Norman, OK – The U.S. Department of Commerce Radar Operations Center (ROC) non-competitively awarded a $4.5MM critical infrastructure, and time sensitive contract to the joint venture, after completing a long and exhaustive due diligence selection process. The team is leading, managing, and constructing the new tower site, decommissioning the old site, relocating the tower, and radar equipment, reassembling, and recommissioning the unit during a very limited period of time between hurricane and tornado seasons. This weather radar is currently co-located with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Slidell, LA. The Journey Vazquez team is moving this radar west about 50 miles to Hammond, LA.
The radar is coming down for approximately three months during the construction and relocation process. The surrounding NWS radars in Mobile, Jackson, Fort Polk, and Lake Charles, as well as a lower-powered FAA radar near the New Orleans airport are providing ongoing forecast and weather alerts during the move. In addition to the move, the lowest elevation angle of the radar is changing. Currently, the lowest elevation angle the radar uses is 0.5 degrees, but after the move, the lowest elevation angle drops to 0.3 degrees. This change allows the radar to sample even lower in the atmosphere than it did previously. Sampling lower in the atmosphere allows for better identification of hazardous weather, including tornado formation and microbursts.
The relocation provides local residents with a major benefit, earlier detection of bad weather! The new lower elevation angle sampling provides a dramatically improved view of developing tornadoes and low-level winds in the Louisiana Capital Region, a weather view not previously possible since the NEXRAD network was put in place in the 1990s. The combined effects of moving the radar closer to Baton Rouge and adding a 0.3-degree elevation angle improves the ability to sample storms at a much lower level and provide residents with better information about dangerous weather. The addition of time to react and seek cover can save lives!
The designer of record for the project is Black & Veatch Corp of Kansas City, MO.
