Development of the National Development of the National Digital Forecast Database Web Digital Forecast Database Web

DisplayDisplay

Presented by: Marc SaccucciPresented by: Marc SaccucciNOAA/NWS/Meteorological Development LaboratoryNOAA/NWS/Meteorological Development Laboratory

http://weather.gov/forecasts/graphicalhttp://weather.gov/forecasts/graphical

NOAA WebShop 2004

> Introduction> Introduction

• The National Digital Forecast The National Digital Forecast

Database (NDFD) is a mosaic Database (NDFD) is a mosaic

of official Weather Forecast of official Weather Forecast

Office (WFO) forecastsOffice (WFO) forecasts

• The NDFD became a new experimental The NDFD became a new experimental public resource on the web in 2003public resource on the web in 2003

• Allows users and partners to create a wide Allows users and partners to create a wide range of text, graphic, and image productsrange of text, graphic, and image products

Example NDFD National Forecast GraphicExample NDFD National Forecast Graphic

> NDFD Web Presence> NDFD Web Presence

• Goal to make graphic and data rich page Goal to make graphic and data rich page accessible (Section 508 Compliant)accessible (Section 508 Compliant)

• Challenging due to graphical nature of Challenging due to graphical nature of product and quantity of data to displayproduct and quantity of data to display

> Scope of NDFD Data> Scope of NDFD Data• Approximately 15,000 Approximately 15,000

forecast images forecast images updated hourlyupdated hourly

• 5 km data resolution5 km data resolution• Many predefined zooms Many predefined zooms

(national, sectors, (national, sectors, states)states)

• Currently includes 9 Currently includes 9 forecast elements out to forecast elements out to 7 days 7 days

Example NDFD Forecast Image

> NDFD Predefined Regions> NDFD Predefined Regions

• 16 Sectors16 Sectors

• CONUSCONUS

• Every stateEvery state

• Puerto RicoPuerto Rico

• Coming soon:Coming soon:– AlaskaAlaska– HawaiiHawaii– GuamGuam

• Part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, amended in 1998 to include latest amended in 1998 to include latest information technologyinformation technology

• Created the requirement that Federal Created the requirement that Federal Agencies provide electronic information Agencies provide electronic information technology accessible to individuals with technology accessible to individuals with disabilitiesdisabilities

• Alternate methods of retrieving Alternate methods of retrieving information should be made available information should be made available unless it causes “undue burden”unless it causes “undue burden”

-source: www.section508.gov-source: www.section508.gov

> Section 508 Accessibility > Section 508 Accessibility OverviewOverview

> Accessibility Considerations> Accessibility Considerations

• Visual Visual – ColorblindnesColorblindnes

ss– BlindnessBlindness

• MobilityMobility

• CognitiveCognitive

• EquipmentEquipment

• SoftwareSoftware

> Accessibility Considerations: > Accessibility Considerations: VisualVisual

• ColorblindnessColorblindness– Perform color recognition tests Perform color recognition tests – Modify color curves to eliminate Modify color curves to eliminate

problems where possibleproblems where possible– When colors cannot be modified to When colors cannot be modified to

perfectly distinguish colors try:perfectly distinguish colors try:• ContrastContrast

• Context Context

> Accessibility Considerations: > Accessibility Considerations: VisualVisual• Deuteranopia Colorblindness Test Deuteranopia Colorblindness Test

(green)(green)

Image produced by:http://www.vischeck.com/vischeck/

> Accessibility Considerations: > Accessibility Considerations: VisualVisual• Protanopia Colorblindness Test (red)Protanopia Colorblindness Test (red)

Image produced by:http://www.vischeck.com/vischeck/

> Accessibility Considerations: > Accessibility Considerations: VisualVisual• Tritanopia Colorblindness Test Tritanopia Colorblindness Test

(blue/yellow)(blue/yellow)

Image produced by:http://www.vischeck.com/vischeck/

> Accessibility Considerations: > Accessibility Considerations: VisualVisual

• BlindnessBlindness– Make pages accessible to screen readersMake pages accessible to screen readers

• ““ALT” tags on all images ALT” tags on all images

• Check for <TAB> navigation easeCheck for <TAB> navigation ease

• Consistent page navigation Consistent page navigation

• Web page bookmarks to skip top navigation Web page bookmarks to skip top navigation (enter key)(enter key)

