SIATA

What SIATA does

SIATA (Sistema de Alerta Temprana de Medellín y el Valle de Aburrá) is a non-profit, government-funded regional early warning system established in 2010 and operated under the Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá and the Alcaldía de Medellín, with co-funding from EPM (Empresas Públicas de Medellín) and ISAGEN. The organization integrates more than 12 monitoring networks covering hydrometeorology, air quality, and seismicity across the 10 municipalities of the Valle de Aburrá metropolitan region. Its core technology stack combines C-band weather radar, GOES satellite data, ground-based sensor networks (pluviometric, meteorological, hydrological, soil moisture, seismic), remote sensing (ceilometers, micro rain radar, wind profilers, radiometers), and UAV-based LiDAR/multispectral imaging. Scientific modeling is executed via the WRF (Weather Research and Forecasting) numerical model in six daily configurations, the SHIA hydrological model, and GFS global data integration, all calibrated to the Aburrá Valley's specific topography.

SIATA operates 24/7 from its "Torre SIATA" headquarters and a research and development facility in Medellín. It delivers real-time early warnings to municipal risk management units (UMGRD), emergency response agencies (DAGRD, Firefighters, Civil Defense), environmental authorities (GECA, Área Metropolitana), and vulnerable communities through Community Early Warning Systems (SATC) with 17–21 community alarm installations, plus a citizen-scientist network. Public access is delivered through the siata.gov.co geoportal, iOS and Android mobile applications, and social media channels; official Air Quality Index (ICA) reports cover PM2.5, PM10, ozone, NO2, CO, and SO2 across the network.

SIATA has no commercial revenue model: all services are provided free of charge to the public as a government-funded science and technology project. Its go-to-market is effectively direct government service delivery, with distribution via public web, mobile, social media, and direct alerts to municipal authorities. The customer base is structurally bifurcated between institutional government users (primary) and the general public of the Valle de Aburrá region (secondary). Revenue (i.e., funding) is concentrated in four public entities, and SIATA also engages in scientific research with the Universidad Nacional de Colombia and Universidad de Medellín, presenting annually at the American Geophysical Union.

Name

SIATA

Legal name

Sistema de Alerta Temprana de Medellín y el Valle de Aburrá

Website

https://siata.gov.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SIATA is a non-profit, government-funded regional early warning system in Medellín that monitors and forecasts hydrometeorological, air quality, and seismic hazards across the 10 municipalities of the Valle de Aburrá, serving government agencies and vulnerable communities with free 24/7 real-time alerts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Monitoring and Early Warning Services

NAICS

Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411), Fire Protection (92216)

SIC

Measuring & Controlling Devices, Nec (3829)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Data, Monitoring, Remote Sensing & Early Warning (BPADALAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Emergency Communications, Alerting & Public Warning Systems (HLAJAGAF), Remote Sensing & Earth Observation Analytics (Satellite/UAV/LiDAR, Image Processing) (EUAHAKAD), Environmental Monitoring, Data & Reporting (Air/Water/Soil) (BPAIAMAC)

Keywords

• Environmental monitoring services
• Disaster early warning
• Air quality monitoring
• Hydrometeorological forecasting
• Seismic monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Antioquia

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: SIATA is a public science and technology project funded entirely by government entities. It operates as a free public service. Funding is provided by the Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá, the Municipality of Medellín (Alcaldía de Medellín), EPM (Empresas Públicas de Medellín), and ISAGEN. No commercial revenue model exists.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

SIATA operates a real-time, 24/7 environmental monitoring and early warning platform for the Valle de Aburrá region in Colombia, integrating weather radar, satellite data, ground sensor networks, and calibrated hydrological/meteorological models to issue alerts for floods, flash floods, landslides, extreme weather, seismic events, and air-quality episodes. It delivers these alerts and continuous environmental data to municipal risk-management agencies, emergency responders, vulnerable communities (via community alarms), and the general public through a geoportal and mobile application.

