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Real-Time Storm Warning System with Meteorological Network

Solution Overview

Buenos Aires developed a Storm Warning System (SAT) within the framework of the Hydraulic Plan to anticipate accurately and in real time the arrival of storms, southeast blows and different extreme climate phenomena.[4] Through the analysis of big data, this approach generates georeferenced information at the AMBA level regarding extreme meteorological events, with an accuracy of around 4 km and up to 2 hours in advance.[4] The system allows the city to analyze and evaluate storm forecasts, warns of probable flooding, and improves the management of emergency situations.[5]

Technical Components

The SAT is equipped with a network of 34 automatic meteorological stations, of which 10 were already transmitting data at the time of reporting, a radar, a hydrometeorological forecasting model, a GIS database, and a support platform.[3] All 34 meteorological stations have solar panels and batteries that provide autonomy in case of possible power outages.[1] The meteorological stations can measure the speed, flow, and water level in the City's streams and the water level in the Río de la Plata.[1] The meteorological radar is located in the Buenos Aires district of Merlo, which allows it to detect possible storms with a northwest-south direction that most affect the City of Buenos Aires.[1] The system includes a satellite reception antenna that receives information captured by the American meteorological satellite GOES-R, launched in 2016, which provides storm forecasts, real-time lightning activity mapping, and tornado warnings.[1] The GOES-E Satellite maps storms, tornados and hurricanes in real time.[4] The datacenter and hardware and software solutions that integrate the SAT operations center were already installed at the CUCC.[3] The city installed sensors in over 30,000 storm drains that measure and alert the city if flooding is predicted.[2] The monitoring system consists of a network of interconnected sensors that measure speed, direction and level of water in the sewage drains and feeds the data to city IT systems that are tracking additional meteorological, hydrological, and environmental parameters, setting off an alarm if flooding is predicted.[2] The monitoring system measures changes in rainfall, temperature, humidity, wind direction and speed, and stream water level to generate community alerts and inform real-time emergency decisions.[6] Buenos Aires' stormwater network operation is complemented by hydrometeorological sensors that transmit data to a control center, providing information on main problems in the City's water basins including flow contained in conduits and water level in each one.[5]

Implementation Details

Buenos Aires' hydro-meteorological monitoring system has been operational since 2014.[2] The initial cost of the monitoring system was 200 Million USD.[2] The system was funded through Grants, Bonds & Loans.[2] The installation of the meteorological radar in Merlo was being finalized at the time of reporting.[3] So far, 30 information collection points had been installed, with more sensors under development.[6] Buenos Aires incorporated 46 sensors to the hydrometeorological network throughout the City to support the Storm Early Warning System.[5] The Centro Único de Coordinación y Control (CUCC), located in the Chacarita neighborhood, receives all information from the radar, stations, and satellite through fiber optic connections and radio links to avoid cuts and interruptions.[1] The CUCC integrates the emergency management node where Civil Defense, the Guard of Assistance and Emergencies, Firefighters, City Police, SAME, the Dirección del Cuerpo de Agentes de Control de Tránsito y Transporte and the 108 Immediate Social Assistance line work in a coordinated manner.[1] The Early Warning Systems for Storms and Heat Waves initiative has a medium-term timeframe and was in progress with new resilient actions as of the strategy publication in September 2018.[4] The Flood Risk Management Support Project includes implementation of a Comprehensive Hydrometeorological Observation, Surveillance, and Alert System (SIHVIGILA) which will increase the capacity for severe weather forecasting and improve emergency management and recovery.[9] Studies were carried out jointly by the Ministry of Health, the National Meteorological Service, the National University of Entre Ríos, the National University of La Matanza and the University of Buenos Aires to establish the statistical relationship between extreme temperatures and increased mortality.[8]

Benefits and Impacts

The monitoring system enables emergency management by pre-empting social and medical assistance needs, predicting and monitoring weather phenomena, automatically operating pumping stations and floodgates, issuing warnings to key institutions and the public, and sending cleaning crews to compromised drains.[2][6] The CUCC transmits alerts to Civil Defense, SAME, Firefighters, and City Police to coordinate necessary measures including traffic alerts, deployment of prevention agents, and intensification of drain cleaning work.[1] When combined with other weather reports and citizen alerts on social media, the city can now determine in real time which areas need immediate support.[2] In 2014, Buenos Aires experienced the most rainfall ever registered in the city's history – but unlike in 2013, the city did not flood.[2] The city saw an uptick in almost all satisfaction indices including the storm water drains index (19 to 56).[2] The Buenos Aires hydro-meteorological monitoring system protects approximately 6 million people, including residents and daily commuters.[6] During the warm period from October 2021 to March 2022, 987 daily alerts were issued for extreme heat (615 yellow, 205 orange and 167 red).[8] During the EWS for Extreme Cold Temperatures test period, from 9 June to 20 September 2021, 239 daily alerts were issued for extreme cold (197 yellow, 37 orange and 5 red).[8] Under this system the weather alerts are issued by the Argentinian National Meteorological Service, and the Ministry of Health issues recommendations for health care.[8] The collection of large amounts of information by the SAT system offers a large database of climate and atmospheric data for the City, and this big data will allow updating the City's meteorological models to better guide future hydraulic works.[1]

Climate Adaptation Relevance

In April 2013, Buenos Aires suffered a record rainfall, causing more than $300 million in damages, and the hydro-meteorological monitoring system helps prevent such catastrophes in the future.[6] Almost 70% of the population of Buenos Aires concentrates in the main basins running across the City (Maldonado, Vega and Medrano streams) and faced with an extreme event, 25% of the basin might be flooded.[4] CABA's aging population, urban development, and high population density increase both exposure and vulnerability to extreme heat and heavy rainfall hazards.[7] In the summer of 2013–2014 Argentina experienced record heatwaves and preventable deaths.[8] The mortality risk during heatwaves increased in 13 of the 18 provinces analysed in Argentina.[8] Buenos Aires faced blackouts and traffic disruptions affecting hundreds of thousands due to peak energy demand during the extreme heat event.[7]

Business Analysis

In 2011, Buenos Aires unveiled a Hydraulic Master Plan intended to combat the increasing frequency of floods and their associated social and economic damage.[10] The project will upgrade the city's stormwater drainage network to provide protection against 10-year rainfall events.[10] These projects will benefit about 700,000 people living in the target basins, 10% of whom are in the most critical areas.[10] Almost 50% of the urban population in Buenos Aires is employed in the informal economy and a large proportion of urban livelihoods are sensitive to climate shocks due to employment disruption and exposure to heat.[7] Buenos Aires has a real-time Information System that allows the city to anticipate the arrival of different weather phenomena.[5]

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