Why Users Are So Satisfied with Soratena Pro

In recent years, increasingly severe weather-related disasters and mandatory heatstroke prevention measures introduced following regulatory amendments have made accurate, site-specific weather information more important at construction sites.

Soratena Pro, a high-performance weather IoT sensor developed by Weathernews, is rapidly gaining adoption as a tool for supporting on-site safety and construction schedule management.

Soratena Pro recently received the “NETIS-VE” designation following a post-implementation evaluation under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s New Technology Information System (NETIS). This designation is awarded to technologies whose effectiveness has been sufficiently demonstrated through use at construction sites.

This article explores where Soratena Pro is being used, why users are so satisfied with it, and how its latest feature makes it even more practical for on-site operations.

Growing Adoption in Response to Increasingly Severe Weather Disasters

As climate change progresses, the risks posed by weather-related disasters, including localized torrential rain and sudden strong winds, continue to increase. At construction sites, work must be suspended when rain or wind becomes too strong. Accurate weather information is essential for safety management, particularly during crane operations and work at heights.

Amendments to the Ordinance on Industrial Safety and Health have also increased demand for detailed, site-specific monitoring of wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT), temperature, and humidity.¹ By installing Soratena Pro, users can obtain accurate observations of local weather conditions and heatstroke risks in real time, with data updated every minute.

Integrating the sensor with Weathernews for business, Weathernews’ comprehensive weather service for businesses, allows users to view Soratena Pro’s on-site observations overlaid with Weathernews’ highly accurate forecast data. Users can understand current conditions and anticipate weather changes several hours ahead, making it easier to determine whether work can proceed safely and optimize construction schedules.

Many companies are already adopting Soratena Pro as a solution that supports both safety management and operational efficiency.

For example, at a Shimizu Corporation office building construction site, real-time weather data is continuously displayed on a large screen in the site office. This enables managers to remotely instruct site supervisors to arrange appropriate breaks or suspend crane operations when necessary. Taitorec Co., Ltd. has also successfully helped prevent heatstroke during large-scale construction projects by combining AI cameras with Soratena Pro’s WBGT alerts to objectively monitor workers’ physical condition.

Other companies have shared positive feedback, including:

･ More affordable and accurate than competing products. ･ Easy to use, with the built-in SIM providing connectivity simply by connecting the sensor to power. ･ Useful for factory management, not only for monitoring rainfall but also for tracking WBGT.

These comments reflect the high level of satisfaction reported by companies after introducing Soratena Pro.

Recognized as a NETIS-VE Technology Supporting Safety at Construction Sites

NETIS, operated by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, promotes the adoption of innovative technologies developed by private companies in public works projects. For construction companies, using NETIS-registered technologies can offer advantages, including additional points in project bidding and construction performance assessments.

Soratena Pro was registered with NETIS in 2024 as a technology that supports on-site safety and construction schedule management through real-time monitoring of site-specific weather conditions and WBGT. It addresses increasingly severe weather events and the need for heatstroke prevention measures.²

All newly registered NETIS technologies receive the “-A” designation, identifying trial-stage technologies whose evaluation is being promoted. Their performance is subsequently assessed through a rigorous post-implementation evaluation based on records of actual use at construction sites and questionnaire surveys. The evaluation examines improvements in areas such as safety, constructability, and cost compared with conventional technologies.

Soratena Pro has now received the “-VE” designation, which is awarded only to technologies whose effectiveness has been demonstrated in the field and for which no further follow-up surveys are required.

This designation provides public recognition that Soratena Pro is being used at numerous construction sites and is making a practical contribution to safety and operational efficiency under demanding working conditions.

New Digital Signage Feature: Greater Convenience Through Flexible Customization

To make Soratena Pro even more convenient to use on-site, Weathernews has released a new feature that allows users to create dedicated display pages for digital signage.

This long-awaited feature brings on-site weather information directly to large monitors installed in morning briefing areas, site offices, and temporary office entrances.³

Previously, users had to log in with an ID and password on a computer or smartphone to view observation data. Many companies, however, had requested a way to display the information continuously on a large monitor so that all workers could check conditions at a glance.

With the new feature, users can continuously display observation data without ID or password authentication simply by opening a display URL generated through the dedicated management interface.⁴

The feature’s greatest strength is its flexibility. Users can select only the information they need and freely rearrange it to suit each site’s activities and installation environment. Available display items include average wind speed, maximum instantaneous wind speed, temperature, humidity, rainfall, illuminance, atmospheric pressure, and WBGT.

For example, a site seeking to prevent crane accidents caused by strong winds can display wind-related indicators in larger panels. During summer, users can switch to a simpler layout focused on WBGT and temperature to help prevent heatstroke. The display can be tailored to the work being performed.

The display automatically adapts to different screen aspect ratios, including widescreen monitors and portrait-oriented digital signage installed outdoors or on temporary scaffolding. This enables clear, streamlined information sharing even where space is limited.

When wind speed or WBGT exceeds a preset threshold, the corresponding panel turns red or orange. These color changes help workers recognize risk levels intuitively, even from a distance. Without having to read each numerical value, everyone on-site can immediately identify the risks that require attention.

This enables teams to alert workers and decide whether to suspend operations much more quickly as conditions become hazardous, making the feature a powerful tool for strengthening safety awareness across the site.

With NETIS-VE recognition backed by firsthand feedback from companies using the sensor, and a digital signage feature that makes daily safety information sharing smoother, Soratena Pro will continue to support safer working environments and greater operational efficiency at construction sites.

▼ For more information about Soratena Pro, the high-performance weather IoT sensor, or to make an inquiry, visit: https://wxtech.weathernews.com/en/products/soratena/