In recent decades, growing concerns over climate change and the scarcity of natural resources have led to increased research to mitigate risks and raise awareness of related challenges. Environmental and meteorological factors have also become crucial for private industries and policymakers.

With this in mind, Dr. Nasser Al-Azri, from the College of Engineering, has conducted a study to establish a repository of meteorological, radiation, and air quality data in the Sultanate of Oman. This repository will compile data from both local and international databases, as well as verified satellite imagery, using field measurements. The processed data will also be used to develop typical annual climate datasets, which can be utilised in energy consumption simulations.

The study further aims to create automated tools for data quality verification and optimisation and develop data files for widely used energy simulation systems. In addition, it seeks to lay the groundwork for an electronic data repository that can support environmental, energy, and infrastructure research while contributing to national sustainability goals.

Contributors to this research project highlight the critical role of meteorological and radiation data in climate studies, renewable energy research, urban planning, and public health. Such data help track temperature, humidity, wind direction, and solar radiation, aiding in climate change monitoring, extreme weather forecasting, and energy optimisation.

The significance of these datasets is particularly evident in feasibility studies for solar and wind power plants, where meteorological and radiation data are essential. Energy-efficient buildings also rely on such data for designing ventilation and insulation systems, while pollution and air quality assessments depend on wind speed and atmospheric conditions. Furthermore, rainfall and temperature trends play a key role in irrigation and agricultural planning.

Preliminary surveys indicate that meteorological data, such as temperature, humidity, cloud cover, and wind speed and direction, are available for key locations across the Sultanate of Oman. However, ground-based radiation data is almost non-existent, except for a few monitored sites. Therefore, satellite data is being used to develop modelled climate datasets. Moreover, an advanced algorithm has been developed to verify data quality and detect inconsistencies and unusual patterns.

In this regard, Oman Vision 2040 sets ambitious targets for increasing renewable energy production and achieving an advanced environmental ranking. Attaining these goals requires reliable meteorological data, which is vital for ensuring sustainability in industry, environmental management, and policymaking.