Optimizing Weather Visualization with Imagery and Elevation Data

MetraWeather

MetraWeather, the international commercial brand of the Meteorological Service of New Zealand, is a global leader in providing innovative weather forecasting and analytics services. Backed by meteorological expertise, technical innovation and operational excellence, MetraWeather positions itself as the weather expert.

With more than 240 employees in New Zealand, Australia, Asia and Europe, MetraWeather supplies graphical weather presentation solutions to leading broadcasters and media companies around the world for over 20 years. Their leading solution Weatherscape XT is an advanced weather graphics and information system. In other words, it allows TV broadcasters to show high-quality graphics and maps of weather events in their daily news shows.

Improved Weather Graphics System for TV Broadcasters

How do you offer powerful weather intelligence, and visualize it in an engaging way? Providing accurate, up to date, stunning weather visualizations with attractive background maps has become highly critical in a very competitive environment.

MetraWeather’s challenge was to offer better background maps to their clients in Weatherscape XT. They recognized that their clients wished to have more visually appealing maps and up-to-date satellite imagery on which to present weather information. This request was due to the growing use of maps and satellite imagery in many applications across all industries, well beyond the broadcasting industry. As a result, people now expect to see detailed and attractive maps both in consumer and professional applications.

MetraWeather had already defined that those maps had to be based on satellite imagery and elevation data. They also had to offer a global coverage. They evaluated and tested a number of maps that did not meet their expectations in terms of quality, update options and technical feasibility.