Product overview

SIATA is a comprehensive regional early warning system operated by the Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá and the Alcaldía de Medellín, with support from EPM and ISAGEN. The system consists of multiple integrated components: the Geoportal SIATA as the primary public-facing web platform for real-time data visualization; the mobile application for iOS and Android delivering forecasts and alerts to citizens; an extensive air quality monitoring network with 36 stations; a seismic monitoring network with 26 accelerographic stations; the WRF-based meteorological forecasting system; the SHIA hydrological model for flood prediction; and the Community Early Warning System (SATC) with 17-18 community alarm systems. Together these products provide continuous real-time monitoring, scientific modeling, and community education to protect lives and property from natural hazards in the Valle de Aburrá region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SATC - Sistemas de Alerta Temprana Comunitarios: Community early warning systems that recognize citizens as protagonists of risk management, implemented in vulnerable communities throughout the Valle de Aburrá.

Products and services

• Geoportal SIATA Interactive web-based mapping platform providing real-time visualization of hydrometeorological data, air quality indices, seismic activity, and early warning information for the Valle de Aburrá region. Available free to government agencies, researchers, and the general public.
• Aplicación SIATA (Mobile App) Mobile application for iOS and Android providing real-time access to weather forecasts, air quality data, and early warnings issued by SIATA for residents of the Valle de Aburrá region.
• Red de Monitoreo de Calidad del Aire (Air Quality Monitoring Network) Air quality monitoring network comprising 36 stations measuring pollutants including ozone, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, PM10, and PM2.5, with 22 automatic stations for real-time PM2.5 measurement. Serves as the official air quality monitoring network for the Valle de Aburrá.
• Red Acelerográfica del Valle de Aburrá (Seismic Monitoring Network) Seismic monitoring network consisting of 26 active stations that monitor seismic activity and measure ground acceleration during earthquakes in the Valle de Aburrá region. Includes a microsesmicity monitoring component designed for regional characteristics.
• Sistema de Alerta Temprana Comunitario (SATC) Community-based early warning system initiative empowering at-risk communities through alarm systems, educational programs, and direct communication with SIATA's monitoring infrastructure. As of 2019, 18 community alarms were operational, with a later reference indicating 21 SATC processes with sound alarms.
• Pronóstico Meteorológico WRF Weather forecasting system based on the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) numerical model, executed daily with six different configurations to generate probability-based precipitation forecasts adjusted for the Valle de Aburrá. Forecasts are issued every 6 hours.
• Modelo Hidrológico SHIA Hydrological model for simulating soil moisture, streamflow, and water levels in river basins to generate flood and flash flood alerts for risk management agencies and communities across the Valle de Aburrá.
• Radar Meteorológico C-band weather radar system providing real-time precipitation data, reflectivity measurements at multiple angles (0.5°, 1°, 2°, 4°), and accumulated precipitation data for storm tracking and flash flood prediction across the Valle de Aburrá.
• Reporte ICA (Índice de Calidad del Aire) Daily and weekly Air Quality Index (ICA) reports for PM2.5, PM10, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and noise levels across the Valle de Aburrá monitoring stations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Early warnings generated continuously 24/7 for weather extremes, floods, and air quality events across the Valle de Aburrá
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Área Metropolitana del Valle de AburrácoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá is the governing entity and primary funder of SIATA. SIATA is described as a regional science and technology strategy under the governance of the Área Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá and the Alcaldía de Medellín.
• Alcaldía de MedellíncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Municipality of Medellín, through its mayor's office (Alcaldía), is a co-founding partner and funder of the SIATA project. SIATA is an official strategy of both the Área Metropolitana and the Alcaldía de Medellín.
• EPM (Empresas Públicas de Medellín)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPM (Empresas Públicas de Medellín) is a key financial contributor to SIATA and has a framework agreement (Convenio Marco) with the project. EPM also provides meteorological and hydrological data through its network of stations.
• GECA (Grupo de Gestión de Episodios Críticos de Contaminación Atmosférica)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIATA alerts GECA members about any irregularities observed or forecasted in air quality to enable implementation of contingency measures for critical atmospheric pollution episodes.
• Universidad Nacional de ColombiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Universidad Nacional de Colombia is a key research partner, with joint research affiliations noted in multiple publications from the AGU conference. Multiple SIATA team leaders hold dual affiliations with SIATA and the university.
• Municipal Risk Management Units (UMGRD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal Units for Disaster Risk Management are key partners who receive SIATA alerts and participate in community early warning exchange events. They are essential actors in the regional risk management system.
• Universidad de MedellínminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration partner contributing to SIATA-related scientific research, as noted in joint authorship of research presented at the AGU conference.
• Firefighting Bodies (Cuerpos de Bomberos)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirefighters are partners in community education processes and participate in SATC community early warning programs, contributing to disaster response coordination.
• Civil DefensemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil Defense participates in community education processes and SATC programs, contributing to disaster risk management education alongside SIATA.
• CUIDÁ Environmental CommitteesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCUIDÁ environmental committees of the Área Metropolitana participate in environmental education processes with SIATA, contributing to awareness and community engagement.
• American Geophysical Union (AGU)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSIATA researchers participate annually in AGU conferences to share research findings, establishing international scientific connections and positioning the region's science on a global stage.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AccuWeather: Major commercial weather forecasting and alerting platform with global reach and broad public/private partnerships. Comparable in forecasting and alerting capabilities to SIATA but operates at much larger commercial scale across multiple markets.
• Earth Networks: Operates one of the largest weather and lightning observation networks globally, providing real-time environmental data, forecasting, and alerting services to government, sports, and commercial customers. Functionally comparable to SIATA's meteorological and lightning monitoring capabilities but operates as a commercial entity in multiple regions.
• DTN (Weather-focused division): Major commercial provider of weather, climate, and environmental intelligence for agriculture, energy, and public safety. DTN provides similar forecasting and alerting services to SIATA but operates at scale across multiple industries and regions.

