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3D Weather – Towards a Real-time 3D Simulation of Localised Weather presented at EVA 2011

The published paper presented Head’s research into interactive environments and data modelling which informed this project, the aim of which was to explore if there is a better way ‘to explain the weather’. The project explored the representation of the weather using 3D graphics, challenging the current practice of forecasts using satellite views, maps, symbols, words and numbers.

The research explores new data-driven techniques to create a modelled weather depiction in real-time (a ‘nowcast’ rather than a forecast), which matches our visual experience of weather, rather than the multiplicity of symbols and views currently endured, with the aim of ensuring greater authenticity.

This multi-platform software application displays weather events from a localised ‘ground-up’ perspective rather than a satellite ‘top-down’ view. Despite the plethora of weather software in the marketplace, no system currently adopts this approach. The research is currently at the prototype software stage and has had interest and collaboration from the Met Office. The paper describes the early stages of this project and the issues that are involved.