System and Method for Displaying Storm Tracks

Abstract

A system and method for displaying storm tracks is provided. The method includes combining topographic imagery, preferably high-resolution photographic images, with storm path vectors. The method further comprises panning along the storm path vector, in a “zoomed-in” mode, to allow site-specific depiction of geographic landmarks and expected times of arrival. A system for performing the method includes control logic which causes a computer system to execute the steps of the method is also provided.

1 . A system for tracking storms comprising:
 a. a memory for storing topographical imagery for a geographical area; and   b. a logic configured to receive meteorological data related to storms in the geographic area, process the meteorological data to define at least one storm path vector and create a composite image by combining the topographical imagery and storm path vector where the storm path vector essentially bisects the composite image.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  where the composite image further comprises at least one associated boundary area that a storm in the geographic area may affect. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising logic configured to display only a portion of the storm path vector at any point in time. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3  further comprising logic configured to display an arrival time indicator. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the topographical imagery comprises one or more high-resolution photographic images. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the topographical imagery comprises one or more high-resolution photographic images. 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus for automatically displaying the projected movement of a storm with high-resolution overhead photographic images of a geographic area wherein the apparatus comprises a software or firmware encoded on tangible media operated on by a processor, said processor being programmed to perform the steps of:
 a. allowing an user to select at least one storm;   b. obtaining the geographic location, predicted direction of movement, and predicted speed of advance of the storm;   c. generating a storm path vector from the storm's current geographic location, predicted direction of movement, and predicted speed of advance;   d. allowing the user to select at least one time interval premised upon the storm path vector;   e. creating one or more composite images by combining the storm path vector with one or more high-resolution photographic images of a geographical area; and   f. displaying the one or more composite images; and   g. automatically progressing along the storm path vector, advancing in time toward, wherein a segment of the storm path vector is displayed at any point in time, after receiving an user input initiating said progression along the storm path vector.   
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising a processor programmed to display an arrival time indicator communicating the estimated arrival of the storm at a particular location. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 7  further comprising the step of generating a boundary area that the storm may affect during some future time interval and wherein the step of creating one or more composite images by combining the storm path vector with one or more high-resolution photographic images of a geographical area further includes combining the boundary area. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said one or more composite images includes the names of geographic landmarks. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein one or more geographic landmark names are automatically displayed during the displaying step when the expected future position of the storm is near the geographic landmark. 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus for tracking a projected path of a storm wherein the system comprises a software or firmware encoded on tangible media operated on by a processor, said processor being programmed to perform the steps of:
 a. allowing an user to select at least one storm;   b. obtaining the geographic location, predicted direction of movement, and predicted speed of advance of the storm;   c. generating a storm path vector from the storm's current geographic location, predicted direction of movement, and predicted speed of advance;   d. allowing the user to select at least one time interval premised upon the storm path vector;   e. creating one or more composite images by combining the storm path vector with one or more high-resolution photographic images of a geographical area; and   f. displaying the one or more composite images; and   g. automatically progressing along the storm path vector, advancing in time toward, wherein a segment of the storm path vector is displayed at any point in time, after receiving an user input initiating said progression along the storm path vector.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the topographic imagery comprises one or more high-resolution photographic images.