Diverse development, international energy
Although it has been over a decade since the 2004 amendment of the Meteorological Act opened up weather forecasting to the private sector, the industry still faces many challenges in its development. However, Peng has remained committed, constantly forging new paths and developing a diverse array of business options beyond basic weather forecasting.
For example, with public awareness of weather risks still lacking, his team must educate at the same time as it promotes its business. The company can’t wait for traditional media to change how they operate, and so has taken to using online media and livestreaming, efforts that have been especially well received by the younger generation.
On top of its lightning service, the company has also expanded into wind power, working with Weatherzone on an offshore project set to begin construction in 2019. Integrating domestic and international maritime weather forecasting, the company has designed a custom decision-making system for windfarms, reducing the potential for losses and delays caused by incorrect construction scheduling. With regard to smog and air quality forecasting, not only does the company produce video forecasts, it also works with local government environmental agencies to issue air quality warnings. From such efforts, we can see the diversity and potential in the weather industry.
And as the weather industry is at its core an open-data-based part of the information economy, outside of his work Peng Chi-ming is also active in promoting open data to Taiwan’s government. He even serves as chair of the Open Data Alliance and works closely with comrades in nine Asian countries, including Japan, South Korea, and Thailand, to similar ends.
“Openness of data is a universal value, and with the weather industry both part of the information economy and an industry Taiwan is doing quite well in, it gives us a lot of soft power and room to grow,” says Peng optimistically.
As a new kind of information-based industry that truly shares data from the private sector with the people, the weather industry, with Peng at its head, really does have the potential to both contribute to society and drive Taiwan forward.
Smog is a climate issue that cares not for national borders and has attracted much attention in recent years.
Peng Chi-ming and his professional team have earned the love of the public for their approach to broadcasting.
As a result of climate change, extreme weather events are on the increase, making awareness of weather risks all the more important. (photo by Chuang Kung-ju)