Welcome to TOA Systems Inc.

USPLN- United States Precision Lightning Network

TOA Systems, Inc. (TOA) is a uniquely capable manufacturer of integrated lightning location and lightning hazard warning systems. Our time-of-arrival based Lightning Location System (LLS) technology has been proven in operational networks in the U.S.A., Canada, Brazil, Columbia, South Africa, Israel, Spain, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Sweden, Japan, Indonesia, Korea, and Australia. This technology, with the latest enhancements, forms the basis for ALPS™, the Advanced Lightning Positioning System. The power, flexibility and expandability of ALPS™ are unprecedented, and TOA are now revolutionizing the complex thunderstorm monitoring and forecasting tasks faced by government and industry worldwide.

	The senior staff members of TOA are the very same individuals, who in 1983 developed, patented and marketed the first time-of-arrival technology Lightning Location Systems. TOA’s founder and CEO is Dr. Rodney B. Bent. He is recognized as the men who pioneered the development of Time-of-Arrival technology for use in lightning location applications. The equipment was the first to be installed across the USA in order to establish a national lightning detection network. The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) subsequently awarded a contract to acquire the data from this network. That lightning location system, became known locally as LPATS, for Lightning Position & Tracking System.

The company also manufactures an Advanced Lightning Warning System (ALWS™) which is based on a proprietary Electric Field Mill (EFM) technology, again pioneered by TOA’s founders. In fact, lightning warning systems, using this basic design, are currently installed and operational at the airports in Miami, Orlando, Phoenix, Jacksonville, Tampa, Pittsburgh, Denver, Charlotte, Indianapolis, Dallas and a number of military facilities. An updated version of this field mill sensor is used to forecast lightning risk at several International Airports. TOA Systems, Inc. carries this technological mission forward—proprietary time-of-arrival techniques are being applied to the development of the Advanced Lightning Positioning System (ALPS™) next generation precision lightning location system, a system that takes fullest advantage of the current state-of-the-art in signal and data processing and GPS timing techniques. We are focused on bringing higher performance, lower cost LLS solutions to the market, and to radically reducing Life Cycle Costs by utilizing Off-the-Shelf (OTS) technologies wherever possible. Integration of a planned series of modular sensing and processing enhancements will assure that ALPS™ performance will define the state-of-the-art in LLS technology for the years to come.

Reference Installations US Lightning Detection Network (USPLN) The 106-sensor USPLN was installed during the summer of 2004 and was operationally commissioned in September of that year. The USPLN is owned and operated by TOA. In 2007, TOA established a strategic global alliance with Weather Services International (www.wsi.com) aimed at further exploiting of TOA’s unique LDN capabilities. Australian National Network For the past 5 years, TOA personnel have supported TOA’s sister company in Australia, Global Position & Tracking Systems, Pty Ltd. (GPATS) in the operation and maintenance of the Australian National Lightning Network. The founder and Governing Director of GPATS is Dr. Rodney B. Bent who is also the founder of TOA Systems, Inc. Dr. Bent and TOA Systems, Inc. are the majority shareholders in GPATS and therefore control its technology and development. Twenty-five Time-of Arrival sensors are located at Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) observation sites and the network data is used by the BOM in its forecasting operations. The Network is currently being expanded and will use around 50 *PLS™ sensors. Brunei Met Office / Department of Civil Aviation Network* TOA has delivered a 5 *PLS™ Sensor Network including ASP™, ASMS™, MIDS™ and MIDSnet™ subsystems to BMO/DCA, which was installed and operationally commissioned in the Autumn of 2004. The Brunei network consists of the latest generation PLS™ sensors and is used by the BMO/DCA to support severe weather forecasting for aviation, the national electric power authority and of course public safety. Korean Electric Power Company (KEPCO) Network* In December 2004, KEPCO awarded a contract to TOA (after a competitive bid which included Vaisala) for the installation of an *ALPS™ lightning location system which will be used to provide real-time lightning detection and mapping in support of the company's national electric power grid. Canada / Pelmorex National LDN* In 2007 TOA installed the first 20 of a planned 55 sensor which will make up the first commercially operate LDN in Canada. Pelmorex is the largest private commercial weather service in Canada. Full build-out of the Network took place in the spring of 2008. GREECE / National LDN In mid 2007, TOA was awarded a contract to supply and install an 8 sensor LDN to be owned and operated by the Hellenic National Meteorological Service (HNMS). Installation of the network took place in the first quarter of 2008.