TAHMO: Trans-African Hydro-Meteorological Observatory
Themes: Social impact, Software technology & Intelligent systems
Early stage commercial environment application
A TRL is a measure to indicate the matureness of a developing technology. When an innovative idea is discovered it is often not directly suitable for application. Usually such novel idea is subjected to further experimentation, testing and prototyping before it can be implemented. The image below shows how to read TRL’s to categorise the innovative ideas.
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Why?
Africa is very poorly monitored when it comes to water and climate. Yet, to develop the continent's agriculture and resources, such data are essential. TAHMO will build a network of 20,000 robust and cost effective weather stations to turn this situation around.
How?
The TAHMO network will mainly be rolled out through schools, thereby enhancing the water & climate curriculum. Data will be freely available for non-commercial use. Commercial use will pay for the upkeep of the network.
When?
Two pilots, one in Ghana and one in Kenya, will start this year. The Kenyan pilot aims at providing data for microcrop insurance. The Ghanaian project aims at improving weather forecasts and providing farmers with weather related information.
Prof. dr. ir. Nick van de Giesen