# Presentation: 487036

## 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 collaboration
NWS:  MDL, SEC
OAR:  NSSL, FSL
CIMMS / University of Oklahoma

- 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 collaboration
- NWS:  MDL, SEC
- OAR:  NSSL, FSL
- CIMMS / 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-sections
But PPIs are not horizontal – elevation angles are slanted.

Vertical Cross-sections
Not very easy to use
Only complete during short period at end of volume scan
Not dynamic (must re-draw to get new cross-section)

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

- _All Tilts_: a series of 2D “horizontal” cross-sections
- But PPIs are _not_ horizontal – elevation angles are slanted.
- Vertical Cross-sections
- Not very easy to use
- Only complete during short period at end of volume scan
- Not 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 space
Lose important information in radial velocity fields

- 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 space
- Lose 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 data
- Still difficult for users to overcome tendency to view in traditional 2D manner
- Radar data must be “native” 8-bit resolution polar grids
- Z, 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 design

- WDSSII 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 origin
- All data plotted at lat/lon/ht-MSL
- Continuous pan and zoom

## Earth-Relative Coordinates

- PPI data shows as 2D textures on conical surfaces
- Can “fly through” data

## Vertical Cross-Sections

- Click, 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 line
- Resetting endpoints
- 2D and 3D pictures are linked
- Other representations update on-the-fly

## 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 Display
- Will 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:  Greg.Stumpf@noaa.gov
- NWS Meteorological Development Laboratory
- Decision Assistance Branch
- http://www.nws.noaa.gov/mdl/dab/decisionassistbr.htm