Emerging players

• Meteoblue: Provides high-resolution weather forecasts and climate data for specific regions globally, including hyperlocal models. Comparable to SIATA's WRF-based forecasting capability but operates commercially in multiple geographies.
• Tomorrow.io: Commercial weather intelligence platform using proprietary sensing and AI for hyperlocal forecasting. Comparable to SIATA's meteorological and air quality monitoring focus, though Tomorrow.io is a commercial enterprise with global ambitions.

Direct peers

• IDEAM (Instituto de Hidrología, Meteorología y Estudios Ambientales): Colombia's national environmental authority, responsible for meteorological, hydrological, and environmental monitoring at the national level. IDEAM performs analogous environmental monitoring and alerting functions in Colombia, with overlapping scope and clear potential for mandates to co-evolve.
• Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC): Colombia's national geological service operating the country's seismic monitoring network. SGC's seismic monitoring mandate and accelerator network closely parallel SIATA's Red Acelerográfica, with overlapping coverage in the Medellín and Valle de Aburrá region.
• RIMES (Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System for Africa and Asia): Multi-hazard early warning system for Asia and Africa providing regional and national meteorological and hydrological monitoring. RIMES is a model peer for SIATA's multi-hazard governance and capacity-building approach, with comparable mission and constituency, but different geography.

Regional players

• CEMADEN (Centro Nacional de Monitoramento e Alertas de Desastres Naturais): Brazil's national center for natural disaster monitoring and early warnings, providing real-time alerts for floods, landslides, and other hazards. Operates a similar multi-hazard monitoring and community alerting mission in a different Latin American geography.
• CIMH (Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology): Regional meteorological and hydrological service provider for the Caribbean, conducting research, forecasting, and capacity building. Operates a similar regional public-interest role but in a different geographic basin with similar tropical climate challenges.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/siatamedellin
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKmhvAW5qK5Dun91uK5-UUQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/siatamedellin
• Instagraminstagram.com/siatamedellin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sistema-de-alerta-temprana-siata

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SIATA