EXCLUSIVE: Kepware delivers WeatherBug for automation

Kepware Technologies under exclusive license from WeatherBug, a brand of AWS Convergence Technologies, now can deliver live, streaming real-time weather information through the KepServerEx OPC Server. WeatherBug, sole proprietor of the world’s largest weather network, has granted an exclusive license to Kepware for weather information delivery into industrial automation applications via an OPC server. Access to precise and timely weather information is significant for many industries, including wastewater, power, mill products (wood and paper), and chemicals, among others, for production planning, quality improvement, and disaster management.

KepServerEx, the latest generation of Kepware’s OPC server technology, was designed for quick setup of communications from equipment to control systems via a wide range of available “plug-in” device drivers and components. Starting in September 2007, the software will 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; well over 100 automation protocols are already supported. Weather variables include date, time, station location, temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, average speed, max speed, light intensity, rain levels, and others.

WeatherBug also will create a private label, advertising-free version of the popular WeatherBug Desktop Application, to highlight Kepware Technologies as the solution provider delivering WeatherBug live local weather information and cameras for industrial automation and highlight WeatherBug as a source of networked WeatherBug Tracking Stations. This special version will be available from the Kepware Website, free of charge, and will enable operators of automation systems to review local weather, forecast, and alert information.

By combining a massive network of live weather sensors and cameras located primarily atop schools, with publicly available weather data from around the world, the WeatherBug Network delivers hyperlocal weather information with precision and timeliness. Other services use readings that are an hour or more old and from airports many miles away, which leads to unnecessary inaccuracies, according to the company. www.kepware.com/WeatherBug Kepware

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