This post explains a new partnership between Florida Tech and Kentucky-based weather technology firm Climavision that will expand radar coverage in Central Florida and add AI-driven tools to advance meteorological and aviation research.
I summarize what this collaboration entails, why additional radars matter, and how the work can improve forecasting, pilot safety, and flood research across the state.
Why this partnership matters
The collaboration pairs academic expertise at Florida Tech’s College of Aeronautics with Climavision’s national program to install gap-filling weather radars.
That combination brings high-resolution observations and modern modeling to an area frequently struck by severe convective storms and flash flooding.
Expanded radar coverage helps researchers and operational forecasters see small-scale features that conventional networks sometimes miss.
This is a critical advantage in a state where local weather can change rapidly.
What Climavision is building
Climavision is deploying a nationwide network aimed at filling gaps between existing weather radars.
As part of this effort, the company plans to add four additional radars in Florida, improving spatial and temporal coverage for the region.
These radars are not just more hardware; they feed into AI-enhanced modeling systems that provide faster, more reliable guidance for short-term forecasts and warnings.
Impacts on aviation meteorology
At Florida Tech, Professor Michael Splitt will focus on how the enhanced radar data benefits aviation meteorology.
The college’s experience in pilot training and aircraft operations makes it an ideal partner for translating raw observations into operationally useful products.
Small-scale radar signatures often carry outsized risk for low-altitude aviation.
The partnership will concentrate on identifying those threats more reliably.
Identifying gust fronts and other hazards
Gust fronts—the leading edges of cool outflow from thunderstorms—are a classic example of a radar feature that can be subtle yet hazardous to aircraft on approach, departure, or operating at low altitudes.
Professor Splitt emphasizes that major storms attract headlines, but it’s those smaller, sharper signatures that can catch pilots off guard.
With denser radar sampling and advanced algorithms, meteorologists can detect and characterize gust fronts sooner.
This allows for more precise advisories and better integration of that information into pilot briefings and airport operations.
Broader research and societal benefits
Beyond aviation, the partnership supports research into flooding, convective initiation, and other impactful weather events that affect Florida communities.
Improved radar coverage enhances the ability to monitor heavy rainfall rates, track storm motion, and anticipate localized flash flooding.
Climavision’s AI-driven weather modeling complements observational advances by converting data into actionable forecasts on short notice.
This is vital for emergency managers, transportation planners, and public safety officials.
Key advantages at a glance
The collaboration brings a set of practical benefits that will be useful to researchers, forecasters, and the public:
This partnership between Florida Tech and Climavision tightens the observational fabric over a weather-vulnerable region.
It couples expanded observations with modern analytics to reduce risk and improve warnings.
Here is the source article for this story: New partnership seeks to improve severe weather research in Central Florida