Re: Authorization to receive IDD system data

Hi Tom, 

Yes that was a most unfortunate event. We are able to provide data as long
as you work with a participating Unidata university. We get many requests
from many different public and private organizations (we cannot give
everything to everyone..at current funding levels and restrictions).

Obviously, we are not the sole source for this data, in fact, you could
install a NOAAport dish and get all this data for free! So, albeit
unfortunate, given the wealth of weather resources available on-line and
elsewhere, I am confident if you pursued this quest with vigor you could
find the data or an interested collaborating university to work with..

Thank you,

-Jeff
____________________________                  _____________________
Jeff Weber                                    address@hidden
Unidata Support                               PH:303-497-8676 
NWS-COMET Case Study Library                  FX:303-497-8690
University Corp for Atmospheric Research      3300 Mitchell Ln
http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/staff/jweber      Boulder,Co 80307-3000
________________________________________      ______________________

On Sat, 20 Apr 2002, Tom Fairey wrote:

> Hi Jeff,
> 
> Your last email to me was written on Monday, April 15.  At 5PM on Thursday, 
> April 18,  Amtrak auto train # 52 derailed near Crescent City, FL killing 
> four people and producing an estimated $100 million in total damage.
> 
> Indications are this accident was caused by "sunkink".  It was the hottest 
> part of the day during a "heat wave".  The engineer, who survived, reported 
> that he saw a track anomaly (gauge variation) ahead and initiated emergency 
> stop.  The track had been inspected the previous day, and four trains had 
> passed the day of the wreck.
> 
> Snead Research Labs has amassed a great amount of knowledge about the 
> advance detection and prevention of this kind of accident.
> 
> It is truly unfortunate that UCAR is unable to supply Snead Research 
> weather data which could greatly enhance the potential elimination of this 
> kind of accident.
> 
> Tom
> 
> 
> 
> At 02:22 PM 4/15/02 -0600, you wrote:
> >Hi Tom,
> >
> >Unfortunately BYU is currently not a participating Unidata site.
> >
> >For non-university sites we ask that they collaborate with a university
> >for support and the feed. At this time I offer two suggestions..:
> >
> >1) Have BYU become a participating member of Unidata
> >
> >2) Collaborate with U of U or Utah State, both of whom are Unidata
> >members.
> >
> >Your research sounds very interesting and I hope we can help in some way.
> >Sorry for all the hoops, but that is the nature of quasi-gov't funded
> >agencies..
> >
> >Thank you,
> >
> >-Jeff
> >____________________________                  _____________________
> >Jeff Weber                                    address@hidden
> >Unidata Support                               PH:303-497-8676
> >NWS-COMET Case Study Library                  FX:303-497-8690
> >University Corp for Atmospheric Research      3300 Mitchell Ln
> >http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/staff/jweber      Boulder,Co 80307-3000
> >________________________________________      ______________________
> >
> >On Mon, 15 Apr 2002, Tom Fairey wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Jeff,
> > >
> > > Snead Research Labs is associated with Brigham Young University, Provo
> > > Utah, in the study of the expansion/contraction of railroad rails known in
> > > the industry vernacular as "sunkink".  Mr. Len Pugh is in charge of our
> > > project at Brigham Young, aided by Mr. Terry Carter.  Union Pacific
> > > Railroad is also helping with these studies.
> > >
> > > While it is not the only factor, weather (temperature, wind, humidity,
> > > cloud cover, rain, hail, snow, radiation heating, etc.) is an important
> > > factor in this phenomenon which is the greatest source of railroad
> > > accidents globally and results in considerable loss of life and property.
> > >
> > > A companion study will determine the accuracy of available forecast
> > > information for these weather variables, as well as the change in accuracy
> > > over time.
> > >
> > > As I stated in my previous email, these studies could be greatly
> > > facilitated by the NOAA-Port data through your IDD system.
> > >
> > > We appreciate your time and consideration, and thank you in advance for an
> > > expeditious resolution of our request.
> > >
> > > Tom
> > >
> > >
> 
> 
>