Product category:
Process Control: SCADA, ERP, MES and networks
News Release from: Kepware | Subject: WeatherBug data
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 22 August 2007
Exclusive license of WeatherBug data in
automation
Kepware has an agreement with WeatherBug, the world's leading source for real-time weather information, licensing weather information through KEPServerEX OPC technology, for the automation industry
KEPServerEX is the latest generation of Kepware OPC server technology It was designed to allow users to quickly set up communications from equipment to control systems via a wide range of available "plug-in" device drivers and components
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 26 Sep 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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KEPServerEX will now support internet connectivity to real-time weather information, available as a licensed service.
The WeatherBug for automation driver will be delivered as an additional plug-in, joining the over 100 automation protocols already supported.
Weather variables include: date, time, station location, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, average speed, max speed, light intensity, rain levels and more.
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As part of this relationship, WeatherBug will also create a joint venture, advertiser-free, version of the popular WeatherBug Desktop application, WeatherBug Plus.
The application will highlight Kepware as the solution provider and will highlight WeatherBug as a source of real-time, local weather information.
This customised version will be available from the Kepware website, free of charge, and will allow automation professionals to review local weather, forecasts and severe weather alert information.
By combining its proprietary asset, the world's largest network of live weather sensors, with publicly available weather data from around the world, the WeatherBug network provides a level of depth and granularity that is unmatched in the industry.
The data from this network is relied upon by millions of consumers, television broadcast partners, businesses, energy companies and federal, state and local government agencies every day.
WeatherBug information is available in real-time, with variable updates on the order of seconds.
In contrast, most other weather sources provide data that is an hour or more old.
"No other weather source can match the accuracy and timeliness that the WeatherBug network provides.
Kepware is very excited to have been chosen by WeatherBug as their exclusive partner for delivering their weather information to the automation marketplace," says Roy Kok, VP of Sales and Marketing for Kepware.
"We approached WeatherBug with the concept of licensing weather information for control purposes, highlighting that we are the ideal choice as the leading provider of communications for automation.
They immediately understood the value of this offering, and our support for industry standards, enabling their weather data to be used by any automation system or vendor," he added.
"WeatherBug's real-time weather information has proved to yield breakthrough cost benefits and efficiencies in business operations.
Numerous manufacturing processes are impacted by temperature, humidity and other weather factors daily and this impact can be costly to the bottom line," says John Doherty, Senior Vice President for WeatherBug Professional.
"Kepware understands the automation market and how this information will be put to use.
We are excited to work with them and their customers to deliver continued value and offer the competitive edge with real-time weather conditions".
"This development exemplifies the new concept of licensing information in real-time from content experts, in this case WeatherBug, for use by customers to improve automation controls and operator decisions," commented Chris Colyer, Worldwide Director, Manufacturing Operations Strategy at Microsoft: "This concept can be applied to many other sources of data - commodities pricing, energy pricing, etc.
- and we are glad to see Kepware leveraging a useful and necessary industry standard like OPC, and thus furthering its relevance".
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