Interview with Casey Palmer , General Manager , UBIMET Australia
1 .
UBIMET is a global weather service provider with an office in Melbourne . Your slogan is “ Weather Matters .” How does weather matter in Australia ?
In other countries the weather can be an inconvenience , it can be disruptive , but in Australia weather really does matter because it can be damaging , even dangerous . The weather here can impact safety , it can make or break a business , and it drives so many of the decisions we make every day . Weather is more than a talking point here - it can be extreme , and it is changing .
2 .
How does your service make a difference for Golf Queensland ?
Golf Queensland does so much work for the game , so we are very proud to provide a service that gives them one less thing to worry about . They are using the Weather Cockpit , which provides access to real-time weather data , including lightning information , with one click . The system even pushes warning and alerts directly via SMS and email , which is critical when they are running events . We ’ re even planning to work together on lightning policies and guidelines for clubs in Queensland , which will be an amazing opportunity for us .
3 .
What are the advantages of the UBIMET Weather Cockpit ?
The Weather Cockpit is a project close to my heart - we have been continually refining it for a number of years based on feedback from our partners and customers . When it comes to golf , I have the will but I lack the skill , however the rest of my family are big golfers and even they have provided feedback ! We have been able to bring all of this feedback together and develop a customised solution for golf in Australia . Users can access precise , highresolution weather data in a portal that is very intuitive and easy to navigate . It has really has become a ‘ one stop weather shop ’ that showcases so many of our unique services . Severe weather warnings and lightning alerts can be used by clubs to ensure player safety , and localised forecast data can even be used for event planning and much more sustainable and efficient greenkeeping and water usage .
4 .
You pride yourself on having a proprietary 3D lightning detection network . Why is lightning so important for golf courses ? And what makes your system better ?
Golfers will play through rain , hail or shine , so it is critical to know when there is lightning in the vicinity and if it is going to impact the course . It is also important know when it ’ s clear to get the players back out on the course . Accuracy is key . We wanted the most precise data so we decided to build our own network of lightning detection sensors in Australia . It has been an amazing project so yes , we do pride ourselves on the network and what we can provide to our partners here in Australia . It is the newest and most advanced technology in the country , and we can provide golf courses with information that is accurate to 70m and in real-time .
5 .
As a native Australian you have returned to your home country after 10 years . How do you enjoy your role as a General Manager ?
I ’ m actually a meteorologist by trade and I have spent many years working behind the scenes , so to speak . So I am really excited to be back home in Australia where the weather is such a big topic , and to have moved into a position that gives me the opportunity to get out and meet our partners and customers . The accuracy of the data is crucial , but how you communicate it to the end-user is just as important . So I am really looking forward to getting out there and meeting more people across this amazing country of ours .
10 Q Golf Winter 2017 www . golfqueensland . org . au