University of Wisconsin–Madison Implements DTN MxVision WeatherSentry Online Turf Edition for Sports and Recreation

Customized weather information helps universities better track severe weather for grounds maintenance and lightning safety

MINNEAPOLIS (October 13, 2008) — DTN/Meteorlogix, the leading business information services company focused on agricultural, energy and weather business markets, today announced the University of Wisconsin–Madison has implemented DTN/Meteorlogix MxVision WeatherSentry Online® Turf Edition for Sports and Recreation.  The university will rely on DTN/Meteorlogix to provide critical, real-time weather and lightning information to ensure the safety of spectators and athletes, and to better manage university athletic events.

MxVision WeatherSentry Online® Turf Edition for Sports and Recreation helps athletic facility management professionals and game officials monitor and track potentially hazardous weather conditions such as severe thunderstorms and lightning for multiple locations.  Utilizing DTN Lightning Manager®, university personnel can set a 60-mile alert radius and monitor lightning strikes in real-time. If lightning strikes within a preset radius, an instant alert is sent to university staff allowing game officials to take the proper precautions. 

The athletic department at the University of Wisconsin–Madison can access location-specific weather updates through a standard PC or mobile device. With MxVision WeatherSentry Mobile®, staff can receive instant notifications sent directly to their cell phones. The ability to access real-time weather information in any location allows athletic trainers to make better equipment selections for their athletes at both home and away venues.

In addition to monitoring severe weather conditions, MxVision WeatherSentry provides advanced precipitation forecasting to help university turf professionals curb costs by pinpointing the best time to apply expensive chemicals.

"University athletic departments have to monitor weather conditions for multiple facilities, which can be a daunting task without the right tools," said Robert Gordon, chief executive officer, DTN/Meteorlogix. "By using MxVision WeatherSentry Online® Turf Edition for Sports and Recreation, schools can make safety a priority, maintain top-notch fields and maximize resources."

In addition to the University of Wisconsin–Madison, DePaul University in Chicago and St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia also have recently implemented MxVision WeatherSentry Online® Turf Edition for Sports and Recreation.

In 2008, a 12-month, third-party study by ForecastWatch.com found DTN/Meteorlogix precipitation forecasts outperformed all others in the industry – and DTN/Meteorlogix had 40 percent greater accuracy than those of the National Weather Service.

About University of Wisconsin–Madison
In achievement and prestige, the University of Wisconsin–Madison has long been recognized as one of America's great universities. A public, land-grant institution, UW–Madison offers a complete spectrum of liberal arts studies, professional programs and student activities. Spanning 933 acres along the southern shore of Lake Mendota, the campus is located in the city of Madison.

About DTN
DTN, a private company based in Omaha, Neb., is the leading business information services company focused on agricultural, energy and weather business markets. The company delivers business critical information to more than 700,000 subscribers across its vertical markets. For more information about DTN visit www.telvent.com or call (952) 851-7216.