Weather analytics platform with Houston HQ taps Norwegian biz to optimize tech

weatherproof tech

StormGeo, a Houston-based weather intelligence provider, has partnered with Norwegian company 7Analytics to create technology positioned to revolutionize planning for floods. Photo courtesy of Kinder Institute

There’s no way around it: Houston floods. And with the deluge comes hurdles for businesses. The only real power we have in the face of such adversity is preparation.

StormGeo, a weather intelligence provider with its United States headquarters in Houston, has partnered with Norwegian company 7Analytics to create technology positioned to revolutionize planning for floods.

StormGeo debuted in Norway in 1997. In 2012, it acquired Houston company Impact Weather, says Bob Weinzapfel, a meteorologist and senior project manager of weather insights for StormGeo. Houston is one of 24 offices spread over 15 countries with more than 600 employees, Weinzapfel adds.

The team at 7Analytics, according to Weinzapfel, “Are a bunch of smart flood experts and machine learning experts.” Together, they are introducing a technology that Weinzapfel calls “a game changer” for Houston businesses.

7Analytics uses AI to give users an overview of Houston’s potential flooding based on a 72-hour forecast. “Any business like a grocery store or hospitals or even a refinery—any business with employees or customers, it’s important to know Are the roadways being flooded? Can my employees and customers get in?” says Weinzapfel.

StormGeo has long provided weather insights and guidance to businesses in Houston. Now, detailed maps provide real-time flood forecasting.

The maps forecast the probability of flash flooding in each subbasin, but perhaps more importantly, they can home in on clients’ buildings to show what inundation will look like in parking lots and nearby roads.

"Our product takes a real-time StormGeo weather forecast — for example, the risk of rainfall tomorrow—and translates it into actionable risk info, such as their site is at risk of up to a foot of flooding tomorrow with peak flood occurring at 2 p.m.," explains Jonas Toland, co-founder of 7Analytics.

Armed with such information, businesses can adjust operations ahead. For example, one client is a grocery store chain.

“They have business processes they have to get a jump on. The locations that have customers try to be the last to close and first to open,” Weinzapfel says.

That means that storm tracking can help with letting the store’s team know to purchase more emergency supplies to sell, schedule more employees to help sell them, and know when to close to keep those workers safe.

The Houston version of the solution is the first, but Weinzapfel says that the team is currently working to expand across greater Houston and then into Austin.

“We knew if we could do it here and do a really good job, we could do it anywhere using the same technology,” he adds.

There’s no question that flooding will continue to take place in Houston. But with StormGeo and 7Analytics’ Houston-area flood model, the people that serve us will be prepared.

A Rice University professor has developed a new early warning system and planning tool for the city of Houston. Photo courtesy of Kinder Institute

Rice University debuts new flood alert system for Houston

water feature

It's no secret: certain areas around Houston are at a high risk of flooding. And risks associated with such natural disasters become even more substantial in the middle of a pandemic.

"What if first responders have to go to a shelter, a nursing home, or another facility where there's COVID, right in the middle of a flood," Phil Bedient, director of Rice University's Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters (SSPEED) Center, asks in a statement.

His solution? To develop a new early warning system and planning tool for the city of Houston to help hospitals and other critical facilities on the watersheds of Brays, Sims, Hunting and White Oak bayous respond.

"The idea is to provide a tool that can help emergency managers better deal with situations with multiple risks," he says.

Dubbed the Flood Information and Response System (FIRST), the tool is a radar-based flood assessment, mapping, and early-warning system based on more than 350 maps that simulate different combinations of rainfall over various areas of the watershed. The maps are compared to a weather radar and stream gauges on the bayous to alert users of likely scenarios during a weather event.

FIRST was derived from the Rice/Texas Medical Center Flood Alert System (FAS), which Bedient created 20 years ago. The latest iteration, FAS5, debuted in 2020. Since the product's creation it has accurately alerted users in more that 60 storms and has warned hospital officials in the TMC of the threat of rising water in the area more than two hours before it would eventually occur, according to a statement.

