Comparison of PC Weather Products Software Tracking Functions
While this chart is very useful when considering which product to purchase, please keep in mind that it does not attempt to identify every function. Check with the product pages for each product to see all of their capabilities. If you are considering upgrading, check out the "What's New" page. It will provide more information on specific enhancements to each product.
| Capability / Feature |
HURRTRAK |
HURRTRAK |
HURRTRAK |
| "Expert Ease" daily video analysis of the changing conditions in the tropics. | X | X | X |
Information Tab based user interface which allows for easy information access and makes the system easier to use. |
X | X | X |
Extensive mapping/tracking chart capabilities including Pan and Zoom, Fixed, Landsat, Topographical, Satellite and Radar based tracking maps. |
X |
X |
X |
Complete storm tracking capabilities (actual and forecast tracks, model, climatology forecast) |
X | X | X |
| Animate the storm’s past and forecast motion, optionally including the storm’s wind fields, wind arrows and wind velocities | X |
X |
X |
| Display the storm’s past and/or forecast wind bands or swath. | X |
X |
X |
| Ability to create a summary impact report for multiple locations (city, county) indicating the maximum actual or forecast wind speed, damage assessment and arrival and duration of 34, 50 & 64 knot winds | X |
X |
X |
| Ability to create a detailed hourly impact report showing a location’s (city,county) actual or expected wind speed and direction, damage assessment, and distance to 34, 50 and 64 knot winds. | X |
X |
X |
Tray Alert Messages. Tray messages notifying user of changing conditions. |
X |
X |
X |
Narrative Impact Statements. Ability to display a text description of an impact to a location. |
Basic |
Extended |
Extended |
Google Earth Interface. Ability to display most graphics "on top" of a Google Earth Image |
Basic |
Extended |
Extended |
Native Google Earth Interface. KML export of key storm observation and forecast parameters for viewing on a Google Earth user interface. |
Basic |
Extended |
Extended |
| Wind pattern display - allows users to view a solid wind pattern around a storm | X |
Extended |
Extended |
| Animated Wind pattern display - allows users to view an animation of the wind pattern described above | X |
Extended |
Extended |
| SLOSH/Storm Surge display | Basic |
Extended |
EXTRA |
QuickPlot function... allows users to quickly view a snapshot of all current tropical activity |
X | X | X |
| Historical Analysis Program | Basic |
Extended |
Extended |
| Hurricane reconnaissance display program that displays the latest hurricane hunter reports | X |
X |
X |
Ability to interface with Microsoft EXCEL. Export all reports and table data for further detailed analysis. |
X |
X |
X |
Ability to interface with Microsoft Outlook Email or use the system's internal Email capabilities to email any report or graphic |
X |
X |
X |
| Ability to display the National Weather Service precipitation forecast on all tracking charts and on county thematic maps | X |
X |
X |
| Location based forecast rainfall. NWS forecast rainfall on location and summary report. | X |
X |
X |
| Summary Reports that shows all pertinent information in a concise manner. It can be automatically generated and sent when new data "arrives". | X |
X |
X |
| Email Alerts. Send automatic alerts based on forecast wind and rainfall criteria. | X |
X |
X |
| Ability to do post storm analysis where you set the system to "think" the latest advisory is whichever one was selected. Perfect for post storm analysis and hurricane exercises. | X |
X |
X |
| "What if" or worse case scenario capability. This is the ability to reset the forecast track to move towards any location desired. | X |
X |
X |
| Ability to define action or decision points and their associated lead times. Action point triggers are either the arrival of 34, 50 or 64 knot winds. Lead times can vary by storm category. Action points appear on the detailed location impact reports. | X |
X |
X |
| Spell Checker. Have all Email spell checked before sending. English and Spanish. | X |
X |
X |
| Wind and Surge Probabilities. Display the chances of 34, 50 and 64 knot winds as well as storm surge probabilities | X |
X |
X |
| Desktop Satellite. Display the latest satellite image on your desktop. | X |
X |
X |
| Technical Support | Basic |
Basic |
Extended |
Enhanced Advanced Wind Estimation. This function takes into consideration local "site" factors including local exposures, varying vegetation types and the density of man made structures to compute a more accurate forecast wind speed estimate. Advanced wind estimation has resulted in a full 70% reduction in wind estimation errors compared to standard methods. See AWE validation reports for more details. PATENT PENDING. |
|
X |
X |
| AWE Wind pattern display - allows users to view a solid wind pattern around a storm using Advanced Wind Estimation... including Animation. |
|
X |
X |
| Estimation of 25 knot wind radii – This enhancement allows the system to estimate wind speeds below 34 knots (from 25 knots - 34 knots). This is reflected on the system graphics and reports. |
|
X |
X |
| Enhanced SLOSH display. Ability to use the SLOSH Inundation "view" module that allows the user to zoom down to "any" mapping area and display the SLOSH and/or water level values. The mapping data includes cities, street, railroad, airport, power/pipeline information, and much more ... | X |
X |
|
| Enhanced SLOSH report. |
|
X |
X |
| Ability to export forecast or actual wind band information to an ASCII type file which can then be imported into many ArcInfo™ type GIS tools. |
|
X |
X |
"Executive" style Impact Summary Report. This report is a new and alternative way to view the information that is included with the Impact Summary Reports. It is more "executive" friendly as it shows the storm's potential impact by location in an easy to read format. This can also be setup to be created/set automatically. |
|
X |
X |
| Perform an actual or forecast ZIP CODE analysis which allows the user to analyze every zip code in the US creating a zip code summary and impact analysis report (population) | X |
X |
|
Zip Code Wind Thematic chart |
|
X |
X |
| Ability to create a detailed hourly report showing a specific zip codes actual or expected wind speed and direction, damage assessment, distance to 34, 50 and 64 knot winds. | X |
X |
|
| Ability to plot multiple historical storm tracks on the same tracking chart as a current storm | X |
X |
|
| Enhanced Historical analysis capabilities | X |
X |
|
| Ability to define 10 additional custom county / zip code fields which are used in the impact summary reports | X |
X |
|
| Ability to depict flood index for a zip code (report) | X |
X |
|
| Automatic Export / Emailing of Storm Shape files when new data comes in |
X |
||
| A new Damage Estimate Report which allows users to compare the overall destructive potential of a current storm to past storms. It analyzes the separate components of wind speed and storm surge damage potential. |
X |
||
| Ability to import ESRI Shape files and display them on a tracking map |
|
X |
|
| Ability to export ESRI Shape files of key Hurrtrak data to be analyzed using your favorite GIS software. |
|
X |
|
| Ability to import locations from a point type Shape file and create impact reports for each point |
|
X |
|
| Extremely Detailed SLOSH MEOW Storm Surge data and display program |
|
X |
|
| Ability to import custom locations using comma delimited or shape file input |
|
X |
|
| Estimate sea/wave heights for open sea locations. |
|
X |
|
| Track tropical cyclones around the world (also Global EM and RM Pro) |
|
X |
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