Ari Davidov on data-as-a-service, operational integration, and building mission-ready weather infrastructure

As weather agencies and national forecasting organizations face growing pressure to improve forecasting accuracy, increase resilience, and modernize operational systems, access to high-quality satellite data is becoming increasingly important.

But for most agencies, the challenge is no longer simply getting the data.

The real challenge is integrating that data effectively into operational workflows, forecasting systems, and decision-making infrastructure.

In a recent webinar on Tomorrow.io’s Microwave Sounder Constellation, Ari Davidov, Director of International Government Development at Tomorrow.io, outlined how the company works with agencies around the world to move from raw satellite observations to fully operational weather intelligence capabilities.

Beyond Data Delivery

Ari began by emphasizing that Tomorrow.io’s approach goes beyond simply providing datasets.

Instead, the company delivers a combination of:

• Satellite data access
• Technical integration support
• Mission-specific operational capabilities

At the core of this offering is Tomorrow.io’s Data-as-a-Service model, which provides agencies with access to both calibrated satellite observations and higher-level atmospheric retrieval products.

These datasets are typically delivered through bulk file transfer using globally accepted formats designed for operational forecasting pipelines and production systems.

For many agencies, this becomes the starting point for evaluating how the data fits into existing operational workflows.

But according to Ari, operational success depends on much more than access alone.

Supporting Operational Integration

A major focus of the presentation was technical enablement — helping agencies integrate satellite observations into their existing forecasting and data assimilation systems.

Tomorrow.io works directly with agency teams on:

• Data assimilation workflows
• System optimization
• Integration into operational pipelines
• Technical onboarding and support

Ari clarified that agencies continue operating their own forecasting systems. Tomorrow.io’s role is to help organizations maximize the value they can extract from the satellite data itself.

This becomes particularly important as forecasting systems grow more complex and increasingly rely on large volumes of real-time observations.

Flexible Models for Different Agency Needs

One of the key themes throughout Ari’s presentation was flexibility.

Different organizations use weather data differently. Some agencies require low-latency operational forecasting support, while others focus more heavily on research, validation, or scientific development.

As a result, Tomorrow.io structures engagements around each agency’s mission requirements, including:

• Operational forecasting needs
• Research applications
• Geographic coverage
• Data volume
• Latency requirements
• Collaboration scope
• Integration support

Some agencies engage purely through data access agreements, while others pursue deeper technical collaboration and operational integration.

Licensing is also tailored depending on how broadly the data will be used — whether within a single organization, across multiple agencies, or in collaboration with research partners.

The goal, Ari explained, is to balance accessibility with long-term sustainability of the broader weather data ecosystem.

Supporting the Research Community

Ari also addressed a common question from the research community: what options exist for individual researchers without direct funding?

Tomorrow.io’s primary model is designed around national agencies and funded institutional programs, which allows data access to scale more sustainably across the scientific community.

In some cases, particularly for high-impact validation work, the company may support direct researcher access. But in general, the preferred pathway is through coordinated institutional partnerships and larger scientific programs.

This structure helps broaden access while supporting long-term operational sustainability.

From Data Products to Managed Services

Toward the end of the session, Ari introduced a major direction for the future: adding a managed service layer on top of the underlying satellite data.

This moves beyond delivering datasets alone and introduces:

• Policy-driven secure access
• Built-in compliance controls
• Mission-aware system integration
• Managed operational infrastructure
• Defined performance standards for latency and uptime

The goal is to provide agencies not just with weather observations, but with a controlled, mission-ready operational capability tailored to their environment.

According to Ari, this represents a broader shift from simply distributing satellite data toward delivering fully integrated operational weather infrastructure.

Scaling from Evaluation to Operations

Ari closed by outlining the typical agency engagement process.

Organizations generally begin with onboarding and predefined data access. From there, agencies move into evaluation and validation phases, measuring forecast impact and testing integration into their systems.

Once validated, those capabilities can then scale into full operational deployment.

Throughout the process, Tomorrow.io provides technical support, integration expertise, and collaboration designed to help agencies operationalize satellite observations more effectively.

As weather forecasting systems continue evolving, Ari’s presentation highlighted an increasingly important industry trend: the future of weather intelligence is not just about having more data — it is about turning that data into operational capability.

Reach out to [email protected] to learn more.