To enhance Macao’s capabilities to monitor and forecast meteorological disasters and to promote the application of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in meteorological disaster management, Yonghua Song, rector of the University of Macau (UM), and Leong Weng Kun, director of the Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau (SMG) of the Macao SAR Government, signed a framework agreement on cooperation between UM and SMG. The two parties hope to utilise UM’s State Key Laboratory of Internet of Things for Smart City as a platform to leverage their respective strengths in weather forecasting, early warning systems, urban public safety and disaster prevention, as well as to jointly provide technological support to develop Macao into a smart and resilient city.
According to the agreement, UM and SMG will collaborate in various areas, including monitoring and forecasting storm surges, tsunamis, and weather conditions, as well as the application of AI and machine learning technologies. They will also focus on research and development of operational forecast systems, risk assessment of disasters, instruments and equipment used in meteorological monitoring, as well as personnel exchange. The two parties will also actively share different types of monitoring and forecasting information. The agreement signing ceremony was held at UM, followed by an exchange session where both parties explored the first phase of cooperation.