PRISM.ie
marine forecasting system –
integrated modelling & web
mapping
Brendan Dollard
Environmental Technologist
CleanTech
Enterprise Ireland
Objectives of the PRISM project
• Development of automated predictive models of the Irish Sea
and selected inshore regions
• Website will be developed to display the output from the
models developed within PRISM.
• Website will be developed to allow end users to make “what
if” calculations on environmental issues.
• Website will be developed to promote the tourism and leisure
industries by providing forecasts of wind, sailing and surfing
conditions.
Overview of the Prism.ie System
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Provides easy to interpret map access to output from
Irish Sea computer wave and hydrodynamic forecast
models.
Dynamically reads output from models that run on a
daily basis and prepares these for web viewing.
Allows model data animation - scroll through six
hourly forecast.
Graphing of detailed data at key locations.
Provides a technology approach that is readily
extendible to other models and applications.
Models in PRISM
Hydrodynamic models
Irish Sea model – POLCOMS
NE Atlantic model – ECOMSED
Dublin Bay model – SWAN, DIVAST
Wave model
PRO-WAM
• Forecast outputs: 48 hrs time period covered
Agreement between the measured (solid black curve)
and simulated (dashed blue curve) Hs (m) at buoy
M5.
Met Eireann
Met Data
Automation
chart
Raw data
Poseidon
flow
Met Archive
Converted data
Neptune
Met Archive
Surge model
Hydrodynamic model
Make Input files
Make Input files
Run Tide +Met
48 hrs
Restart file
6 hrs
48 hrs
Run Tide
6hrs
Run Tide
+Met 42hrs
Run Tide +Met
6hrs
Run Tide + Met
72 hrs
Friday @ 5pm
Run Tide
42hrs
Restart file+
output
Restart file+
output
Output
Backup
Output
Output
Output
Calc. surge
Forecast
Upload to ftp
Website
Automation - overview
• Machine specification
- 32 bit IBM XSERIES_255 server
- operational system: LINUX
- 8 processors Intel(R) Xeon(TM) MP CPU 3.00 GHz
• Timing
- ~ 70 minutes for POLCOMS model (1 processor)
- ~ 125 minutes for ECOMSED models (1 processor)
- ~ 95 minutes for SWAN models run in parallel (6 processors)
- ~ 25 minutes for DIVAST model (1 processor)
- < 2 minutes for pre-processing
- ~ 5 minutes for post-processing and uploading to ftp site
Prism.ie Process Diagram
HD
Model
Six hourly
file transfer
to server
Map
Server
Present
model
data in
mapping
system
PRISM.IE
WAVE
Model
Parse
model
files and
put in
database
Once a day
file transfer
to server
Database
Prism.ie System Elements
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Core elements are computational models, data
pump application, map viewer, and associated
website.
Forecast
data
Response
Data Pump
Viewer
Request
Forecast
data
Map
data
Data Pump Process
Test for
new files
Sleep
Deleting
Download
Unpacking
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Loading
to database
Parsing
Outlines the steps in polling, download, parsing, loading, optimising of model data.
Importantly this dynamically creates raster layers of the model results and
optimises these for web display.
Dynamic creation of wind vectors also is facilitated.
Data Pump Application
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Configurable
and traceable
process.
Data Pump Application
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Can run as a
background
process on same
server, or other
server.
Application architecture
Workstation
Presentation Tier
Internet
Computer
Web server
ArcIMS Application Server Connectors
Business Logic Tier
ArcIMS Application Server
ArcSDE Spatial Server
Data Storage Tier
Database
Laptop
ERIS – Gas cloud dispersal
T+36hrs
ERIS – Oil spill dispersal
T+36hrs
Outcome
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A web based system useful in its own right.
Capable of extension to other sea areas –
computational models are already largely in place.
System approach allows ready extension to other
computational models (river, air, noise, transport).
Delivered under a research project and now an
operational system.
Benefits
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A better understanding of the environment through the
use of computer models that will result in practical
tools suitable for use in planning and management
decisions.
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The results and tools that are being developed within
the project have been placed on web pages that the
public will be able to access. One aspect of the work
will concern safety at sea and the education of the
public to the dangers that are inherent in marine
leisure activities.
The project was highly successful in its goals of
developing ocean modelling expertise in both Ireland
and Wales, in producing operational forecasts that
can be viewed by the public via dedicated web pages,
and in creating a networking environment that
brought together a community of researchers and
end users.
Accelerating the growth of
Irish companies in world
markets
Driving competitiveness and growth
in CleanTech
Capitalise on emerging opportunities
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Waste Management & Recycling
Renewable Energy
Energy Efficiency
Water
Services
Focusing on areas of strong growth potential with existing capability…..
Driving competitiveness and growth
in CleanTech
Sectoral Initiatives
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Financing
Internationalisation
Networks & Collaboration
Early Reference sites
International Office Network (31 Offices)
North America
Boston
New York
Silicon Valley
Toronto
Northern Europe
Amsterdam
Brussels
Glasgow
London
Paris
Stockholm
Southern Europe,
Middle East and Africa,
Latin America
Dubai
Madrid
Mexico City
Milan
Riyadh
Sao Paulo
Germany, Central and
Eastern Europe, Russia
and CIS
Budapest
Dusseldorf
Moscow
Prague
Warsaw
Asia / Pacific
Beijing
Guangzhou
Hong Kong
Kuala Lumpur
New Delhi
Seoul
Shanghai
Singapore
Sydney
Tokyo
Enterprise Ireland Funding Supports
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Funding to explore new ideas / new markets
Funding for Start-up companies
Growth Funding
R&D Offer
Government Stabilisation Fund
Research
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Enterprise Ireland’s offer to clients is both financial
and non-financial.
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Enterprise Ireland works as a partner to support you
to
Plan your strategy and development
 Develop capabilities and skills
 Access overseas markets and new technologies
 Finance start-up, growth and innovation projects
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Brendan Dollard – 01 727 2279
Email; brendan.dollard@enterprise-ireland.com