13. FAQ: Curve calculation¶
13.1. What can I do with the curve calculation?¶
Using this interface you can copy production data from a selected data curve into another data curve. All data is scaled by comparing the maximum value of the source curve with the maximum value of the target curve.
13.2. How to use the curve calculation interface?¶
The curve calculation interface allows to compile a curve based multiple existing curves. This means that you can select data curves, and combine them in a mathematical equation. You could, for example, calculate a new curve which represents the average of multiple existing curves.
To get to the curve calculation interface, hover your mouse pointer over Tools in the top site menu and then click on Curve calculation.
After that, the process of calculating a curve consists of four main steps:
- Selecting the source forecast
- Selecting the data time frame
- Selecting the the curves for the equation
- Selecting a destination forecast and curve
Selecting the source forecast
First of all you have to select the forecast that is used as the source for the data in the calculation. Select a location 1 and forecast variable 2. You can also set the data mode 3 for the source forecast.
Selecting the data time frame
Now you can select the time frame for the calculation. The time frame defines when the calculation of the curve starts 1 and ends 2. You can either use the input boxes 1 2, which will open up a calendar, or the slider handles 3 4 to select the time frame. You can also select a time zone 5 for the time values.
Besides that, it is possible to select what curve should be highlighted in the preview image 6.
There will no data be calculated before or after the selected time frame.
Selecting the curves
Now we come to the main part. The next step is to select the curves which should be used in the calculation. By default, the new curve will be the average of these selected curves.
You can activate a curve, so that it will be part of the calculation, by clicking on its name 1.
Then it is possible to determine how much influence the individual curves will have in the calculation. This can be done by changing the curve’s weight value 2. The weight value determines how much influence the curve should have in the calculation relative to all other selected curves.
One way to think of it is like this: The starting point is that all curves are averaged: If one curve now has double as much weight as another one, then the new curve is “pulled” twice as much to the values of the first curve than to the values of second curve. See here for more information on curve calculation.
The actual mathematical factor 3 which will be used on the curve’s values is displayed as well. And if you wish, you can preview one of the cuves in the time frame selection by clicking on the show 4 link.
At the bottom of the curve selection you can see the summary of the curve factors. These, because of the weight system, always add up to 1.
It is also possible to define a manual factor for each of the curves without weight system. It should be noted, that this is not recommended. Yet, the interface supplies a link called manual factor editing at the top right corner of the curve selection. Clicking it replaces the weight based interface with the possibility to enter custom factors.
Selecting a destination curve
Now everything has been done for the system to know how the new curve should be calculated and composed. All that has to be done now is to select where the new values should be stored.
Scroll down to the section Target Data Curve and select a location 1, a forecast variable 2 and a target curve 3 to store the generated curve.
As soon as you have selected everything (source, time and destination) a button with the label Start transfer 4 will appear. All you have to do now is to click it, and to wait a short moment for the success message 5.
After that your new data curve will be available in the forecast interface, in the curve of the location and variable which you selected as destination.
13.3. How are the values computed when I change the weight of curves?¶
By default, an average is calculated for all selected curves. The weight defines how much influence a curve has on the resulting curve.
For example: If there are three curves selected
- two with a weight of 100%
- one with a weight of 50%
Then the first two curves will each have double as much influence compated to the third curve. The result is that the first two curves will each make 40% (factor 0.4) of the resulting values, and the third curve will make 20% (factor 0.2), half as much, of the result (40% + 40% + 20% = 100%). As one the weight for one of the curves decreases, the factor for all other curves increases. And if the weight of one of the curves increases, the factor for other curves decreases.
As a consequence, if the third curve’s weight would be moved back up to 100%, it’s factor would increase from 0.2 to 0.333, but the factors of the other curves would be reduced from 0.4 to 0.333.
13.4. How are values calculated for a given point in time?¶
The application takes all the values of the selected curves for a given point in time, multiplies them with their factors, adds the values up, and stores the result as new value in the destination curve for that point in time. This process is repeated for every point in time between the start and end time.
Note
Availability changes can only be assigned for an already registered unit.