New generation of Community Weather Information Network Co-WIN 2.0 microclimate station launched (with photos)

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     The Hong Kong Observatory jointly launched the new generation of Community Weather Information Network Co-WIN 2.0 microclimate station with the Construction Industry Council Zero Carbon Building (ZCB), the Department of Applied Physics of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Institute of Future Cities of the Chinese University of Hong Kong at the ZCB today (November 4).

     The Community Weather Information Network (Co-WIN) was jointly established by the Hong Kong Observatory and the Department of Applied Physics of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2007 for promoting meteorology education. It aims to encourage and assist schools and other community organisations to set up, operate and maintain low-cost automatic weather stations for releasing and sharing weather information collected at various Co-WIN stations via an online platform so as to enhance the public's appreciation and interest in weather and climate. At present, 160 organisations have joined Co-WIN.

     Co-WIN 2.0 microclimate station made its debut today on ZCB's Smart-Drone Demonstration & Experience Day. The Observatory installed Co-WIN 2.0 instruments at different locations of ZCB to demonstrate a prototype microclimate station which provides information on air temperature, relative humidity, wind direction, wind speed, atmospheric pressure, the UV Index and more. New technologies have been adopted for the equipment including an open-source microcontroller as well as microsensors for measurement of wind, temperature, relative humidity and other weather elements. Some of the components, such as temperature shields, have been fabricated with 3D printing technology. The new technologies help reduce the size and cost of the microclimate station as well as lower its power consumption, making it more suitable for operation within the city environment and convenient for deployment outdoors for collection of meteorological data. The Co-WIN 2.0 microclimate station can also be mounted on a drone so that measurements can be taken aloft to provide three-dimensional data for urban microclimate monitoring.

     Speaking at the ceremony to launch the Co-WIN 2.0 microclimate station and celebrate the 10th anniversary of Co-WIN, the Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Mr Shun Chi-ming, said, "The meteorological observation data collected by the newly launched Co-WIN 2.0 microclimate station will support the development of urban weather monitoring as well as assist urban climate studies, big data analytics and smart city initiatives. We hope that this small step in microclimate monitoring today will take Hong Kong one step closer towards being a smart city."

     The Chairman of the Executive Committee of Co-WIN, Mr Cliff Lo said, "Co-WIN has achieved sustainable development over the past 10 years, and the community weather information collected is on the rise. The newly launched microclimate station marks a new milestone for Co-WIN. We will spare no effort to promote meteorological observation using Co-WIN 2.0 in the future."

     Meteorological information and other relevant data of Co-WIN can be viewed at its website (cowin.cse.cuhk.edu.hk). The website is also linked to the Observatory's homepage (www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm).

     More information about ZCB's Smart-Drone Demonstration & Experience Day can be found at the ZCB Facebook page (www.facebook.com/cic.zcbhk).

Ends/Saturday, November 4, 2017
Issued at HKT 14:27

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Photo

The Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Mr Shun Chi-ming (third right); Legislative Council Member and Co-founder of the Smart City Consortium, Dr Elizabeth Quat (second right); the Chairman of the Construction Industry Council Zero Carbon Building, Mr Cheung Hau-wai (third left); Professor and Head of Department of Applied Physics of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Professor Daniel Lau (second left); the Director of Institute of Future Cities of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Leung Yee (first left); and the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Community Weather Information Network, Mr Cliff Lo (first right) officiate at the ceremony to launch the new generation of Community Weather Information Network Co-WIN 2.0 microclimate station at the Zero Carbon Building today (November 4).

The Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Mr Shun Chi-ming (centre), today (November 4) visits the microclimate exhibition booth of the Observatory at the Zero Carbon Building with Legislative Council Member and Co-founder of the Smart City Consortium, Dr Elizabeth Quat (left), and the Chairman of the Construction Industry Council Zero Carbon Building, Mr Cheung Hau-wai (right).

The Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Mr Shun Chi-ming (left), visits the Community Weather Information Network Co-WIN 2.0 microclimate station at the Zero Carbon Building today (November 4).