The Earth Observation satellite tracking antenna in Dumangas, Iloilo.
DOST to unveil new Ground Receiving Station in Iloilo
THE Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has announced the inauguration of the Ground Receiving Station in Iloilo, which will provide satellite images and other space-borne data to various government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and state universities and colleges (SUCs).
The inauguration ceremony will take place on March 10, 2023, at the Iloilo Science and Technology University in Dumangas Campus, Iloilo.
The event will feature the unveiling of the inaugural marker, a live satellite demonstration, and a tour of the Ground Receiving Station or GRS.
Operated by the Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), the Iloilo GRS houses a 3.5-meter Earth Observation satellite tracking antenna.
It completes the establishment of ground stations in the three major islands of the country: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.
The satellite tracking antenna was made possible through the collaboration between DOST-ASTI and Hokkaido University in Japan through the project Understanding Lightning and Thunderstorms for Extreme Weather Monitoring and Information Sharing (ULAT).
The project is also in cooperation with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) as an Official Development Assisted (ODA) project.
“We extend our gratitude to all parties involved in making this project a reality, and we look forward to the GRS in Iloilo playing an essential role in advancing our knowledge of extreme weather patterns and conditions in the country,” says DOST Undersecretary Leah Buendia.
The ULAT Project aims to produce short-term forecasts by observing torrential rainfall, thunderstorm, and lightning occurrences using the weather and lightning data from Japanese-designed stations, satellite images, and other scientific equipment such as drop sonde and radiosonde data.
This project includes the establishment of a dense network of lightning sensors, the use of a satellite for analysis, forecasting of method development, and a data-sharing platform.
The inauguration will be attended by DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum and JICA Chief Representative Sakamoto Takema, showcasing their support for this project.
DOST said that this development will benefit the scientific community and offer the local community the chance to be part of a significant scientific breakthrough.
