IFPRI, in collaboration with our government partners (EIAR), are developing an early warning weather system that uses microwaves between cell towers to forecast rainfall up to 4 hours before it begins. Commercial microwave links (CML), operated by telephone service providers, experience signal attenuation (“waves flatten”) during rains and an algorithm can be used to predict the rain location and amount.
This pilot project seeks to develop the ability to process this data, via an algorithm, and provide SMS messages in real time. The ultimate goal is to create a national, early warning flooding prediction system by next year. To test this pilot, we need respondents to receive approximately one SMS per day on their phone for about two weeks in mid-September. A small payment will be provided to cover respondent time and mobile phone use.
Please consider attending a presentation covering project details on Monday, September 6th between 2pm – 2:45pm. We will also provide brief, small group, presentations to interested ILRI support staff beginning later next week.
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James Warner
IFPRI-Addis Ababa
ILRI Announcements 