DSOC · Services

Where practical, timely solutions are developed

DSOC provides preparedness and weather decision support for daily operations and events of all sizes, and can mobilize for critical events and disasters as part of an incident management team, remotely or on-site.

SVC-01 · Event support

Planning and decision support for events

From campus gamedays to national-stage events, DSOC builds the weather and preparedness picture organizers need before gates open, and staffs the watch while crowds are on site.

Our students and staff have supported the Obama Presidential Center, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the Shamrock Shuffle, the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC, NASCAR races, FIFA, the World Culture Festival, the Special Olympics USA Games, and so much more.

DSOC operators monitoring conditions during a supported event
Event watch · Intelligence Operations Unit
Two students watching a mammatus-filled sky from the CHAOS observation deck beside the satellite dish
CHAOS observation deck · eyes on the sky

SVC-02 · Meteorological services

Customized weather forecasting and monitoring

Hyperlocal forecasts, real-time monitoring, and plain-language briefings tuned to your operation, not a generic feed, not an app. DSOC works alongside the University Meteorologist and the WKU Meteorology Program to keep a trained eye on your sky.

When conditions turn, you get a person and a recommendation, not just an alert or a social media post.

SVC-03 · Disaster response

Operational support for disaster response

DSOC integrates with incident management teams for all-hazards response, monitoring, communications, and decision support, remote or deployed. We interface daily with Police, Fire, EMS, and Emergency Management.

This center worked its first tornado before its own room was finished. Response is not a hypothetical here.

Tornado damage in Bowling Green on December 11, 2021: downed power poles and debris across a city street
December 11, 2021 · Bowling Green

SVC-04 · Research

Applied research and data analytics

DSOC gathers and analyzes critical data, using advanced tools including artificial intelligence, to help partners solve current problems and anticipate future challenges.

Research moves to operations here: the same hazard maps and flood trackers our students build in the AI Research Lab (AIR) go live for decision-makers.

SVC-05 · Educational outreach

Programs for public safety and preparedness

We are educators. DSOC develops and delivers customized training to raise the bar for organizational readiness, from credentialed meteorology workshops to all-hazards preparedness programs for schools, agencies, and industry.

Outreach extends the classroom: more than 500 students a year, most of them non-majors, pass through our CHAOS lab.

Services · WKU event portfolio

Serving the Hill

The campus operations and events DSOC supports at Western Kentucky University.

  • WKU Division 1 Athletics
  • WKU Campus Events · concerts, parades, graduations, speaker events, hosted external events
  • Concert support · Cage The Elephant, D.J. Diesel (Shaquille O'Neal), Flo Rida, Blanco Brown, Jordan Davis
  • WKU Facilities
  • Academic Affairs · campus closures and delays due to inclement weather
  • WKU Office of the President
  • WKU Police
  • WKU construction events and building dedications

Start the conversation

Tell us what you're preparing for

Every engagement starts with your operation, your venue, and your risks. Reach the directors directly, and we'll scope the support that fits.

Email DSOC@wku.edu