WW.PCWP.COMPC Weather Products

George Sambataro

WW.PCWP.COMPC Weather Products

George Sambataro

HURRTRAK Training Session

2003 Florida Governors Hurricane Conference

Tampa, Florida

Misc comments• Training session / Vendor area (Wed/Thurs)• Not currently a customer… (quick demo

will be done about 45 minutes into this session)

• 2 sheets will be passed around. One is a general sign up sheet. The other is a “topic you want to see covered” sheet.

• No handouts.. Can get presentation from web site.. www.pcwp.com

Materials/more info.

• Some single sheet flyers/info sheets in the back of room

• If need more info, some folders in the back of room

• We will be also in vendor area on Wednesday and Thursday this week.

Who’s who

- George Sambataro (President PC Weather)

- Lew Fincher (Hurricane Consulting Inc)

- John O’Rourke (PC Weather Products)

System / Data Flow

Hurrtrak Online

Main System Components

New 2003 functions

Demonstration (script)

Initial System Setup

System / User preferences

Automation

Summary report

Alerts (Email)

Decision support

Misc. menu items

Other modules (SloshView, Recon , History)

Lab Exercise

Topics

System / Data Flow

Slosh Tide StormElevation Places RainStreet User ReconHistory System Model

HurrtrakOnlineProcess

Sloshview Recon History

HurrtrakQuickPlot

Graphics / reports(on-screen, email, fax,

print,save)

Databases

PCWP Server

Other modules +

Hurrtrak Online• INTERNETINTERNET:

• Data polled every x minutes to determine if data needs to be retrieved

• Can be setup to retrieve data when main program is not running… Hurrtrak Online Timer (suggested)

• Includes all data

• DIRECT DIALDIRECT DIAL:

• Mainly for backup to internet

• Only contains Storm data

• Data retrieval can be scheduled

• 770 956 1097

Hurrtrak Online (cont)

• Storm dataStorm data is available minutes after NHC releases it

• Rainfall forecast dataRainfall forecast data is updated by NWS 2x a day• Recon dataRecon data is batched every 20 minutes and then

made available• Model dataModel data is batched every 20 minutes and then

made available. Model data includes GFDL, UKMET, LBAR, BAMM, BAMD and NHC98

Main system components

QuickPlot (introduced in 2002)

Main HURRTRAK module

QuickPlot

• Excellent entry point into system• Quickly and easily displays basic

information about the current storm situation

• Displays multiple storm tracks • Easily switch to full capabilities of

HURRTRAK• Depends on Hurrtrak Online (timer)

Main HURRTRAK module

• Tab based informationTab based information

• Automation capabilities

• Complete reporting

• Decision support

• Extensive mapping– Fixed tracking charts

– Variable (pan and zoom) tracking charts

QUICK Tab Tour

Graphical information tabs

• Storm tracks

• Animation

• Strike probs

• Wind bands

• Rainfall

• Model forecast• 3D wind surface• Wind / pressure graph• Thematic maps

Text based information tabs

• NHC advisory text

• Observation worksheet

• Official forecast table

• Climate forecast table

• Watch and warning table

Report tabs

• Location impact

• County impact

• Zip code impact

• Impact analysis

• Strike probability

Other tabs

• Main information tab

• HURRTRAK ONLINE tab

• Internet tab

See all this in action later in presentation

System / Data Flow

Hurrtrak Online

Main System Components

New 2003 functions

Demonstration (script)

Initial System Setup

System / User preferences

Automation

Summary report

Alerts (Email)

Decision support

Misc. menu items

Other modules (SloshView, Recon , History)

Lab Exercise

Topics

New Functions in 2003• Support of NHC new 96 and 120 hour forecast• Advanced location wind estimation (patent pending)

• RadarPlot• Enhanced depiction of eye and wind field• Wind Gusts• Rainfall forecast (without storm)• Climate forecast extended to 120 hours• 1991-1994 complete storm database

96 and 120 hour forecast

• All forecast functions of the system have been changed to handle 12-120 hour forecast just as we did 12-72 hour forecast in the past.

• This includes estimating the storm’s wind fields at those extended forecast times.

Advanced local wind estimation (patent pending)

• This function adjust the “interpolated” NHC winds for a location based on “site” specific characteristics. Information like local exposures, varying terrains, vegetation types as well as density of buildings are defined by the user. The system then applies a wind speed adjustment resulting in more realistic estimated wind values.

.. Thanks to Mark Powell of NOAA HRD for his help.

Advanced (cont)

From Hurricane Andrew’s Landfall in South Florida. Part I: Standardizing

Measurements for Documentation of Surface Wind Fields

Mark D. Powell and Samuel H. Houston

Advanced (cont)• Users have to evaluate their location(s) and enter

data into the system.

