Farnek first FM to offer smart weather forecasts to building managers

Sustainability leader and innovative smart FM company Farnek, is the first facility manager to partner with hyper-local weather forecasting services provider, ArabiaWeather, to increase its efficiency and redirect resources across its FM projects to adapt to weather conditions.

ArabiaWeather’s value-adding system LandWatch, applies unique formulas and algorithms to generate accurate and hyper-local forecasts on developing weather patterns at any location globally. By using a dashboard to access the data captured and processed by LandWatch, teams at Farnek will be trained to monitor conditions in certain areas on a daily basis and advise both building owners and management, of the best time to schedule work. Markus Oberlin CEO Farnek, said: “Primarily LandWatch allows us to make informed business decisions when confronted with adverse weather. Many FM professionals are well aware of the havoc that random and isolated weather conditions can have on building maintenance and cleaning schedules. This is often compounded by just how changeable and localised weather can be. Hyper-local forecasting is very important when forecasting weather for example, one area can differ significantly compared with the adjacent area, hour by hour. The ability to monitor hyper-local weather around specific areas, creates a win-win situation for both FM companies and building managers.” With access to advanced meteorological data, meteorologists at ArabiaWeather will alert Farnek before, during and after severe weather events. LandWatch can indicate when to re-commence work as soon as the poor conditions pass rather than simply postponing until the next suitable day. On clear days, changes in wind speed and, humidity can all be monitored using the software. Armed with this knowledge, Farnek will now be the first FM company in the region, able to schedule weather-sensitive work such as façade and window cleaning, around adverse conditions, boosting efficiency as well as cutting costs for building owners. It would also avoid inconveniencing residents, tenants and members of the public using the building. “And it is not just exterior work where building owners will profit. If a sandstorm is forecast, one major advantage is that the fresh air intake of roof top HVAC units can be closed and switched to recycle existing air throughout the building until the storm has passed. “This protects the filters and reduces the amount of sand and dust not only in the A/C unit itself but also getting into the building. This preserves indoor air quality and keeps the A/C working efficiently, presenting significant savings to building owners,” added Oberlin. Mohammed Al-Shaker CEO ArabiaWeather, said: “Weather conditions can change significantly between areas, therefore, timely and accurate information is very important in the weather forecasting industry and only precise forecasts can accurately detail these changes. “LandWatch weather data is assessed by a team of meteorologists to give its users accurate and relevant information in real time.”