Visualizing severe weather in 3-D - Meteorology - Virtual Geographic Information System, - Brief Article

A real-time, three-dimensional visualization system may help severe-weather researchers improve the timeliness and accuracy of forecasting the formation, path, and possible effects of storms. Researchers led by the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, are developing a computer-based system to view and analyze large observational data sets, including information from radar stations, severe-weather detection software, high-resolution weather models, geographic information systems, satellites, and aerial photography. These sources will not only provide weather information, but data on terrain, building locations, and even human activities, such as rush-hour traffic.

All of this data will be merged in a platform called the Virtual Geographic Information System, previously developed by the project's lead researchers. The system will run on a personal computer and be viewed on a monitor or large-screen projection. Weather researchers will use the visualization system to improve storm-detection software used by forecasters, and the National Weather Service may eventually use the system to help decide whether it is necessary to issue watches and warnings.

"This system will improve weather forecasting in a number of ways," indicates Bill Ribarsky of the Georgia Tech College of Computing. "Ultimately, forecasters will be able to make decisions faster and more precisely. For example, they might see a storm here and make a precise prediction that it's going to affect this community in this way. Forecasters will be able to make more-accurate predictions because they will have more information--such as predicting a storm's path based on terrain information and information on human activities. If you have a storm at rush hour, there will be a different effect than if it occurs at night."

The visualization system and high-resolution weather models may help forecasters accurately predict general areas of severe weather up to six hours in advance, he says. That much lead time could help emergency services personnel know how to respond. Ultimately, predictions integrated with the visualization system could save lives, reduce injuries, and save billions of dollars in lost products, equipment, and time.

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