DePaul and St. Joseph’s Implement 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 30, 2008) — DTN/Meteorlogix, the leading business information services company focused on agricultural, energy and weather business markets, today announced DePaul University in Chicago and St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia have implemented DTN/Meteorlogix MxVision WeatherSentry Online® Turf Edition for Sports and Recreation. The universities 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.

“Ensuring the safety of everyone within our facilities is our number one concern,” said Alan Pendleton, associate athletic director at St. Joseph’s University. “MxVision WeatherSentry provides us with accurate, real-time information that helps us know when to get people to safety, and indicates when we can allow the athletes back on the field and fans in the stands.”

The athletic departments at DePaul and St. Joseph’s 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 in both home and away venues.

“Having advanced weather information at our fingertips allows us to get a head start on preparing for changes in the weather,” said Amy Ingraffia, director of sports medicine for DePaul University. “DTN/Meteorlogix helps us monitor severe weather and gives us ample time to take precautionary measures if necessary.”

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. “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 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 DePaul University  
DePaul University, with more than 23,000 students, is only one of the nation’s 10 largest private universities where the faculty priority is on teaching. Founded on the Vincentian principle of access for everyone, it remains committed to providing a quality education through personal attention to students from a wide range of backgrounds.

About St. Joseph’s University
Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1851, Saint Joseph's University advances the professional and personal ambitions of men and women by providing a demanding, yet supportive educational experience. One of only 139 schools nationwide with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter and AACSB business school accreditation, Saint Joseph's is home to 4,200 full-time undergraduates and 3,100 graduate, part-time and doctoral candidates.

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.dtnmeteorlogix.com or call (952) 851-7216.