A Four-Dimensional Radar Analysis Tool For AWIPS: The “FSI”

12-14 July 2005 – 1st NWS Svr Wx Warning Technology User Meeting Greg Stumpf – CIMMS/MDL

A Four-Dimensional Radar Analysis Tool For AWIPS:The “FSI”

1 CIMMS / University of Oklahoma

2 NWS Meteorological Development Laboratory

3 National Severe Storms Laboratory

4 Forecast Systems Laboratory

5 NWS Systems Engineering Center

Gregory J. Stumpf 1,2

M. Thomas Filiaggi 2

V. Lakshmanan 1,3

William F. Roberts 4

Michael J. Istok 5

Stephan B. Smith 2


To increase warning skill and lead time, and therefore improve public service

3D/4D visualization should allow forecasters to discover new clues and signatures useful in diagnosis of severe and tornadic storms

The FSI project is a multi-agency collaborationNWS: MDL, SECOAR: NSSL, FSLCIMMS / University of Oklahoma

Four-Dimensional Stormcell Investigator (FSI)


Why three (and four) dimensions?

Because the atmosphere is four-dimensional!

Storm researchers have used 3D/4D displays for years to facilitate their understanding of signatures related to severe weather.

How can operational forecasters utilize 3D/4D visualization in an effective, and rapid manner?


The Lemon Technique (1977)

Original storm structure analysis methods presented using vertical cross-sections (RHIs)

RHIs are not possible with WSR-88D


AWIPS users must infer vertical storm structure using 2D representations of radar data.

All Tilts: a series of 2D “horizontal” cross-sectionsBut PPIs are not horizontal – elevation angles are slanted.

Vertical Cross-sectionsNot very easy to useOnly complete during short period at end of volume scanNot dynamic (must re-draw to get new cross-section)

Warning decision making demands quick and rapid assessment of the 3D structure of storms.

AWIPS 3D storm interrogation shortcomings


D3D was designed to display gridded data (e.g., numerical model output) in three-dimensions

Was based on Viz5D technology

Viz5D could not display radar data in its native spherical coordinate system.

Radar data had to be re-mapped to Cartesian spaceLose important information in radial velocity fields

Potential solution:Display Three-Dimensions (D3D)


Potential solution:Four-Dimensional Stormcell

Investigator (FSI)Integrate National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) Warning Decision Support System – Integrated Information (WDSSII) 3D/4D display technology into AWIPS

Uses Open GL hardware acceleration on standard video graphics cards (think: video gaming)

The WDSSII technology is already mature enough and would require little additional resources to be easily incorporated into AWIPS.

FSI will be an extension to D2D


FSI Prototype Requirements

Provide for quick and easy access to the data (15-30 seconds per storm)

Provide linkages between 2D representations and 3D dataStill difficult for users to overcome tendency to view in traditional 2D manner

Radar data must be “native” 8-bit resolution polar gridsZ, V, SRM, SW

4D: Animation while slicing and dicing

GUI should have similar look and feel to D2D

Keyboard shortcuts

Processes must cause minimal impact to AWIPS system resources


FSI Prototype designWDSSII GUI (wg)

Earth-centric coordinates (earth center is origin)

Open GL hardware acceleration

Radar data represented by 2D textures Elevation PPI data on conical surfaces Vertical and horizontal Xsections on 2D planes

2D textures represented in 3D space

Zoom, pan, pitch, and yaw “Fly” around and through 3D data


Earth-Relative Coordinates

Data are plotted using earth center as domain originAll data plotted at lat/lon/ht-MSLContinuous pan and zoom


Earth-Relative Coordinates

PPI data shows as 2D textures on conical surfacesCan “fly through” data


Vertical Cross-SectionsClick, draw, and drag concept similar to legacy WDSS and WATADS

Vertical 2D texture is drawn with PPI textures

Can fly around both textures in 3D space

Vertical data accurately represented in 3D space

1:1 aspect ratio

1 beamwidth also represented in the vertical

Virtual Volume: Cross sections always have full volume of data.


Dynamic Cross-Sections

Can update X-Section line, either by

Dragging entire lineResetting endpoints

2D and 3D pictures are linkedOther representations update on-the-fly

The Lemon Technique


FSI Configuration

PPI: Plan Position Indicator

VDX: Vertical Dynamic X-Section

CAPPI: Constant Altitude PPI

3D Flier: Three-Dimensional Flier

Initial prototype will have a fixed 4-panel design:


Implementation in AWIPS

wgNotify:Persistent server process to update a Radar Linear Buffer for the FSI client

wgLaunch:Click storm cell on D2D or SCAN Table to launch FSI DisplayWill provide a Control Linear Buffer:

Location (lat/lon) Time Radar source Map Info


Warning Decision Training

Through various real-time tests of D3D and WDSSII, it has become generally known that some forecasters weren’t “ready” for 3D analysis. Why?

Very few forecasters have been exposed to 3D analysis in the classroom.

Therefore, concurrent with design, test, and deployment of 3D radar tool must be a ramping up of 3D analysis training at WDTB.

Knobology is important, but the understanding of storm signatures in 3D representations is key.


Operational Implementation

Alpha Version = AWIPS OB7 (Spring ’06) ????

Future versions: Isosurfaces, storm-relative animation

Experimental warning testbed (several WFOs nationwide)

Development and implementation of application will be concurrent with development of WDTB training


Questions?

Email: [email protected]

NWS Meteorological Development Laboratory

Decision Assistance Branch

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/mdl/dab/decisionassistbr.htm

A Four-Dimensional Radar Analysis Tool For AWIPS: The “FSI”

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