Electrical & Computer Engineering Department - Colorado State University

The newly deployed regional radar and advanced rainfall forecast system provides more accurate and timely warnings about heavy rainfall, potential flooding, and runoff impacts.

Developed in collaboration with NOAA and Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC-San Diego, the cutting-edge forecast system leverages pioneering atmospheric research from CSU’s Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, or CIRA. It also builds on four decades of radar technology innovation led by University Distinguished Professor V. Chandrasekar in the ECE department.

🔗 Read more: https://engr.source.colostate.edu/csu-key-partner-in-groundbreaking-system-to-advance-atmospheric-river-forecasting/

📸 A short-range X-Band radar is installed on Rocky Ridge in western Contra Costa County, California on December 8, 2022. It’s one of six new radars that form the foundation for a forecast system designed to improve prediction of heavy rainfall and runoff in the Bay Area. Credit: Contra Costa County Public Works, Flood Control Division

CSU key partner in groundbreaking system to advance atmospheric river forecasting - Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering CSU researchers are major contributors to a new system recently deployed in the California Bay Area that delivers more accurate forecasts of rainfall, runoff, and flooding caused by the region’s frequent atmospheric rivers.

As the university assesses the impacts of yesterday’s strong winds, it’s a timely reminder of the importance of power grid resilience in the face of extreme weather.

ECE Assistant Professor Zongjie Wang is leading research that addresses this challenge by helping modernize the nation’s aging power infrastructure.

She and her collaborators are working to create a smarter, more efficient, and reliable power grid as part of the new Grid Modernization Initiative housed at CSU’s Energy Institute.

Her latest paper – published in Scientific Reports, part of the Nature portfolio – outlines a novel framework to help transmission and distribution systems coordinate decisions across the grid. The approach supports more efficient, reliable operations as the energy landscape evolves.

“As more people adopt solar panels, electric vehicles, and other distributed energy resources, we’re pulling together many pieces to simplify these systems and ensure they work together seamlessly,” said Wang.

➡️ Read more about Wang’s findings and her efforts to modernize the grid:

CSU research proposes new solution to advance nation’s power infrastructure - Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering New research led by Colorado State University highlights a critical need for system-level thinking and innovation in shaping the electric power grid of the future. The paper, recently published in Scientific Reports, is part of the university's new Grid Modernization Initiative.