3. Foreast View

3.1. Visualisation of the Forecasts

ELFI’s visualisation module in the main menu is designed to satisfy each user’s individual needs of looking and analysing WEPROG’s forecast data from the MSEPS. In order to fulfill this objective, we have designed the visualisation tool in conjunction with a forecast graphics composer that allows to compose the way the forecast data shall be displayed by the user rather than haveing a fixed setup that the user may not like or that does not fulfill the user’s individual needs.

The design focuses on efficiency and ease of use. So, once a user has set up a number of templates of the graphics that are most relevant for her/him, each of these can be accessed with just 1 click.

The interface is empty to start with or contains one example that was set up by WEPROG.

When entering the visualisation of the Forecast View Interface, the user will see her/his list of pre-configured forecast views or links to download pre-configured forecasts.

Once the user has chosen the first item from the list, this item is selected and either a pop-up window opens to save the data or the visualisation interface is shown with the graph of the selected view.

The user will always see the list of pre-configured graphics or downloadable data at the left side of the graph in order to fast and efficient walk from one forecast view to another with only 1 click.

In fact, there are a number of features and links that assist in moving fast and efficient from one forecast visualisation to another. These are:

• permanent access to compose a new forecast view with the black menu on the left side of the page
• permanent access of the list of previously configured views at the left lower side of the page
• fixed forward-backward stepping possibility to the chosen time interval
• link to stored configurations

The following pictures shows the interface. Details on how to compose and surf the forecast view can be found in the FAQ section on graphics composer and in the Example section ( step-by-step compose example).

3.2. Composer - Compose Forecast View

The interface “Compose Forecast Graph” is a feature that allows the user to define user specific views of the forecast data and save the setup in order to create a routine set of forecasts to be viewed and analysed regularly.

The procedure to compose a graphical forecast view or to generate a link to download the same type of data is a step by step procedure that allows to adjust the graph to individual requirements:

There are 8 steps, where the user can make a selection:

1. Location
2. Variable
3. Duration
4. Time zone
5. Output mode
6. Output settings
7. View
8. Store settings

Once the graphics view or the downloadable data is stored, the user will find the saved configurations as start page in the forecast view menu and besides the graph when a graphical configuration has been selected.

Changes in the selection of one parameter in stored configurations can be made visible immediately by using the View button. It is not necessary to always go through the entire menu.

The details in how to create and view the composed forecast views can be found in section compose-forecast-details