• Provide alternate methods of getting informationProvide alternate methods of getting information

> Accessibility Considerations: > Accessibility Considerations: VisualVisual

• Dynamic ImagesDynamic Images– Problem: “ALT” tags Problem: “ALT” tags

could not describe could not describe dynamic data dynamic data

– NDFD Solutions:NDFD Solutions:• Probe the data to Probe the data to

obtain forecast obtain forecast informationinformation

• Pop up alternate text Pop up alternate text representation of select representation of select point forecasts inlinepoint forecasts inline

• Include alternate “City Include alternate “City Forecasts” in plain Forecasts” in plain HTMLHTML

> Accessibility Considerations: > Accessibility Considerations: MobilityMobility

• Mobility Impairment ConsiderationsMobility Impairment Considerations– Similar to blindness considerations for screen readersSimilar to blindness considerations for screen readers– Do not assume mouse useDo not assume mouse use– Test <TAB> key page navigationTest <TAB> key page navigation– Utilize consistent page navigation Utilize consistent page navigation – Web page bookmarks to skip top navigation (enter key)Web page bookmarks to skip top navigation (enter key)– Provide alternate methods of getting informationProvide alternate methods of getting information

> Accessibility Considerations: > Accessibility Considerations: CognitiveCognitive

• Try to reduce the volume of informationTry to reduce the volume of information

• Supply multiple methods of viewing Supply multiple methods of viewing datadata– Users can choose a method that best suits their Users can choose a method that best suits their

needsneeds

• Simplify/summarize data where possibleSimplify/summarize data where possible

> Accessibility Considerations: > Accessibility Considerations: CognitiveCognitive• The NDFD Solution:The NDFD Solution:

– Split the forecast data into 12 hr Split the forecast data into 12 hr periods. (Daily View)periods. (Daily View)

– Split the forecast Split the forecast

data into element data into element

groupings groupings

(Weekly View)(Weekly View)– Provided rollover Provided rollover

forecast box at forecast box at

select citiesselect cities

> Accessibility Considerations: > Accessibility Considerations: EquipmentEquipment

• Connection SpeedsConnection Speeds– Download speeds are importantDownload speeds are important– Limit image file sizeLimit image file size– Provide navigation that allows users to jump to Provide navigation that allows users to jump to

choice pagechoice page

• Screen SizeScreen Size– Assume users only have 800X600 resolutionAssume users only have 800X600 resolution

> Accessibility Considerations: > Accessibility Considerations: SoftwareSoftware

• Avoid use of applets and pluginsAvoid use of applets and plugins• Sparingly use PDF formatSparingly use PDF format• Test pages with multiple browsersTest pages with multiple browsers

• Considerations before using various software:Considerations before using various software:– Use if document formatting must be perfectly maintained Use if document formatting must be perfectly maintained – Will slow user navigation downWill slow user navigation down– Can impact accessibilityCan impact accessibility– Will users be irritated/burdened by downloading software to Will users be irritated/burdened by downloading software to

view document?view document?

> NDFD Web: Future > NDFD Web: Future ImprovementsImprovements• Forecasts at every point Forecasts at every point

(Latitude/Longitude, zip code, street (Latitude/Longitude, zip code, street address, etc)address, etc)– Significantly improves accessibility to dataSignificantly improves accessibility to data

• Can provide data in:Can provide data in:– Daily summariesDaily summaries– MeteogramsMeteograms– Worded forecastsWorded forecasts– XML XML

• Now available at Now available at http://http://www.nws.noaa.govwww.nws.noaa.gov/forecasts/xml//forecasts/xml/

For More Information:For More Information:

NDFD Graphical Forecast Page:NDFD Graphical Forecast Page:http://weather.gov/forecasts/graphicalhttp://weather.gov/forecasts/graphical

NDFD Information Page:NDFD Information Page:http://www.nws.noaa.gov/ndfdhttp://www.nws.noaa.gov/ndfd

NDFD XML Web Service:NDFD XML Web Service:http://www.nws.noaa.gov/forecasts/xml/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/forecasts/xml/

Personal Email/Phone:Personal Email/Phone:marc.saccucci@noaa.govmarc.saccucci@noaa.gov

301.713-1768 x107301.713-1768 x107