Victoria

Introduction
Weather Information Used To Make Decisions
How Weather Information Is Used
Meeting Information Requirements
Timeliness Of Weather Information Availability
Frequency Of Weather Information Updates
Frequency Of Access Of Weather Information
Timeliness Of Weather Information
Hour Of Day Weather Information Is Accessed
Perception Of Accuracy Of Forecasts
Level Of Forecast Accuracy Over Time
Media Used To Access Weather Information
Overall Satisfaction With Bureau Of Meteorology

Introduction

The information presented here comes from the results of an online user survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (hereafter the 'Bureau') in February 2005. The aim of the survey was to investigate what types of weather information members of the public use to assist them in making weather-dependent decisions, and how they access this information. The survey also examines the Bureau's performance in meeting the weather information requirements of the Australian public, considering aspects such as the accuracy, timeliness and usefulness of weather services.

It is important for the Bureau to have an understanding of how people access and use weather information and services, and to know what they think of the accuracy, timeliness and usefulness of weather services. This information assists the Bureau with future planning of products and services, and is also used in regular reports to the Australian government.

Weather Information Used To Make Decisions

Reference: question 1

In making decisions based on or influenced by the weather, most survey respondents indicated that in the past month they had sought information about rain and maximum temperature.

Figure 1 shows a comparison of weather elements of interest to Victorian survey respondents.

How Weather Information Is Used

Reference: question 2

Survey respondents were asked if they used weather information for personal use or for work use. Most Victorian respondents indicated personal use (92%), however a significant number also indicated that they used weather information for work (27%). Industries in which weather information was used included construction, agriculture and concreting.

Meeting Information Requirements

Reference: question 3

In Victoria, 72% of respondents said that their weather information requirements were met regularly, 22% said their requirements were met sometimes and 5% of respondents said that their requirements were not met. Refer to Figure 2.

Timeliness Of Weather Information Availability

Reference: question 4

Respondents were asked how far ahead of making a weather dependent decision they would like weather information to be available.

In Victoria,

• 21% of respondents indicated that they would like information 5 - 7 days ahead
• 17% indicated 1 - 2 days ahead
• 17% indicated 3 - 4 days ahead
• 14% indicated 12 - 24 hours ahead
• 10% indicated 1- 3 hours ahead
• 9% indicated 3 - 12 hours ahead
• 6% indicated more than 8 days ahead
• 6% of respondents indicated that they would like information less than 1 hour ahead

Frequency Of Weather Information Updates

Reference: question 5

Respondents were asked how often they would like weather information updated. Responses included:

• Daily/every 24 hours/once a day
• Twice a day
• Hourly
• Every few hours/every 3-4 hours
• Three times a day
• Morning & evening
• As frequently as possible
• Every 6 hours
• Each evening
• Happy with current arrangements
• More frequently when unusual conditions
• Every 2 hours

Frequency Of Access Of Weather Information

Reference: question 6

Respondents were asked how frequently they accessed or received weather information when making a weather dependent decision. In Victoria, 40% of respondents said that they accessed weather information more than once per day, and 28% said that they accessed information daily when making a weather dependent decision.

Figure 3 shows the responses graphically.

Timeliness Of Weather Information Availability

Reference: question 7

Respondents were asked if the weather information sought was available in time to meet their needs.

In Victoria,

• 90% of respondents indicated that weather information was available in time for them to make a decision either always, or most of the time
• 5% indicated that it was available in time as often as not
• 2% indicated that it was not available in time often enough
• 1% indicated that it was never available in time

Hour Of Day Weather Information Is Accessed

Reference: question 8

In Victoria, the time when weather information was most likely to be accessed was the 8:00 - 11:59am timeslot (20%), however 41% of respondents said that they accessed weather information at "no particular time".

Figure 4 shows the distribution of the time of day that weather information was accessed.

Perception Of Accuracy Of Forecasts

Reference: questions 9-16

Respondents were asked to indicate their perception of the accuracy of forecasts of five weather elements - rain, maximum and minimum temperatures, cloud/sunshine and wind - as well as for forecasts and warnings overall, 24 hour forecasts and 2-4 day forecasts, for the past month. They were asked to nominate the accuracy for each forecast type on a scale of 1 to 5, where 1 = always accurate and 5 = always inaccurate.

Figure 5 below shows the perception of forecast accuracy for forecasts and warnings overall, 24 hour, 2-4 day, rainfall, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, cloud/sunshine and wind forecasts.

Victorian survey respondents indicated that in general they perceived forecasts as accurate, however rainfall forecasts were perceived as less accurate than other types of forecasts.

Level Of Forecast Accuracy Over Time

Media Used To Access Weather Information

Reference: question 18

Respondents were asked which media they had used to receive or access weather information in the past month.

In Victoria,

• The Bureau of Meteorology website was used by 96% of respondents
• Free-to-air television was used by 83% of respondents
• ABC Radio was used by 48% of respondents
  
• Other radio was used by 40% of respondents
• Other websites were used by 30% of respondents
• Pay TV was used by 19% of respondents
• SMS was used by 7% of respondents
• Telephone was used by 5% of respondents
• Fax was used by 2% of respondents

Figure 6 below shows the media used to receive or access weather information

Overall Satisfaction With Bureau Of Meteorology

Reference: question 19

Overall satisfaction with the information received from the Bureau showed that 92% of Victorian respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with the service they receive (Figure 7).

Return to the Online User Survey page