Hyperlocal Forecasting Boosts Commercial & Consumer Transportation

Last week, we shared how hyperlocal forecasting benefits city management. The technology can also improve transportation operations – an industry where weather can cause expensive damages and operation shutdowns. The efficiency achieved is so great that the Online Hyperlocal Services market is expected to grow nearly 37% between 2019 and 2023.

• Air Travel
  JetBlue partnered with ClimaCell’s hyperlocal forecasting to improve flight operations. The data has helped in situations where local weather listed a snowstorm advisory until 11am, but hyperlocal data showed the storm ending around 8am. This type of information allows JetBlue to return to regular operations sooner and save in cancellation costs. Hyperlocal forecasting also helps the company save on de-icing fluid during cold temperatures and detect fog banks traditional forecasting cannot.

• Rail
  Ice on train tracks can be dangerous, and heaters are used to keep switches functioning. Without hyperlocal weather data, heaters may be left on for the length of a storm or longer due to safety precautions. Hyperlocal forecasting allows rail heaters to be used only when needed, generating heating cost savings. It also allows dispatchers to focus on moving trains, increasing efficacy as the need to consistently monitor the weather is removed.

• Trucking
  Hyperlocal weather service providers are teaming up with trucking fleets. Rerouting around bad weather can save time and fuel and helps keep the driver and cargo safe. But general weather forecasts aren’t enough to detect conditions on a particular road. Diverting to a different route could be unnecessary. With hyperlocal forecasting, dispatchers can safely make the call to remain on routes experiencing bad weather. Data collected over time can also pinpoint troublesome routes, such as roads that ice more easily than others.

• Marine Travel
  Severe weather can cause crates to fall off cargo ships and the shutdown of ferry transportation for days. Regular weather forecasting may not be enough to warn of sudden gusts of wind that can cost thousands in physical injury and property damage. Hyperlocal weather can improve safety and hazard costs for cargo ships, cruise lines and ferry transportation.

• Delivery Drone Operations
  Hyperlocal weather data can give delivery drone operators precise information on wind, precipitation, lightning, and air quality. This data can change from sun-heated sidewalks to wind tunnels caused by close standing buildings and differ from coastline to mountain climates. Having real-time weather data can keep both autonomous drones and their deliveries safe.