Extended Abstract (224K)9B.9
Challenges of Displaying Dynamic Weather Content in Interactive Mapping Solutions
Scott Ganson, Weather Decision Techologies, Norman, OK; and J. T. Johnson
Interactive mapping solutions have become very popular tools for many uses on the Internet in recent years. The idea of combining various data with the mapping solutions has created a “buzz” in the Internet world as developers create new views of their's and other people's information. This concept of a “mashup” is to use base mapping solutions such as Google Earth, Google Maps, Microsoft's Virtual Earth, e.g., and add layers of content from various sources. Weather data are natural datasets to combine with relevant location information. However, this combination doesn't come without challenges. Much of the weather information that weather enthusiasts have sought for years on the Internet has been in text or simple image formats. However, to create weather content for the interactive mapping world that is both dynamic and intriguing, the data often needs to have both high temporal and spatial resolution. So the first challenge we must overcome is how to overcome large amounts of data transfer. Most of the mapping platforms have begun to open their infrastructure with API's, however, these API's do not yet offer the capability of displaying highly dynamic and voluminous content. The other main challenge is overcoming typically “clunky” meteorological formats and placing them in a format that can be quickly transferred without sacrificing data quality. This paper will present the challenges and limitations of working within some of these interactive mapping solutions to display weather data and will show some of the solutions that we have developed.
Session 9B, Virtual Globe (Continued)
Thursday, 24 January 2008, 3:30 PM-5:30 PM, 207
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