Three Dimensional Spherical Display Systems and McIDAS:
Tools for Science, Education and Outreach
Rick Kohrs
MUG Team Programmer
McIDAS Users’ Group Meeting
Madison, WI
October 25-28th, 2010
2008 – Received a Wisconsin Idea Grant to Purchase a Globe
Wisconsin Idea Goal is to Share the University’s Research
Locally
Locally
Statewide
Statewide
Nationally
Nationally
Locally
Science
Science Expeditions
Expeditions
School
School Groups
Groups and
and Workshops
Workshops
Community
Community Events
Events
Local
Local Museums
Museums
Statewide
Milwaukee
Milwaukee Public
Public Museum
Museum
Experimental
Experimental Aviation
Aviation Museum
Museum
Nationally
NOAA’s
NOAA’s Science
Science on
on aa Sphere
Sphere Network
Network
AMS
AMS WeatherFest
WeatherFest
In House Outreach
Telling the Story
Wow
Wow Factor
Factor
Darkened
Darkened Room
Room
Bleacher
Bleacher Seating
Seating
Ready
Ready to
to Listen
Listen and
and Learn
Learn
Led
Led by
by Outreach
Outreach Specialists
Specialists
In House Outreach
Using McIDAS-X to Create Educational Animations
Sunlight
Sunlight –– Start
Start at
at the
the very
very beginning
beginning
Daily
Daily
Yearly
Yearly –– Talk
Talk about
about Antarctic
Antarctic Research
Research
Satellites
Satellites
Sun
Sun Synchronous
Synchronous
Orbit
Orbit
Scanning
Scanning
Geostationary
Geostationary –– Talk
Talk about
about Dr.
Dr. Suomi
Suomi
Orbit
Orbit
Location
Location
Scanning
Scanning
Sensors
Sensors
Visible
Visible
Infrared
Infrared
Water
Water Vapor
Vapor
In House Outreach
Using McIDAS-X to Create Educational Animations
Oceans
Oceans
Temperatures
Temperatures
Anomalies
Anomalies
Air
Air Sea
Sea Interactions
Interactions
Water
Water Vapor
Vapor &
& Sea
Sea Surface
Surface Temperatures
Temperatures
Hurricanes
Hurricanes –– Talk
Talk about
about Hurricane
Hurricane Research
Research
Climatology
Climatology
Atmosphere
Atmosphere
Streamlines
Streamlines –– 3D
3D
Model
Model
Planets
Planets
Weather
Weather Facts
Facts –– Talk
Talk about
about Planetary
Planetary Research
Research
Earthquakes
Earthquakes
In House Outreach
Using McIDAS-X to Create Educational Animations
Adding
Adding in
in Real-Time
Real-Time Data
Data
Global
Global Satellite
Satellite Images
Images
Earthquakes
Earthquakes
GFS
GFS Model
Model Data
Data
Real-Time Data
MTSAT
GOES-West
GOES-East
McIDAS-X
McIDAS-X or V
Server
Client
o
Meteosat 0
o
Meteosat 57 E
Polar (6)
McIDAS-X
cron process
mcenv
IMGDISP
FRMSAVE
conversion
McIDAS-V
create bundle
cron process
python script
conversion
McIDAS-X or V
Client
Taking the Globe on the Road
Standalone Exhibit
Touch
Touch screen
screen interface
interface to
to create
create aa learning
learning environment
environment for
for visitors
visitors
Choose
Choose animation
animation
Watch
Watch the
the animation
animation
Listen
Listen to
to description
description of
of animation
animation
Read
Read short
short facts
facts about
about animation
animation
Madison
Madison Children’s
Children’s Museum
Museum
Test
Test exhibit
exhibit for
for both
both us
us and
and museum
museum
Needed
Needed parent
parent interaction
interaction for
for younger
younger kids
kids (~
(~ 33rdrd grade)
grade)
Space
Space Place
Place
Added
Added planet
planet information
information to
to touch
touch screen
screen
Milwaukee
Milwaukee Public
Public Museum
Museum
Experimental
Experimental Aviation
Aviation Museum
Museum
First
First time
time using
using real-time
real-time data
data
Workshops Take Advantage of McIDAS-V 3D Capabilities
Summer High School Workshops
Scientist
Scientist led
led discussions
discussions
History
History
Satellites
Satellites
Modeling
Modeling
3D
3D Sphere
Sphere
Reinforce
Reinforce information
information
Computer
Computer Lab
Lab Exercises
Exercises
Introduction
Introduction to
to McIDAS-V
McIDAS-V
Tutorials
Tutorials
Hands
Hands on
on examples
examples designed
designed by
by scientists
scientists
Presentation
Presentation of
of information
information
Hurricane Wilma
October 2005
United Airlines Flight 967
Turbulence Case – June 2010
Summary
3D
3D Globe
Globe
Improved
programs
Improved the
the quality
quality of
of our
our in-house
in-house outreach
outreach programs
Provided
Research
an avenue
avenue to
to share
share the
the University’s
University’s Research
Provided an
McIDAS-X
McIDAS-X
Used
composite satellite
satellite images
images and
and other
other products
products
Used to
to create
create composite
Allows
updating 3D
3D globe
globe with
with real-time
real-time data
data
Allows for
for updating
McIDAS-V
McIDAS-V
Used
Used in
in workshops
workshops for
for in-depth
in-depth studies
studies
Allows
Allows for
for updating
updating 3D
3D globe
globe with
with real-time
real-time data
data
Freely
Freely Available
Available
http://www.ssec.wisc.edu/mcidas