Florida A&M University is now providing real-time smart weather technology through its newly acquired WeatherSTEM system. The initial WeatherSTEM was installed at the FAMU Developmental Research Schools (DRS) in June 2015.
However, the newly acquired system sits on top of the FAMU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences (COPPS) building. Additional WeatherSTEM systems will be installed at two other FAMU locations, in Orlando at the College of Law and in Crestview at the Pharmacy site, as soon as the coronavirus situation allows, said Ed Mansouri, chief executive officer Tallahassee-based WeatherSTEM.
Smart weather technology is particularly important in a university setting because weather can vary dramatically over short distances. Having a source of weather information being collected in the middle of campus helps the FAMU community understand, in real-time, weather related hazards that may be a threat, including high heat conditions and dangerous lightning.
While FAMU is the second HBCU to install this technology, Winston Salem State University also has one, Mansouri said.
“We are proud that the system is on the FAMU campus,” he added.
Vice President for Student Affairs William E. Hudson, Jr., Ph.D., said the strategic location of the WeatherSTEM station and the timely delivery of information will assist not only FAMU but the south side of Tallahassee as well.
“We are fortunate to have people on our team with the foresight to plan ahead,” Hudson said.
One of those people is Jerome Swaine, project coordinator with FAMU’s Facilities Planning, Construction and Safety Department. Swaine was the liaison throughout the project, helped to identify where to deploy the system and bring it online.
“The WeatherSTEM system will provide timely, potential life-saving information to the FAMU community with live streaming weather data, weather video and alerts, lightening proximity information and radar satellite imagery,” Swaine said.
To connect to the FAMU WeatherSTEM system visit https://leon.weatherstem.com/famu
Facebook: https://facebook.com/FAMUWeatherSTEM
Twitter: @FAMUWeatherSTEM
