(Web based) tools for the forecaster Kees Lemcke EGOWS 2008

Content Web based tools –Web portal to existing meteo data –Web based Product Editor –Experiment Magics++ and Web Mapping Server 3D-visualization State of project ‘Replacement MWS’

Content Web based tools –Web portal to existing meteo data –Web Product Editor –Experiment Magics++ and Web Mapping Server 3D-visualization State of project ‘Replacement MWS’

Portal to existing meteo Based on links to existing URL’s Version 1 showed last EGOWS: –Offline creation of site from database –Main menu with 9 items –Each main menu item divided in 3 sub levels –Pull down menus for sub levels

Portal to existing meteo Version 1 showed last EGOWS:

Portal to existing meteo September 2007: start introduction First: not much response, users stuck with old portal (plain compact html) Later on: complaints about too many mouse clicks  Version 2

Portal to existing meteo Version 2: –More main menu items and menu icons –Not more than 2 sub levels –Vertical menu moved to the left side

Portal to existing meteo

However, no acceptance of version 2: –Still too many mouse clicks –Pull down menu : get rid of it! –Forecasters asked for ‘Expand & Collapse menu’

Portal to existing meteo Version 3: –Re-use of database –Direct database access in stead of Off-line-generation –Expand/Collapse vertical menu Extra: –Several layout options (style sheets) –Search function –2 options for animation-control –Option for ‘Geographical menu’ –Cookies for Last used menu State of expand/collapse Last used style Last used animation-control ACCEPTED !!

Portal to existing meteo Short D-tour: –3 styles –2 animation controls –Geographical menu

Horizontal main menu

Default main menu

Vertical main menu

Animation : move mouse over forecast items or Play Method ‘borrowed’ from FMI

Animation : use buttons

Text in blue: OPERational product Text in gray: EXPERimental product Also visible in main menu

Text in blue: OPERational product Text in gray: EXPERimental product Also visible in main menu

Graphical sub menu Netherlands

Graphical sub menu North sea

Graphical sub menu Europe

Portal to existing meteo MySql database with tables for –Mainmenu –Submenu level 1 –Submenu level 2 –Records in these tables refer to a product_group –A product_group contains product_numbers (and for geo-menu also map,x,y) –Product_numbers contains for each product the URL animation_type OPER or EXPER menu_text

Main menu table Group table Products table

sub menu level 1 table Main menu table

Content Web based tools –Web portal to existing meteo data –Web Product Editor –Experiment Magics++ and Web Mapping Server 3D-visualization State of project ‘Replacement MWS’

Web based Product Editor Commercial Web based Toolkit: IBM Lotus Forms 3-week pilot project in June 2007 Pilot successful  project started  work in progress  to be finnished early 2009

Web based Product Editor Currently 3 old systems in use: –Aeronautical –Marine –General To be replaced by 1 new system

Web based Product Editor Forecaster has to –log on –Select a shift dependent ‘TO DO’ list. For most tasks (products) a pre-defined form has to be used –Pre-filled fields from model output, editable –Empty fields, must be edit Each task has properties: –Type : default, CORrection etc. –State: to do, sent, concept, in use etc. –Possible action: amend, cancel, send etc.

Web based Product Editor Example TAF form

Web based Product Editor Each form has to be created with the IBM Lotus Form toolkit, API to data sources –Standard: spell checker (multiple languages) drag & drop –Dedicated: data within meteorological range check hyperlink to relevant productgroup in Meteo Portal List of all weather warnings visible on each page

Content Web based tools –Web portal to existing meteo data –Web Product Editor –Experiment Magics++ and Web Mapping Server 3D-visualization State of project ‘Replacement MWS’

Experiment Magics++ and Web Mapping Server Goal: –What can be done at KNMI within a few weeks with existing meteo data Magics++ Web Mapping server New for KNMI, but similar things are done before by e.g. by Norway with data from DIANA Developer: Ernst de Vreede, KNMI

Experiment Magics++ and Web Mapping Server First results very encouraging ! Performance reasonable Cinesat Satelite Data as layer

Experiment Magics++ and Web Mapping Server Further plans: –More meteo while zooming in –Filled contouring –Radar –More background maps –Data from XML/BUFR files –Open layers draw facilities –Animation? –Performance test, e.g. quad core system –Magics++ as service permanent active?

Content Web based tools –Web portal to existing meteo data –Web Product Editor –Experiment Magics++ and Web Mapping Server 3D-visualization State of project ‘Replacement MWS’

3D-visualization Part of severe weather program Tool to explore output new meso scale models (2010) Pilot with tool VGEO not successful: –Difficult to arrange input data –Interface not user friendly

3D-visualization Next: –Working together with ‘Visualisation and Virtual Reality’ department of the Technical University of Delft –As soon as both parties agree on the financial chapter we will start (summer 2008)

Content Web based tools –Web portal to existing meteo data –Web Product Editor –Experiment Magics++ and Web Mapping Server 3D-visualization State of project ‘Replacement MWS’

Sep 2006 –KNMI and Department of Defense both like to go for a new MWS Feb 2007 –specification document finished Mar 2007 –General steering group KNMI/Defense proposes to research the possibilities for a web based MWS, to be performed by a partner of the Department of Defense. Jun 200 8…

State of project ‘Replacement MWS’ Jun 2008 –Restart of project with : Brainstorm about future way of working: –Use of 3D by forecaster –Automated first guess –More use of GIS –Etc Update specifications

Thank you