This paper describes the design, implementation and usage of HRD’s application for the real-time storage, graphical quality control and analysis of hurricane surface wind observations, HWIND. Unlike its filesystem based predecessor, WANDA, the front end and the database interface for this system are portable across various architectures and accessible over Intranet/Internet connections. Furthermore, the use of a database management system also facilitates the use of this application for research purposes. The project employed an Object Oriented iterative development method from beginning to end and its implementation primarily features the Java programming language.
An HWIND quality control or "QCClient" session consists of fetching and selecting desired observation platform types (Air Force/NOAA Aircraft, CMAN, Metar, Buoys, Satellites, etc…) to be viewed from the database and determining a storm track based time window for viewing the data. All observations of the selected types are then plotted in a storm relative view for the chosen time window and geography is positioned for the storm-center time about which an objective analysis can be performed. Users then make decisions about data validity through visual nearest-neighbor comparison and inspection and suggestions from the QCClient’s built in validation system. The quality controlled data set or "QCSet" is then committed to the database relating edited observations and storm track fixes with their original values. A user can trigger a run of an objective analysis of any QCSet, real-time or historical, from the QCClient. The analysis programs reside on a UNIX server and are made accessible to the client across the network through the use of an object request broker (a CORBA ORB). Analysis results are stored in the database, as well, where they are then made available to routines for generating graphical products and gridded products based on the wind field.