Rainsat Apps
Rainsait mobile apps allows users to access timely and regional/country-specific rainfall estimates for the past 24 hours and forecasts for the next 3 hours. Such information on rain expectations is crucial for short-term decision making even at farm scale.
Rainsat apps provide more accurate and detailed near real-time observations and short-term rainfall forecast information that enables farmers to make better informed decisions on irrigation, when to apply fertilizer, or to spray or sow. This information reduces the chance that newly planted seeds or recently applied fertilizer is washed away as a result of a heavy rainstorm.
Rainsat apps interface for Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Senegal available on Google Play Store
Rainsat apps provide more accurate and detailed near real-time observations and short-term rainfall forecast information that enables farmers to make better informed decisions on irrigation, when to apply fertilizer, or to spray or sow. This information reduces the chance that newly planted seeds or recently applied fertilizer is washed away as a result of a heavy rainstorm.
- Rainsat apps display rainfall estimates (observations) for the past 24 hours and forecasts for the next 3 hours (i.e. nowcasts). The rainfall estimates are derived from satellite observations (MSG-SEVIRI), collected every 15-minutes. The forecasts are generated with a machine-learning model, trained specifically for the region of this app. Rainsat helps the user to see if rain can be expected or not. Real-time rainfall estimates is available for the entire African continent, while Rainsat nowcasts tool is currently tailored for Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Senegal.
The main implementation process includes (i) the assessment of farmers’ information needs, (ii) the enhancement of rainfall estimates by improving observed intensities during the night, (iii)the building of short-term forecasts based on near real time observations and machine learning techniques, and (iv) the development of dissemination Rainsat apps specific to the region of interest.
Contact : lugt@hkv.nl