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Waiting for on-site measurements is not always an option: RWDI has replicated the affects of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina to develop a site-specific wind climate model.

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  • Meteorological Modeling Overview

    Meteorological factors play an important role in almost every project at RWDI.

    RWDI continually invests in staff and computing resources to meet the requirements of today’s most sophisticated analytical methods and weather prediction models.  RWDI routinely compiles and maintains databases of historical and real-time observations, weather forecasts, and model re-analysis outputs from international data centers. 

    When historical wind data is hard to come by, or when topography (e.g., complex terrain, large water bodies) results in a vastly different wind climate than at the nearest weather station, RWDI uses sophisticated methods to develop viable, cost-effective solutions.

  • Benefits

    Obtain more realistic wind conditions: …than those found in published building codes.

    A much more precise representation: When combined with RWDI’s advanced wind tunnel testing techniques, a much more precise representation of how the wind interacts with existing and proposed structures is produced.

    Determine the site-specific wind climate with confidence: When surface weather station records are not available or where the quality of the records is questionable.

    Determines high-resolution vertical wind profiles: For different wind events in different regions for super tall structures.

    Determines detailed wind properties: That are not available in most weather station records, such as turbulence intensity and wind angles of attack.

  • Features

    Statistical wind climate model development: Through analyzing historical meteorological observations for long periods of record (30+ years) and regional and local topographic data and land surface characteristics, advanced statistical methods are used to develop localized wind climate models.

    Extreme wind events:     Hurricanes and typhoons are responsible for the majority of extreme wind events leading to structural damage to buildings, bridges, etc.  Where applicable, RWDI employs statistically derived computer models of extreme winds at the project site.

    Weather data anywhere around the globe:     With access to the world’s largest meteorological data centers, insufficient wind records near the site are no longer a problem.

    Weather data at high elevations: Critical wind speeds and directions are obtainable at any elevation.  This is important for very tall structures.

    Weather data for unique wind events: Thunderstorms, hurricanes, Santa Ana / Shamal winds and more can be modeled with accuracy.

    3-D computer modeling: Weather patterns are in 3-D, as are RWDI’s results.  RWDI uses the most sophisticated weather prediction models to replicate wind conditions in 3-D at the project site.