■ OpenSense - COST Action CA20136

Opportunistic Precipitation Sensing Network

OPENSENSE brings together scientists investigating different opportunistic sensors, experts from national weather services, owners of sensor networks, and end-users of rainfall products to build a worldwide reference opportunistic sensing community.

Discover what is OpenSense and how it helps weather monitoring here:

From 28- to 30 June 2022 there was the first OpenSense Action Joint Meeting. OpenSense meeting was hosted by the Czech Technical University in Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering (Thákurova 7, Prague 6).

During the Plenary Session Stakeholders and OpenSense members presented the last results and are currently running projects based on opportunistic sensors.

Discover the summary of all the presentations here: Plenary Session.

An example of the contribution proposed is the presentation of Baruch Kagan (Aeyecka, Israel): “Sensing of rainfall using opportunistic data from satellite communication terminals”.

Download Video | Download Slides

Thanks to all the participants and see you next OpenSense meeting!

■ ABOUT

Introduction to
OpenSense Action

Find out more about our COST Action (CA20136) OpenSense focused on Opportunistic Precipitation Ensing Network.

Despite advances in remote sensing, precipitation observations remain one of the weakest links in the description of Earth’s water cycle. This is especially critical in the face of climate change, human-induced hydrologic changes e.g. due to rapid urbanisation, and consequent increase in frequency and magnitude of extreme events.

Opportunistic sensing can greatly improve spatial and temporal resolution of standard precipitation monitoring networks on continental scale by complementing them with measurements from personal weather stations or devices primarily not intended for precipitation monitoring such as commercial microwave links or broadband satellite terminals.

The number of opportunistic sensors has already now exceeded traditional in-situ observations by an order of magnitude, and it is increasing exponentially. Nevertheless, it is still unclear how to make this data operationally accessible, achieve robust quality control of these observations, and integrate them into standard observation systems.

OPENSENSE brings together scientists investigating different opportunistic sensors, experts from national weather services, owners of sensor networks, and end-users of rainfall products to build a worldwide reference opportunistic sensing community.

It will i) overcome key barriers preventing data exchange and acceptance as hydrometeorological observations ii) define standards to allow for large-scale benchmarking of OS precipitation products developing new methods for precipitation retrieval iii) coordinate integration of the opportunistic observations into traditional monitoring networks, and iv) identify potential new sources of precipitation observations.

These coordinated activities will boost uptake of OS as precipitation observation methods and enable generation of high-quality precipitation products with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution.

■ NEWS

Latest Updates

For #WorldMeteorologicalDay 🌧️ we're introducing @OpenSenseAction.

Opportunistic precipitation sensing has huge potential to improve the understanding & modelling of the water cycle. Learn more 👇

#WorldMetDay #OpportunisticSensors #COSTactions https://bit.ly/3FF7a7n

We are glad to announce the @OpenSenseAction training school at @TelAvivUni, on Oct 10-12, 2023

Are you a young researcher or professional interested in softwares and methods for processing rainfall data from #OpportunisticSensors?
👀 Check how to apply
https://opensenseaction.eu/news/save-the-date-opensense-training-school-10-12-october-2023-in-tel-aviv/

■ STRUCTURE

Meet our
Working Groups

Establish a network of 5 working groups with multidisciplinary scientists investigating different opportunistic sensors.

WG1 is focused on improving availability of well-documented OS historical and operational data and definition of benchmark datasets.
WG2 l coordinates comparison and homogenisation of methods needed for operationalisation of OS precipitation observations with focus on i) automated quality control, ii) fast processing, and iii) uncertainty assessment.
WG3 coordinates the research agenda on merging different types of OS with each other and with traditional observations. It will coordinate the creation of OS precipitation products in historical and operational mode and their application in weather and hydrological forecasts.
WG4 coordinates stakeholder involvement and communication with external stakeholders, the scientific community, and the broader public. It develops strategies for unlocking OS data and their uptake through stakeholder engagement.
WG5 manages internal communication, knowledge exchange and capacity building. It is also in charge of coordinating Working Group cross-activities, identifying possible synergies and thus maximizing the Actions impact.
■ Join us

Are you interested in taking part?

The COST Action OPENSENSE welcomes research-active scientists working in the field. There are many ways to get involved.