RadarPlot

• This function allows the user to plot the storm’s eye and wind fields “on top” of a selected NWS NWXRAD radar image.

Wind Gusts• Wind gusts are now included on the wind

impact reports.

• Gust factors range from 1.25 – 1.7 for inland terrain (advanced location estimation)

• Recommended when using RMPRO’s Advanced wind estimation

Rainfall Forecast

• This function allows the user to display the NWS forecast rainfall for the next 3 days.

System / Data Flow

Hurrtrak Online

Main System Components

New 2003 functions

Demonstration (script)

Initial System Setup

System / User preferences

Automation

Summary report

Alerts (Email)

Decision support

Misc. menu items

Other modules (SloshView, Recon , History)

Lab Exercise

Topics

Active Demo

• Mapping philosophy

• QuickPlot (demonstrate system)

• Main tracking system (demonstrate system following script)

Before demo… Mapping in HURRTRAK

Pan & Zoom(tracking charts)

Satellite, radar & SST images

(internet)

Displayed trackingchart maps on Tabs

(3 variable, 3 fixed)

Fixed map tabs

Fixed maptabs

Variable tabs

custom map

Used as a base chartfor other “tabs”…wind bands, strike probs, etc.

Predefined “fixed” tracking charts

(includes custom maps)

Demo Script• Before doing this make sure BASE LOCATION is set to New Orleans.. also decision arc• Base tabs (always there)• Show main tab• Show Hurrtrak Online tab• Show internet tab• Load Isidore2• Standard tabs (after loading as storm)• Show Map Selection Tab• Show Fixed map tabs• Observation worksheet• Official forecast• Climate forecast• Watch and Warning• Wind graph• Pressure graph• Additional tabs (created from map selection tab.. and can also be done from fixed maps) • Show strike probabilities• Show rainfall analysis (2nd 24 hours)• Show rainfall thematic (total• Wind bands• Animation• Plot forecast position• Plot track with and without track• • Additional tabs (created from fixed map tabs including those map tabs created above)• Plot track• Display chart notes• Display wind field around storm• Display location group• Plot forecast with and without average error• Plot model forecast• Plot climate forecast• Display watch and warning areas• Display watch and warning legend

• Use map select and zoom into LA area.. plot track• Display forecast flood index then animate on top of this• Annotate• Save image• Send• Print• Report tabs• Forecast strike probability• Location impact (small?)• County Impact (then show thematic and impact summary)• Zip code report• Point out that actual wind reports are available• TOOLS• What if (Houston)• Post Storm Analysis• Setup Summary report (later)• User prefs (later)• OTHER Items (reviewed later)• Email Alerts• Summary reports• File options• Edit options• Help options.

System / Data Flow

Hurrtrak Online

Main System Components

New 2003 functions

Demonstration (script)

Initial System Setup

System / User preferences

Automation

Summary report

Alerts (Email)

Decision support

Misc. menu items

Other modules (SloshView, Recon , History)

Lab Exercise

Topics

Initial system setup

• Storm Database

• Locations / Location Groups

• Base Location

• Hurrtrak Online

• Email

Define Storm DatabaseSystem setup

Define Locations / groupsSystem setup

Base LocationUser options

Hurrtrak OnlineUser options

Hurrtrak Online (cont.)User options

Hurrtrak Online (cont.)User options

Email setupUser options

Email addressbookUser options

You are now setup!

System / Data Flow

Hurrtrak Online

Main System Components

New 2003 functions

Demonstration (script)

Initial System Setup

System / User preferences

Automation

Summary report

Alerts (Email)

Decision support

Misc. menu items

Other modules (SloshView, Recon , History)

Lab Exercise

Topics

System/user preferences

• System Setup – (options unique to the system)

• User Preferences – (options unique to a user)

Long journey thru all of the options

System Setup

• System options (misc. group of system parameters)

• User maintenance (define users)

• Location maintenance (city, county, zip)

• Database maintenance

• Tracking chart maintenance

• Watch & warning point maintenance

• Flood index point maintenance

System options

System options (cont)

System options (cont)

System options (cont)

System options (cont)

Location Maintenance

Location Maintenance (cont)

Location Maintenance (cont)

Location Maintenance (cont)

User Maintenance

Database maintenance

Tracking chart maintenance

Watch and warning point maint.

Flood point maint.

User preferences

• Addressbook

• Addressbook alert

• Animation

• Automation/alert

• Email setup

• Flood index

• Fonts

• General

• Hurrtrak online

• Impact analysis

• Plotting

• Strike probs.

• Unit of measure

• Wind band

Addressbook

Addressbook alert

Addressbook alert (cont)

Animation

Automation / Alert

Automation /Alert (cont)

Automation / Alert (cont)

Email setup

Flood Index

Fonts

Is it break time yet?

