D3D (Display in 3 Dimensions) is a collection of visualization tools based on the University of Wisconsin's Vis5D software and modified by the NOAA Forecast System Laboratory (FSL) to be compatible with the standard National Weather Service (NWS) Advanced Weather Information Processing System (AWIPS) that is found in every NWS Weather Forecast Office (WFO). The current D3D package uses the standard model grids found in AWIPS and can run adequately on a fairly basic LINUX PC, independent of the D2D (Display 2 Dimensions) software that forms the main component of AWIPS.

The D3D software is fully contained, with some case examples, on a single CD, and FSL has been distributing copies of D3D for experimental use and evaluation since 2000. Surges of distribution have followed NWS training visits to Boulder (FSL and/or to COMET), as well as at the AMS Annual meetings (in association with presentations at previous IIPS Conferences), with the result that currently over 50 WFOs have a copy of the software, as well as many other users (the software may also be downloaded from our D3D website). In this talk we will update the current state of D3D distribution, and give a status report on how (or if) the various sites are using D3D. We will discuss some of the apparent limitations to using D3D by operational forecasters, and, based on feedback with users, indicate ideas for how D3D may acheive more widespread use and evaluation. These ideas include potential training on D3D use through examples on our D3D webpage, and we will show a few such examples. A companion paper will examine the steps needed to get official installation of D3D on the new AWIPS LINUX machines now at every office.