DID & MET — Early Warning

Public Sector

DID & MET — Early warning & alert systems

The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) and the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MET) are key government partners for translating RTL3D nowcasts into actionable alerts for water management and public weather safety.

Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID)

DID manages dams, rivers, and drainage infrastructure across Malaysia. Lightning and intense rainfall can threaten dam safety, trigger flash floods, and disrupt water supply operations. Hydrological monitoring in the RTL3D study network supports catchment awareness across the region.

Malaysian Meteorological Department (MET)

MET issues official weather forecasts and severe thunderstorm warnings for aviation, maritime traffic, agriculture, and the public. RTL3D links national forecasting needs to high-resolution lightning imaging across the Straits of Malacca region.

How RTL3D supports DID & MET

Real-time 3D charge imaging and CG lightning nowcasting provide lead time before strikes and intense electrification affect exposed assets and populated catchments. Joint workshops connect scientific products to operational alert workflows.

Dam and catchment early-warning support
Thunderstorm nowcasts for MET warning products
IoT countermeasures and field alert trials
Shared visualization for agency briefings

Importance of this system

Flood and severe-weather response depends on knowing where lightning activity is intensifying relative to dams, rivers, and communities. RTL3D maps localized sources and 15 km radiation zones so DID and MET teams can coordinate warnings, reservoir operations, and public advisories across the study region.

Map: OSM dams, rivers, lakes, reservoirs, and channels plus LF observation areas and localized lightning (Jet colour = time). Use Water layers to filter features. Shaded rings show 15 km radiation zones; warnings list storage assets, rivers, and drainage reaches that can affect water areas (control, inflow, or flood routing).

DID & MET Early Warning