General

General (cont)

General (cont)

General (cont)

Hurrtrak Online

Impact Analysis

Plotting

Plotting (cont)

Plotting (cont)

Plotting (cont)

Plotting (cont)

Strike Probability

Unit of measure

Wind bands

System / Data Flow

Hurrtrak Online

Main System Components

New 2003 functions

Demonstration (script)

Initial System Setup

System / User preferences

Automation

Summary report

Alerts (Email)

Decision support

Misc. menu items

Other modules (SloshView, Recon , History)

Lab Exercise

Topics

Automation (things done for you)

• TRACKING CHARTTRACKING CHART tab update• ReportReport tab update• SUMMARY REPORTSUMMARY REPORT generation• Alert EMAILEMAIL

Automation Alert options control the above functions

Automation Alert options

Automatic TAB

Plotting,

Report creation

Report updating

Automation Alert options (cont)

Specify Storms that will beconsidered foremail alerts

Automation Alert options (cont)

Specify whatconditions dictate“new data”.

Define automationschedule for emailalerts and summaryreports

System / Data Flow

Hurrtrak Online

Main System Components

New 2003 functions

Demonstration (script)

Initial System Setup

System / User preferences

Automation

Summary report

Alerts (Email)

Decision support

Misc. menu items

Other modules (SloshView, Recon , History)

Lab Exercise

Topics

Summary Report

• Reports can be created automatically (new data) or manually.

• Includes graphical and text information.

Storm(s) Location/Location Group

Preview, Email, print, file

SummaryReport

Summary report

Summary

page 2

Summary report setup

System / Data Flow

Hurrtrak Online

Main System Components

New 2003 functions

Demonstration (script)

Initial System Setup

System / User preferences

Automation

Summary report

Alerts (Email)

Decision support

Misc. menu items

Other modules (SloshView, Recon , History)

Lab Exercise

Topics

Email AlertAlert storm(s) Email user/group

Email alert

Geo. alert

New storm alert * Change category alert

Locationcond. alert

Alert condition

met?

Yes

* New storm alert does not need a pre-defined alert stormAlert attachments include a tracking chartand the NHC advisory text.

Attachments

Email Alert sample

Email Alert SetupGeneral parameters (we have done these already)

• Setup general Email parameters (Email setup)

• Setup Addressbook entries (Addressbook)

• Select “Alert automation” option (Automation/alert)

• Setup Alert Storms (Automation/alert)

• Setup new data parameters (Automation/alert)

• Setup automation schedule (Automation/alert)

Email Alert Setup (cont)For a selected addressbook entry (individual or group)… define all/some of the following alerts.

New Storm

Category Change

Location alert (CPA, wind speed, strike probability)

Geographical alert (area)

… and define the desired attachments. (advisory text,and/or tracking chart.

Still with us?

System / Data Flow

Hurrtrak Online

Main System Components

New 2003 functions

Demonstration (script)

Initial System Setup

System / User preferences

Automation

Summary report

Alerts (Email)

Decision support

Misc. menu items

Other modules (SloshView, Recon , History)

Lab Exercise

Topics

Decision Support

While all of the outputs of the HURRTRAK system are designed to help the end user to make decisions, there are several functions which are focused specifically on decision making.

Decision Support

• Action (decision) Pointsand their affect on……

1. Reports

2. Decision Arcs

• “What if” track analysis

Action Points

Reports

Decision Arcs

Based on the defined action (decision) points, the user may display the decision arcs associated with these action points.

The intersection of the decision arc and the “trigger” wind “circle” indicates that an action need to be taken. Should be

same as on reports.

Decision Arcs

WHAT IF analysisBy adjusting the storm’s path, speed & intensity… the system outputs will then reflect this new track. This includes..

• Graphical Animation

• Reports

This allows the user to define the worst case scenario and see how that affects their situation

“What if” analysis

“What if” analysis

System / Data Flow

Hurrtrak Online

Main System Components

New 2003 functions

Demonstration (script)

Initial System Setup

System / User preferences

Automation

Summary report

Alerts (Email)

Decision support

Misc. menu items

Other modules (SloshView, Recon , History)

Lab Exercise

Topics

Misc menu functions• File

– Database– Storm maintenance– Export Wind Bands (RMPRO)

– Hurrtrak Online (direct dial)– Custom Map Maker– Other program links– Inland Wind Model– Advisory ticker– Log

GIS wind band

export

Misc menu functions (cont)• Edit

– User Diary – Observations *– Official forecast *– Model forecast *– Climate forecast *– NHC advisory maint. – Watches/Warnings *

* Hurrtrak Online supplied (internet vs modem)

Misc menu functions (cont)• Tools

– Post Storm Analysis

Misc menu functions (cont)• Help

– Contents/search for– Display System Documentation– FAQ– Obtaining technical support– Software license agreement– Display system resources– About

