The validation of satelite-based wind speed maps to in-situ data record

Recently, wind-induced damages related to structure have been concerning in the community. Meanwhile, the problem rises among the structural designers because the wind speed information is scarce in some places. The satellite-based wind speed information over the sea could be found from the public domain. However the data from satellite-based is necessary to validate first. The main objective of this study is to validate the satellitebased wind speed maps to in-situ data records. The specific objectives are as follows; to obtain in-situ wind speed data from Malaysia Meteorology Department (MMD) and satellite-based wind speed from public domain, to analyse the satellite-based wind speed data at in-situ wind speed station, to compare the analysed satellite-based wind speed data with the correspond in-situ wind speed value. Data collected from both resources were tabulate based on the highest wind speed value in six consecutive days. Wind speed data from the satellite were analysed based on topography effect according to Malaysian standard MS 1553: 2002 and terrain category. The topography information had been obtained from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data product. The analysed satellite-based wind speed data were compared with correspond in-situ wind speed value. The value estimated from satellite-based and in-situ wind speed data show a very good agreement (correlation coefficient of - 4.9, 0.92, -0.17 and 1.01, for; Sultan Ahmad Shah Airport, Sultan Mahmud Airport, Sultan Ismail Petra Airport and Mersing Airport respectively) the regression line fitted through the origin has a slope of 0.787, 0.999, 0.9956 and 0.99. Therefore, wind speed data from the satellite is reliable when the topography information is available