ABSTRACT

The Forecast System Lab's (FSL) Display 3-Dimensional workstation application (D3D) for Linux allows forecasters to view model output in a multi-dimensional interactive display. D3D, based on the University of Wisconsin's Vis5D visualization software, supplements Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) 2-D display capabilities available to forecasters. Large volumes of data can be rapidly assimilated with an increased temporal and multi-dimensional understanding of how meteorological processes interact. The FSL posts a detailed project guide at http://d3d.fsl.noaa.gov.

During Spring 2001, the NWS Forecast Office in Gray, Maine worked in cooperation with NWS Eastern Region Headquarters and FSL as a D3D workstation test site. The goal of this project is to determine operational strengths and limitations of the workstation through input from the hydrometeorological staff. Valuable insight from routine and severe weather operations could then be forwarded to FSL as input for future software enhancements and training. To accomplish this goal, forecasters were provided individualized instruction, locally-created job sheets, and access to the D3D User's Guide for training purposes. In addition, a questionnaire, designed to assess information on system performance and the role of 3-D visualization techniques in an operational environment, was completed by forecasters after using D3D in an operational forecast setting.

This presentation will demonstrate D3D capabilities and show findings submitted to FSL for an improved D3D visualization package. The goal to show there is an advantage of a more thorough diagnosis of model forecasts using D3D and D2D in the forecast process. In the future, this technology can be installed NWS-wide as an integral component of the AWIPS.