Wind Weibull K and A GIS Data Layer

Designed for: Developer, Government Agency & Engineer/Consultant

For pricing and purchase details:

Product Description

Primary Uses

Utility-scale prospecting
Site assessment
Transmission planning

With 3TIER Wind Weibull GIS Data Layers, you have access to the most advanced global wind dataset ever created. Our scientifically derived data layers integrate spatial wind resource data directly into your own GIS mapping software for in-depth analysis, including site prospecting, sorting, and optimal selection.

By layering 3TIER Wind GIS Layers with each other you can get a complete sense of your resource potential. You can also use third-party layers, such as land ownership, population density, soil type, topography, and transmission and transportation infrastructure, to factor in many of the variables that affect the viability of a site. This enables you to identify promising locations more quickly, as well as understand potentially fatal flaws at a proposed site early in your prospecting process.

In addition, when you are looking at multiple locations, our GIS layers help you compare apples to apples and oranges to oranges. Our consistent, seamless datasets give you a clearer picture of the risks involved for every potential site in your portfolio.

3TIER's Wind GIS Layers are cost effective and can be delivered quickly. They are based on a proprietary 15 km resolution dataset created for wide-scope prospecting and derived from proven techniques, state-of-the-art numerical weather prediction (NWP) models, and publicly available observational data.

GIS Data Layers are obtainable for annual values of Weibull k and A. These data layers are available at heights of 20, 50, and 80 meters above ground level and are deliverable in several formats to ensure an easy data upload into almost any GIS program.

Technical Overview

Multiple Format Delivery Options

Arc ASCII Grid
CSV files
GeoTIFFs
KMZ files

Technical Highlights

Standard Weibull k & A layers are available at a 15 km resolution based on a 10-year NWP (numerical weather prediction) model run.
3TIER has validated the global annual wind speed using data from the NCEP-ADP network. Find our validation papers here.
3TIER constrains its mesoscale (WRF) atmospheric simulations using inputs taken from a consistent, high-quality NWP dataset (the NCAR/NCEP reanalysis) that incorporates observational data using data assimilation techniques. 3TIER uses this dataset to drive a combination of a 10-year, coarser resolution (15 km) set of WRF simulations with a 365-day, finer resolution (5 km) set of WRF simulations.
Our validation data shows that the difference between our dataset and observations is less than 0.5 m/s at 50% of the stations, and the difference is less than 1 m/s at 78% of the stations. The overall bias is +0.05 m/s relative to NCEP-ADP observations, and the RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) is 0.93 m/s.

More On Our Methodology

To produce the global wind dataset, 3TIER implemented an innovative physics-based NWP (Numerical Weather Prediction) modeling approach. Unlike traditional models that merely interpolate observed wind speeds between widely dispersed points, 3TIER's system simulates the interaction between the atmosphere and the earth's surface, to create a more robust and accurate wind climatology. 3TIER's technique captures the myriad processes responsible for wind—from jet level dynamics to surface level processes and everything in between. Using proven, state-of-the-art methods supported and continually enhanced by the global atmospheric science and research community, 3TIER is able to create realistic wind fields throughout the world.

Find our validation papers here.

If you are unfamiliar with the technical terminology on this page, please visit our Glossary for more information.