar network for quantitative precipitation measurement over the coastal western United States. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 80 , 2289–2298.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wierzbicki, A. P., Makowski M. , and Wessels J. , Eds.,. 2000: Model-Based Decision Support Methodology with Environmental Applications. Kluwer Academic, 492 pp.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wilson, J., Carbone R. , Boynton H. , and Serafin R. , 1980: Operational application of meteorological Doppler radar. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 61 , 1154–1168.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 496 195 63
PDF Downloads 275 80 9