System / Data Flow

Hurrtrak Online

Main System Components

New 2003 functions

Demonstration (script)

Initial System Setup

System / User preferences

Automation

Summary report

Alerts (Email)

Decision support

Misc. menu items

Other modules (SloshView, Recon , History)

Lab Exercise

Topics

Other Modules

• SloshView – displays NWS SLOSH data

• Hurricane Reconnaissance – displays hurricane hunter info

• Hurricane History– displays past storm tracks

SloshView

• All analyzed SLOSH basins (USA)

• Displays “raw” SLOSH basin data

• Displays inundation map

• Inundation report

Demonstrate later

Hurricane Reconnaissance

• Displays/decodes Vortex messages (pass)• Displays/decodes supplementary Vortex messages

(pass)• Displays/decodes RECCO reports • Displays Temperature, Wind speed and pressure

(height) graph on Vortex supplementary reports

Demonstrate later

Hurricane History

• Contains storm track information from 1851-2002

• Displays storm tracks• Displays storm origination points• Specialized query capabilities (location,

date, strength)

Demonstrate later

Special requests

Technical Information• Recommended hardware requirements

– Pentium III (1ghz+ recommended)

– 256 MB Ram

– 1 Gigabyte available hard disk space

– Video card capable of 1024x768, true color

– Internet connection (Hurrtrak Online)

• Operating System: Windows 95/98/ME, Windows 2000/NT/XP

System / Data Flow

Hurrtrak Online

Main System Components

New 2003 functions

Demonstration (script)

Initial System Setup

System / User preferences

Automation

Summary report

Alerts (Email)

Decision support

Misc. menu items

Other modules (SloshView, Recon , History)

Lab Exercise

Topics

Lab exercise

• Lab exercise for Hurrtrak

If possible, group users together with laptops.. with system installed.

Lab exercise script

Go to SYSTEM SETUP program and select System Options

Create database called “pcwplab”

Go to location maintenance option and define a new location “Hyatt Panama City” – 30.17, -85.8

With the “Hyatt” record highlighted, select define action points (“Hyatt Panama City”)

.. add 3 new records.

Preparation (0, 12, 12, 18, 18, 24)

Evacuation (0, 0, 8, 12, 12, 18)

Stand down (0, 0, 6, 6, 6, 6,)

Go to location group maintenance and define a new group “labgroup”

Put following locations into group “labgroup”..

New Orleans

Destin

Biloxi

Mobile

Pensacola

Hyatt Panama City

Apalachicola

Lake Charles

Exit System Setup

Copy pcwplab from diskette/CD to your application’s database (overwriting one that was just created)

Start HURRTRAK

Select User Preferences

General- and define base location as Hyatt Panama City

Email addressbook

Define 2 email addresses (test@pcwp.com, test2@pcwp.com)

Define an email addressbook group (testgroup)

Put both addresses into testgroup

Addressbook Alert –

Define a location alert for the testgroup group (Hyatt, Wind 50, SP-30, CPA 200)

Define a geographical alert for the testgroup group (Gulf of Mexico, accept, Wind-50)

SAVE and EXIT User Preferences

Setup Summary Report for Hyatt… default options with location Hyatt, storm “LAPO”, preview

OPEN LAPO1

Go to Map Selection tab

Select area that shows Gulf Coast

Select Plot Tracking chart with plot

Plot forecast with avg.error

Display watch/warning

Display wind field (show how left mouse click over wind area works)

Display location group labgroup

Animate forecast using current image

Go back to Tracking Chart 1 tab

Animate using refreshed image

Go back to Map selection tab and select a map area for NE Gulf of Mexico

Plot Track (nothing may show up)

Display labgroup locations

Animate forecast

Go to first “fixed tracking tab”.. right after Tracking Chart 2

Select best map.. select “Gulf of Mexico” chart

Plot track

Set mousepointer option to wind value.. move mouse around

Display forecast wind band

Display wind band legend

Go back to “Gulf of Mexico” tab

Select Reports – Location wind profile – select group “labgroup”

Review Summary impact report and make note of max impact to Hyatt

Double click on “Hyatt” location and look at detail

Select Reports – County wind profile report

Display thematic map

Go back to county summary

Display impact summary

Run Report – Summary Report

Select Tools - “what if scenario” and set to “Hyatt” with option to assume official forecast track

Plot what if track on “Gulf of Mexico” tab/chart.

Select Reports – Location wind profile – group “labgroup” and compare differences in wind values forecast for “Hyatt”

Open LAPO2

Play on your own.

Demonstrate other modules

• Demo Recon program

• Demo Sloshview

• Demo HURRHIST

• Demo QuickPlot

WWW.PCWP.COM(this presentation is available there)

WWW.PCWP.COM(this presentation is available there)