MIRI: A group of 20 students and four lecturers from the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently embarked on an educational visit to the local Meteorology Department in Miri. The purpose of the visit was to enhance their understanding of weather data collection, transmission, and its practical utilisation.
The visit began with a tour of the Meteorology Department’s Doppler Radar Station at Canada Hill. This state-of-the-art station is equipped with advanced technology designed to collect and analyze weather data. It plays a crucial role in tracking severe weather conditions like thunderstorms and hurricanes.
Assistant Meteorological Officer Freddie Anit and his staff warmly welcomed the group and provided a briefing on the operations of the station.
The students and lecturers had the opportunity to witness firsthand how meteorologists employ Doppler radar to detect precipitation patterns and understand the dynamics of various weather phenomena.
The educational visit continued at the Meteorology Department offices near Miri Airport. Here, the students and lecturers observed the reception and analysis of data transmitted from the Doppler radar.
They engaged in informative presentations and interactive discussions with meteorologists, who shared their knowledge and experiences on data interpretation, monitoring weather patterns, and forecasting.
This hands-on experience allowed the group to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom and its practical application in the field of meteorology.
The visit proved to be highly educational and insightful for both the students and lecturers. It provided them with a deeper appreciation for the importance of accurate and timely weather information in various fields.
They realised the impact of weather conditions on infrastructure planning and design, which is crucial for students pursuing careers in civil and construction engineering.
Moreover, the engagement between the Department of Civil and Construction Engineering at Curtin Malaysia and the Meteorology Department Miri served as a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange between academia and industry professionals. Lecturer Carrie Ho emphasized the significance of this experiential learning opportunity in fostering collaboration and understanding the practical implications of weather conditions on infrastructure.
Curtin Malaysia and the Meteorology Department Miri have maintained a longstanding relationship, further solidified by the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for research and development collaboration.
This collaboration involves the sharing of data from MET Malaysia’s automatic weather station at the Curtin Malaysia campus, joint training workshops and conferences, research grant applications, joint publications, and other projects of mutual interest. These collaborative efforts enable the exchange of knowledge and technical expertise between the institutions.
The students who participated in the visit expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to gain insights into the intricate workings of a sophisticated radar station.
They found the site visits to be highly informative and engaging, with the officers at both locations providing clear explanations of the processes and procedures.
