Case Study: AECID (Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation) achieves 95%+ cloud-to-ground lightning detection and regional thunderstorm early-warning in Central America with DTN

AECID - Customer Case Study

AECID, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, faced recurring loss of goods and lives from severe weather across Central America and funded a regional warning center to improve thunderstorm response. AECID selected DTN to deliver a Lightning Detection Network (based on TOA Systems Ltd. technology) consisting of 32 sensors across Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Panama, a central processing system in Panama, and national operational centers.

DTN supplied and integrated 25 new sensors with seven existing units, deployed a central SCAL processor and six country SEXP operational systems, achieving Cloud-to-Ground detection efficiency better than 95% (at 5 kA), Intra-Cloud >80% over populated areas (>50% region-wide), and stroke-location accuracy under 200 m RMS (often <100 m). The DTN network provides the most accurate lightning data in the region, enabling thunderstorm early warnings, flood/forest-fire/rescue/maritime/air-safety management, a historical risk database and improved weather products for sectors such as water, transport, tourism and agriculture.

AECID