Sky Scope An Aviation Weather Visualization System Wesley

Sky. Scope: An Aviation Weather Visualization System Wesley Coelho Bertrand Low

Motivation ABBOTSFORD/BC METAR CYXX 260100 Z 00000 KT 25 SM -RA FEW 025 BKN 040 OVC 060 07/04 A 2945 RMK SF 1 SC 6 SC 2 SLP 973= METAR CYXX 260200 Z 36002 KT 30 SM SCT 040 BKN 070 OVC 100 07/03 A 2941 RMK SC 3 AC 2 OCNL LGT RA SLP 962= METAR CYXX 260300 Z 02003 KT 15 SM -RA BKN 040 OVC 070 07/03 A 2941 RMK SC 6 AC 2 SLP 959= TAF CYXX 252343 Z 260024 03010 KT P 6 SM -RA SCT 030 BKN 050 OVC 070 TEMPO 0007 5 SM -RA BR BKN 025 FM 0700 Z 03005 KT P 6 SM SCT 030 BKN 050 TEMPO 0724 P 6 SM -SHRA BKN 030 BECMG 1416 07010 KT RMK NXT FCST BY 06 Z= VANCOUVER/VANCOUVER INTL/BC METAR CYVR 260100 Z 09014 G 19 KT 12 SM -SHRA SCT 025 OVC 040 07/04 A 2944 RMK SF 3 SC 5 SLP 969= METAR CYVR 260200 Z 08011 G 16 KT 15 SM -SHRA SCT 025 OVC 040 07/04 A 2942 RMK SC 3 SC 5 SLP 963= METAR CYVR 260300 Z 06005 KT 15 SM -SHRA FEW 025 BKN 040 OVC 055 07/04 A 2941 RMK SF 2 SC 5 SC 2 PCPN VRY LGT SLP 959= SPECI CYVR 260312 Z 05007 KT 15 SM FEW 025 BKN 040 OVC 055 RMK SF 2 SC 5 SC 2= TAF CYVR 260250 Z 260324 09012 G 22 KT P 6 SM -RA SCT 020 BKN 040 OVC 070 TEMPO 0306 5 SM -RA BR BKN 020 OVC 040 FM 0600 Z 09012 G 22 KT P 6 SM SCT 025 BKN 040 TEMPO 0612 6 SM -SHRA BR BKN 025 FM 1200 Z 09010 KT P 6 SM SCT 020 BKN 040 OVC 060 TEMPO 1220 4 SM -SHRA BR BKN 020 OVC 040 FM 2000 Z VRB 03 KT P 6 SM BKN 040 TEMPO 2024 P 6 SM -SHRA BECMG 2123 31008 KT RMK NXT FCST BY 06 Z= NANAIMO/BC METAR CYCD 260100 Z 00000 KT 8 SM -RA FEW 008 BKN 028 OVC 050 06/05 A 2944 RMK SF 1 SC 6 SC 1 SLP 970= METAR CYCD 260200 Z 00000 KT 10 SM -RA MIFG FEW 006 BKN 028 OVC 050 05/05 A 2941 RMK SF 1 SC 5 SC 2 SLP 961= METAR CYCD 260300 Z 00000 KT 6 SM -RA BR FEW 006 SCT 010 BKN 014 OVC 040 05/05 A 2942 RMK SF 2 ST 2 SC 3 SC 1 SLP 962= TAF CYCD 260135 Z 260205 16005 KT P 6 SM -SHRA SCT 010 BKN 025 OVC 050 TEMPO 0205 4 SM -SHRA BR SCT 010 BKN 020 RMK NXT FCST WILL BE ISSUED AT 261545 Z=

Motivation METAR CYXX 260100 Z 00000 KT 25 SM -RA FEW 025 BKN 040 OVC 060 07/04 A 2945 RMK SF 1 SC 6 SC 2 SLP 973= TAF CYXX 252343 Z 260024 03010 KT P 6 SM -RA SCT 030 BKN 050 OVC 070 TEMPO 0007 5 SM -RA BR BKN 025

Cloud Layer

Wind Speed & Direction

Visibility

Temperature & Dew Point Temperature Dew Point

Minimum Indicator

Layout – Timeline Stack

Implementation n Major Components • Weather data parser • Java 2 D visualization • Java Swing graphical n drawing engine user interface Available online as an applet

User Walkthroughs n n n We performed paper prototype walkthroughs with two licensed pilots This led to several changes and additions to the visualization design Both participants believed this visualization would be helpful

Walkthrough Feedback n n n Preset values for minimum weather conditions would be helpful Users should be able to drill down to see raw data corresponding to a glyph Temperature/dew point bar • Absolute scale vs. dynamic scale • spread is more important than temperature

Walkthrough Feedback n n n Visibility in forecasts: The difference between 6 and 6+ should be more prominent A legend should be available for first time users Some information is missing • • • n Should show local time and UTC The time when a forecast was issued Actual wind direction in degrees Alternative weather conditions may be a challenge to display

Implementation Progress n Weather Data Parser VANCOUVER/VANCOUVER INTL/BCMETAR CYVR 260100 Z 09014 G 19 KT 12 SM -SHRA SCT 025 OVC 040 07/04 A 2944 RMK SF 3 SC 5 SLP 969= METAR CYVR 260200 Z 08011 G 16 KT 15 SM -SHRA SCT 025 OVC 040 07/04 A 2942 RMK SC 3 SC 5 SLP 963= METAR CYVR 260300 Z 06005 KT 15 SM SHRA FEW 025 BKN 040 OVC 055 07/04 A 2941 RMK SF 2 SC 5 SC 2 PCPN VRY LGT SLP 959= SPECI CYVR 260312 Z 05007 KT 15 SM parse

Implementation Progress n Early GUI Design

Project Milestones n n n March 1 - Proposal Submitted. March 5 – Paper sketch walkthrough with user completed. Feedback collected for redesign. March 15 – Weather data parser complete. April 7 – Early display functionality complete (timelines, clouds, min condition indicator). April 15 – High fidelity prototype complete (first iteration). April 21 – User evaluation and revised design complete. Final presentation.