Vaisala - Annual Report 2005

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Vaisala Measurement Systems consists of four business units

Vaisala Soundings develops, produces and markets systems for observing the weather in the upper atmosphere. These include radiosondes and dropsondes, and related ground equipment. The sounding systems collect and transmit data on pressure, temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed and direction to weather observation networks. National meteorological services use Vaisala sounding systems for their day-to-day weather forecasts. Sounding data time series collected throughout the decades is also used for the study on climate change. The division's core customer groups are meteorological and hydrological institutes, defense forces, and meteorological and climatological research organizations.

Vaisala Windprofilers develops, produces and markets wind profilers, i.e. wind radars, that are used for weather observations in the upper atmosphere. Wind profilers are remote sensing devices that measure the vertical profile of wind speed and direction to up to 16 km. With the help of wind profiler data, air-traffic controllers can ensure safe landings and take-offs in demanding wind conditions. Vaisala Windprofilers' core customer groups are meteorological institutes, defense forces, civil aviation organizations, air quality agencies, and meteorological and climatological research institutes.

Vaisala Thunderstorm Systems develops, produces and markets systems and instruments for lightning tracking and detection. The systems are built into networks that cover a specific area, to be able to forecast approaching thunderstorms and track lightning strikes. Individual systems are also used at golf courses, stadiums and other locations where thunderstorms are a safety hazard. Vaisala Thunderstorm Systems' core customer groups are meteorological institutes, civil aviation organizations, defense forces, power utilities, and meteorological and climatological research institutes.

Vaisala Thunderstorm Data develops, produces and markets services relating to lightning detection. Lightning detection systems collect and distribute data in real-time for weather observations and precision weather forecasting. The business unit's main market is the United States, where Vaisala operates its own U.S.-wide lightning detection network. Vaisala Thunderstorm Data sells the data produced by its network to the National Weather Service, defense forces, civil aviation organizations, insurance companies and power utilities, as well as meteorological and climatological research institutes.

Versatile value-added services are a seamless part of all Vaisala Measurements Systems' business units, including installation, training, maintenance, consultation, and operational services.

Product development in cooperation with partners

Vaisala Measurement Systems has gained product- and market leadership through systematic product development. Cooperation with the leading research institutes and universities in the field is significant, in addition to the division's own R&D investments. For example, in the United States, the division works in close cooperation with NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research), as well as with universities specialized in meteorology. Vaisala also actively participates in the EU's COST research programs relating to meteorological development projects. Important partners in Finland include the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the University of Helsinki, who are Vaisala's partners in the Helsinki Testbed project, which studies dense weather observation networks.