FIRST was funded by federal CARES Act dollars and commissioned by the Houston Health Department, following concerns that overflows at wastewater treatment plants could potentially expose communities to the COVID-19, Loren Hopkins, chief environmental science officer for the Houston Health Department and professor in the practice of statistics at Rice, says in a statement.

"The FIRST model assessed what areas and facilities are at highest risk of overflows that could spread SARS-CoV-2 and other pathogens during flooding and similar events," Hopkins added. "During a flood, the information gained through this system will inform the public health response to control the spread of pathogens that could make people sick."

CARES funds for FIRST's development were approved in the fall and Rice University undergraduates jumped at the opportunity to build out the product by the December 31 deadline, using hydrologic software and maps they had created with training from Bedient about a year prior.

"They performed herculean tasks," Bedient says. "Our deadline was hard and fast, and they helped us deliver the operational project and report on time."

FIRST was reported to have worked well during May's deluge, and will continue to be refined as more data, storms, and floodwaters arise. A demo is available to test online.

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Autonomous truck company taps breaks on Houston-Dallas route

re-routing

Autonomous truck company Aurora Innovation says it won't start hauling freight without humans on board until April of next year, a delay from previous statements that commercial service would begin by the end of 2024.

The Pittsburgh company on Wednesday said the April launch of driverless semis traveling from Dallas to Houston — originally announced last year — will be “modestly later” than the company had intended. The company also previously announced a partnership with Uber.

The company told investors on its third-quarter earnings conference call that it has made progress toward ensuring its trucks will operate safely.

Remaining obstacles are “primarily in the areas of some elements of surface street driving and some elements of construction that we see on the freeway,” CEO Chris Urmson said. “We want to have extremely high confidence in the system as we as we go forward.”

The company will start with about 10 autonomous tractor-trailers and move to “tens” of trucks by the end of next year, Urmson said.

“This shift to our timeline will have a negligible financial impact and does not affect our scaling efforts on our path to self-funding," Urmson said.

Aurora also intends to haul freight without human drivers from Fort Worth, Texas, to Phoenix later in 2025, Urmson said.

Aurora in August added nearly $500 million to its balance sheet with a capital raise in August, which the company expects to fund the initial phases of its strategy to scale up driverless trucking.

Houston joins newly launched 4-city, space-focused network

space cities

Four cities from around the world have teamed up on a mission to grow aeronautics, space, and astronomy.

The Space Cities Network launched last month at the International Congress and Convention Association Congress in Abu Dhabi. The first four missions to join the initiative represent four continents and include Houston; Lausanne, Switzerland; Christchurch, New Zealand; and Seoul, South Korea.

“Space is the mirror of humanity and of our community – a quest for tomorrow. A world of exploration and innovation impacting a future that needs support and guidance. Our community, working collectively with Space experts can be one of the keystones of it, and the Space Cities Network is there to help facilitate that,” Space Cities Network Co-Chair Gerald Howard, who represents Switzerland, says in a news release.

Houston First Corp. will oversee the Space City's participation in the international alliance, which was established to increase collaboration between universities, government agencies, industry and corporations.

“Houston is proud to join this international network, leveraging our rich history in space exploration to drive innovation and collaboration across the global space sector,” Michael Heckman, president and CEO of Houston First, says in the release. “As a hub for cutting-edge research and industry, we are committed to fostering partnerships that will propel the future of aeronautics and space.”

According to the new alliance, the space economy is expected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, and collaboration across innovation and technology is needed to reach the industry's goals.

“Cities will play an integral, legacy role as hubs for events supporting the space community, hosting conferences, summits, and meetings that bring together industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers,” Co-Chair Claire Hector-Taylor from New Zealand, says.

