Pelmorex uses FME Flow to quickly develop a lightning detection network for critical decision making
Pelmorex Corp. developed the Lightning Detection Network (PLDN) to provide real-time and archived data on lightning strikes in Canada. With the PLDN, insurance companies, government agencies, transportation companies, and public utilities can access critical information to make decisions and take action in the event of a lightning strike.
Using FME data streaming and download services, Pelmorex restructures strike data from non-spatial lat/long queries into a styled KML file that can be accessed via Google Earth, an ArcGIS Viewer, email alerts, and more. FME’s flexibility allowed the team to quickly develop the PLDN in just three weeks, a fraction of the time it would have taken with a custom solution.
Jim Saini, Director, GIS Services and Profiling at Pelmorex, notes, “Without FME we would have had to build a custom solution, and the estimate just for a prototype solution was six to seven months.” Additionally, Candy Lam, GIS Profiling Specialist, highlights how easy it was to use TCL script with FME Server to convert Epoch Time to Standard Time.
With instant access to this information, Pelmorex’s clients can immediately take action when a lightning strike occurs. Pelmorex is exploring new uses for FME to automate resource-intensive tasks and free up resources for others.
