What's new with HURRTRAK Advanced

Version 2008 changes

  • "True” Pan and Zoom interface – This new feature represents a significant enhancement to the user interface that allows the user to interactively pan and zoom any tracking map.  All of the mapping elements previously chosen by the user are re-plotted at the new zoom level and/or map positions.

  • Native Google Earth Interface – this allows the user the ability to export lines, points and polygons to GE via it’s native KML language.  In 2008 there are additional Google Earth export types including wind arrows, and summary report detail.

  • Enhanced Google Earth exports – In 2008 we are adding several more exports such as: the ability to add images to location impact reports; detailed hourly summary information; display of wind field arrows, and much more

  • Expanded Google Earth information – In addition to the LARGE amount of information that the user is able to export from the HURRTRAK system to Google Earth, you will now able to superimpose additional National Weather Service information on the same Google Earth “image”.  Some of this data includes Animated radar and satellite, station observations, NWS storm reports and warnings, current and forecast river stages, observed rainfall, and more... 

  • Expanded Historical databases – Thanks to the work at the Hurricane Research Division we have added storm databases for the years from 1851 to 2007.  While the wind radii information from the 1850s through 1980 is less reliable, it allows the user to go back and examine the past season storms including some of the more notable ones (including the ability to create animations, impact reports, etc..) 

  • More accurate and descriptive damage comments –The Saffir-Simpson scale is a good measure of storm strength, but it is not necessarily tailored for damage at individual locations.  In 2008, we allow the user to use an alternative “modified Texas Tech damage scale”.  This new scale is more useful when analyzing the impact for a location, because it provides a more detailed and accurate description of damage. 

  • Damage estimate Report – This new HURRTRAK Advanced feature examines the potential or actual impact of a storm on the affected population.  It calculates a wind and storm surge damage index which roughly correlates to the anticipated or actual damage and compares it to similar past storms. 

  • Expanded SLOSH (MEOW) storm surge data – SLOSH MEOW data is now available for users of the HURRTRAK Advanced system.  This allows the user to view storm surge information that is specific to a storm’s strength and direction of motion.  Both the standard SLOSH display and our exclusive “inundation analysis” is available with this expanded data.

  • Executive Summary Report Enhancements - Users can now embed a tracking chart image into this report.  In addition, this report, similar to email alerts and the "legacy" summary report, can now be "sent" automatically when new data arrives.  Finally, forecast rainfall data has been added to the report detail.

  • 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. 

  • Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook - Support for this new product being issued by the TPC.

  • Desktop Satellite Animation

  • High Resolution Recon Reports – You can now display the high resolution reports coming in from the Hurricane Hunter aircraft.

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  • Enhanced Shape File Export – We have added additional ESRI shape file outputs to the Hurrtrak Advanced system. 

  • Improved Summary Reports

  • Expanded Hurricane History Database.. now from 1851 to 2007.. this contains best track information
  • Updated Watch and Warning breakpoints
  • Updated Average Forecast Error data
  • Update Tide database
  • Enhanced system and user preferences (options)
  • Miscellaneous User Interface improvements
  • ... and more in the works

Upgrade pricing $$


Customer Testimonials

Version 2007 changes

  • Native Google Earth Interface – this allows the user the ability to export lines, points and polygons to GE via it’s native KML language.  This is a major enhancement to the system and the result is an impressive array of visualization capabilities.

  • Animated Wind Pattern graphic - We have taken the animated wind pattern capability that was introduced last year and improved it by allowing the user to view an animated wind pattern... with or without Advanced Wind Estimation.

  • NHC Wind Probabilities – This year we will support the “new” NHC wind probabilities.  This support is evident in several areas of the system

  • Enhanced SLOSH Inundation Analysis – We have increased the resolution of our elevation database, used for inundation analysis, from 90 meters to 30 meters… a 9X increase in detail.  The result is a much more detailed and accurate SLOSH inundation analysis.

  • Additional detailed SLOSH data – In addition to updating our SLOSH database with the latest changes from NOAA,  we also include more detailed data with the Hurrtrak Advanced product.

  • Desktop Satellite Enhancements – You can now specify up to 3 daytime and 3 nighttime satellite images.

  • Enhanced E-mail Alert – As mentioned earlier, we have added wind probabilities as e-mail alert criteria.  For example you can specify that you want an alert email sent when forecast wind probabilities for a location will exceed specified values for 34, 50 and/or 64 knot winds.

  • Daylight Savings Time changes – We have changed the system to accommodate the new DST rules.

  • Point and click reports – While viewing a tracking chart, you can now simply right-click on a map position and generate an impact report location.

  • Enhanced Shape File Export – We have added additional ESRI shape file outputs to the Hurrtrak Advanced system.  In addition to the data exports that were introduced last year, now you can export NHC watches and warnings, forecast average error, forecast model tracks and the climate forecast.

  • Improved Summary Reports - Now includes Wind Probability data.

  • Updated street database – We have updated the street level database to the most current available.

  • Expanded Hurricane History Database.. now from 1851 to 2006.. this contains best track information
  • Updated Watch and Warning breakpoints
  • Updated Average Forecast Error data
  • Update Tide database
  • Enhanced system and user preferences (options)
  • Miscellaneous User Interface improvements

 

Version 2006 changes

  • Shape File Import - this allows the user to import ESRI type Shape files
  • ESRI Shape File Export - this allows the user to export key Hurrtrak outputs to an ESRI type Shape file format. 
  • Enhanced Location Import capabilities - this allows the user to import custom locations into the Hurrtrak Location database using a point shape file as input (also supports comma delimited).
  • Google Earth Interface - this allows the user to display most of the HURRTRAK graphics "on top" of a Google Earth "earth" image.  Google Earth is a free application available at http://earth.google.com/ .
  • New Wind Pattern Display - this graphic shows the wind field around a storm in a solid color coded manner.
  • Multi-Colored Wind Vectors - Optional method of viewing the wind field around a storm... either in static or animation mode
  • Enhanced forecast wind estimation/Eye Diameter control - Wind estimation has been improved by allowing for forecast period eye diameter considerations.  Users can define a default eye size as well as a transition period for a current storm to change from a very small or large eye to a "normal" one.
  • Non Location based Summary reports - Users can now define automatic summary reports without defining a location.  This expands the definition of summary reports to include both location-storm reports and simply storm based reports.
  • Customizable Summary Reports - In addition to the item above, automatic summary reports can now be customized to include or exclude different sections of the report.
  • Chart note display improvements - Chart notes can now be displayed manually by "grabbing" an observation point and using the mouse drag and drop feature.  This has also been extended to the Main  Informational database tab in order to allow the user to select observations for Post Storm Analysis.
  • Wind band export enhancements - data smoothing has been introduced to produce a more realistic wind band pattern.
  • Outlook Email Improvements - User has ability to save email in the Outlook drafts folder instead of an immediate send from the HURRTRAK system.  This allows the user to open the email in Outlook, include additional attachments, etc. before sending.
  • Radar - National mosaic radar image can now be used as a background tracking map.
  • Hurricane History - Color coded tracks as well as a thin or thick line option.
  • QuickPlot enhancements
  • Enhanced Location Maintenance - Ability to add locations graphically.. via map point selection.
  • Quiet Updates - ability to have HURRTRAK ONLINE update the system databases without displaying status window.
  • Expanded Hurricane History Database.. now from 1851 to 2005.. this contains best track information
  • Updated Watch and Warning breakpoints and Tide databases
  • Enhanced system and user preferences (options)

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