HistoryHistory

Founded by Chris Compton at the Founded by Chris Compton at the Paducah, Kentucky Weather Forecast Paducah, Kentucky Weather Forecast Office in 2001.Office in 2001.

Wanted to find ways to increase Wanted to find ways to increase spotter participation, retention and spotter participation, retention and reporting during severe weather.reporting during severe weather.

Uses PHP and MySQLUses PHP and MySQL

HistoryHistory

Became a Central Region Web Became a Central Region Web Services project in 2002. Services project in 2002.

Chris Compton (ITO PAH) and Randy Chris Compton (ITO PAH) and Randy Breeser (DAPM ARX) formed the Breeser (DAPM ARX) formed the eSpotter Task Team.eSpotter Task Team.

Goal was to offer eSpotter on a region-Goal was to offer eSpotter on a region-wide basis.wide basis.

ParticipationParticipation

67 Weather Forecast Offices67 Weather Forecast Offices

Almost 24,000 Registered SpottersAlmost 24,000 Registered Spotters

And growing…And growing…

OverviewOverview

Web-based, browser operatedWeb-based, browser operated

Forecast Office Interface (Internal)Forecast Office Interface (Internal)

Public InterfacePublic Interface

Support Interface (Internal)Support Interface (Internal)

OverviewOverview Special Emergency Manager privilege Special Emergency Manager privilege

approved by local office.approved by local office.

Optional chat between office and Optional chat between office and emergency managers.emergency managers.

Ability to view incoming reports, and Ability to view incoming reports, and surrounding office reports.surrounding office reports.

Conference call notifications.Conference call notifications.

BenefitsBenefits Spotters get instant confirmation of Spotters get instant confirmation of

report receipt. No “black hole” feeling, report receipt. No “black hole” feeling, or doubt of receipt.or doubt of receipt.

Reports are automatically Reports are automatically acknowledged through the web acknowledged through the web interface.interface.

Also reduces the chance for Also reduces the chance for miscommunication of information.miscommunication of information.

BenefitsBenefits

Strictly controlled interaction prevents Strictly controlled interaction prevents burden on forecast staff during critical burden on forecast staff during critical weather.weather.

Public can only submit reports.Public can only submit reports.

Offices can send messages to spotters Offices can send messages to spotters for coordination and clarification.for coordination and clarification.

BenefitsBenefits

Greatly expanded capacity for Greatly expanded capacity for receiving near real-time, categorized receiving near real-time, categorized information, and at high volumes.information, and at high volumes.

Phone lines are limited at offices.Phone lines are limited at offices.

Personnel to handle radios, chat, and Personnel to handle radios, chat, and phone calls is limited.phone calls is limited.

BenefitsBenefits Encourages regular training, and Encourages regular training, and

participation in spotting.participation in spotting.

Trained spotters get access, data Trained spotters get access, data quality benefits.quality benefits.

Sense of belonging/ownership.Sense of belonging/ownership.

Controlled access discourages Controlled access discourages mischief, and eliminates anonymity.mischief, and eliminates anonymity.

No BarriersNo Barriers

Hundreds of spotters train every year, Hundreds of spotters train every year, but a fraction participate. How many but a fraction participate. How many are thinking this:are thinking this:

““I wouldn’t want to tie up their phones I wouldn’t want to tie up their phones reporting this.”reporting this.”

““They probably already know this.”They probably already know this.”

““It’s old information.”It’s old information.”

ReportsReports““Severe” ReportSevere” Report

Basic report for testing Basic report for testing concept.concept.

Quick and easy.Quick and easy.

Controlled information.Controlled information.

Flexibility for more detail Flexibility for more detail in narrative.in narrative.

ReportsReportsWinterWinter

Same ideas from severe Same ideas from severe report.report.

A little more detail A little more detail requested of the spotter.requested of the spotter.

No “required” criteria in No “required” criteria in any reports because we any reports because we wanted to see how usage wanted to see how usage would grow.would grow.

“ “Severe” report allows Severe” report allows for setting minimum size for setting minimum size threshold. (i.e., Can hide threshold. (i.e., Can hide 0.25” size per office.)0.25” size per office.)

DEMODEMO

Submitting a Submitting a ReportReport

DEMODEMO

Additional HighlightsAdditional Highlights

WFO & EM: Surrounding Area ReportsWFO & EM: Surrounding Area Reports

WFO: Weather Office Field MessagingWFO: Weather Office Field Messaging

Spotter: Incoming Message NotificationSpotter: Incoming Message Notification

WFO: Event LogsWFO: Event Logs

The FutureThe Future

Compliance with Security StandardsCompliance with Security Standards

Sustainability and Support as Enterprise Sustainability and Support as Enterprise ServiceService

Expansion and Increased Flexibility in Expansion and Increased Flexibility in ReportingReporting

Updated Technology and Improved Updated Technology and Improved PerformancePerformance

Questions?Questions?