Houston First Corp. will oversee the Space City's participation in the international alliance. Photo courtesy of Houston First

Overheard: 2024 Houston Innovation Awards finalists share top advice for fellow founders

weighing in

There's a great deal of advice swirling around the world today about how to find success business. Why not take it from mentors and founders with a proven track record, like the finalists for this year's Houston Innovation Awards?

From how to grow your customer base to tips on combating funding gaps and making room for yourself at the table, they shared priceless tokens of advice in their applications for the 2024 awards.

Here's what some of the leading founders and supporters in Houston's Innovation community had to say.

"Just because you don't look like everyone else in there room, or aren't offered a seat at the table, doesn't mean you don't deserve to be there. If anything, it means the world needs you there more."

–Lori-Lee Elliott, Co-Founder and CEO of Dauntless XR, female-founded business finalist

"Don’t shy away from seeking non-traditional forms of funding like grants and non-dilutive capital, especially if VC funding seems out of reach. Surround yourself with mentors who understand your challenges, and be intentional about expanding your network to build strategic connections. Above all, stay confident in your vision, use every opportunity to learn, and never hesitate to give back by helping othersalong the way. Your success not only opens doors for you but for future generations of minority founders."

-Anwar Sadek, CORROLYTICS CEO and co-founder, minority-founded business finalist

"Being an entrepreneur is fun and hard and exhilarating and frustrating and simple and complicated and joyful and exhausting and worth it. Make a plan so you can change your plan because the market changed, because the competition grew, because your data showed something different than what you expected, because you hired or lost a team member, because you raised more money, because you didn't raise enough money. Take the time to make the plan and think about all the ways it could change, so that whenit does, it is not the first time you thought about what to do because it will be too late."

–Mimi Healy, CEO of StimulusBio, mentor of the Year finalist

"My go-to advice for entrepreneurs is to prioritize their health while building their business. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle, but long-term success comes from sustaining your physical and mental well-being. Entrepreneurs need to be at their best to make good decisions, lead effectively, and navigate challenges, so focusing on health isn’t just a luxury—it’s essential.Another key habit I always recommend is setting aside at least one hour a day to actively find new customers. Customer acquisition is the lifeblood of any business, and dedicating this time daily can help you build momentum, create relationships, and discover new opportunities that may have been overlooked."

–Ram Prasad, CEO of Delence, minority-owned business finalist

"Learn to sit on the other side of the table and think about things from the other person's perspective. When seeking funding, this means thinking about the investor's point of view. When selling, it means thinking about the customer's POV. How are you—the founder—helping them win?"

--Mitra Miller, Vice President of Houston Angel Network, mentor of the Year finalist

"Leverage the strength of your community. And as a founder, you are the secret sauce, not the imposter. Building a network of supportive peers and mentors who understand your unique challenges can be a game-changer. At EveryDopeGirl, we've seen how powerful it is when minority founders come together to share resources, insights, and encouragement. Don't hesitate to seek out and participate in events that foster these connections. Remember, your journey is not just about overcoming obstacles, but also about celebrating your successes and the unique perspectives you bring to the table."

-Raisha Smith, founder of EveryDopeGirl, female-founded business finalist

""Focus on your strengths rather than getting caught up in perceived gaps or doubts. Embrace the diversity in your team, just as we’ve done at Gold H2, where 50 percent of our team is female and 80 percent are visible minorities. Diversity brings strength ... Trust yourself, and don’t be afraid to shape your journey in both your career and personal life."

–Prabhdeep Sekhon, CEO of Gold H2, minority-owned business finalist

"Surround yourself with two types of people: the lovers and the fighters. First, surround yourself with people that love you and believe in your vision–they'll be the ones who pick you up when your spirit takes a beating and you feel like giving up. Second, surround yourself with those who you can categorically trust to fight to the bitter end-when life happens, they'll be the ones running the ship andkeeping the dream alive while you sort things out. These will almost never be the same people, so you have to find both."

-Tatiana Fofanova, CEO of Koda Health, female-founded business finalist

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