High resolution, low bandwidth model data viewer

[Andrew Revering]

I'm writing a high resolution, low bandwidth model data viewer. It's
completely free, no strings, plenty of maps to use, and GIS-Driven.

Sound good? Great... tell me what you want it to do then.
Go to http://www.aprweather.com/phpBB/ and post under the F5Viewer
category with your feature requests.

What's the catch? No catch. I will provide all the basic maps you see on
web sites today for free, but the advantage as you get to use a very expensive GIS mapping component to view the data. That means zooming down to county levels, setting color gradients, setting thresholds (only show CAPE > 1000 for example), zoom in on a roaming sounding and modify it, overlay several maps, etc. Maybe even overlay crude radar and satellite (nothing like what GRLevelX does.. I don't want to attempt to compete with that bad boy). This is intended to be a model data viewer (and current conditions too I suppose).

Why would I spend thousands on a GIS mapping component? Why set up a server to process model data, customize the output so files are low bandwidth files that you can view easily? Why all for free?

Because my *hope* is that some of you will see the benefit of the software and add on a optional subscription which adds another 110+ maps. No catch, you can use it for free forever, don't add on the extra maps if you don't want to, and have some killer software for using when forecasting chase targets, or finding where the rain/snow line is.

So... with all that out on the table, help me design it. Go to the URL above
and post your suggestions on how the software should work.
http://www.aprweather.com/phpBB/

More info on F5Viewer can be found on the web site:
http://www.f5viewer.com/

[Brett Adair]

I've already seen what this man can do with the F-5 model data, and I am sure going to be the first to download the viewer. This is going to have GIS capabilities and to boot, the files are going to be small and compact for quick loading into the software. :) Keep me updated on how things are coming along Andrew.

[ROLLTIDE]

Any time frame on when we might see this product ?

[Andrew Revering]

I hope to have the first version (alpha release) available for download on March 12.

[Ares]

Sounds great! Any chance of integrating private radar feeds into the program later down the road ?

Looks like this could be a graphical winner in that area. I already love the city fonts and mapping

[Andrew Revering]

Thanks. Things like fonts, size of lines, transparency, colors are all customizeable and I plan to fully integrate customization to the software. I'll try to make the default settings appealing to the eye, but you can modify them as you please.

This is something that a lot of software fails at. You have the option to change those things, but sometimes its hard to figure out how to change them, or the initial settings are just ugly. So I'm glad to hear you like my taste in colors n such. :)

I don't know what you mean by private radar. If you mean something like a TV station's radar,.. then no. But I do plan to include a basic, crude NEXRAD feed which would include the ability to select a color palette. It will also use a proprietary index of mine to determine the rain/snow line so the user can set up to 3 palletes with one being liquid (rain), a mixed precip, and a snow pallete.

Beyond that I'm not getting into radar. Radar will NOT be smoothed. Thats above my experience level and Gibson Ridge already has done wonders in that area. I'm also not planning on providing any other radar modes other than basic tilt1 reflectivity. This is not intended to be a radar application. It's a forecast tool. So the emphasis is on observational data and model data.

I'll have RAOB sounding data and surface observations. I also hope to have satellite that can be zoomed in on. It wouldn't be an image, it'd be a shape file that's downloaded and imported into the program so zooming on satellite is done as a layer and not an image. But at this point it's a theory I have so hopefully I can make that work.

andy

[Ares]

By private radar, I meant something like Allisonhouses data (by the way, welcome to HCW Tyler, and Andrew!)

But since you're not getting into radar, there's no need for that feature. And you're very right...Gibson ridge has mastered that...and I have my eye on Stormlab 4.0 as well...they say ALOT is going into that

[Andrew Revering]

Yeah I'm not planning to ad the ability to add other data feeds. Since this is going to be a free application I have to focus the optional subscriptions to something that would generate *me* some money. So I'd provide any data feeds available.

Might sound like a monopoly, but I got to make money somewhere! :)

[WeatherGuy97654321]

You can't download it yet, can you? Thank you.

WeatherGuy987654321

[Ares]

It failed I believe..

[WeatherGuy97654321]

Oh, it was sounding nice. Thanks for the quick reply.

WeatherGuy987654321

[Andrew Revering]

The software isn't ready yet.

[ROLLTIDE]

Any idea on when your cane program will be ready ?

[Andrew Revering]

That's already done in its initial version at www.cat5data.com

But you probably are talking about when I'm going to upgrade it to use the GIS-engine that F5Viewer will be using that allows for zooming, overlays, etc.

Soon. NOt as soon as F5Viewer though. :) Once that is established I'll get the Cat5Data program upgraded 10 fold before the expected next hurricane season. That program should be sweet with adding all the forecast hurricane tracks, watches, warnings and perhaps even a bit of a specialized/custom satellite if a method I have in mind can be worked out.

It would mean you could zoom in on satellite without it blurring because the satellite wouldnt be an image. More about that later.