We have been getting a lot of comments about the new Super Resolution radar that most radar sites are now sending out. Some changes might be made to these images in RadarLab HD. Please tell us what you think.
The new super resolution radar data contains a lot more radar data (about 4 times as much) than a standard radar image. Because of all this extra data, there is less interpolation between data points when smoothing of the image is performed. This causes the images to look more grainy or not as smooth in RadarLab HD compared to the non super resolution radar images. Even though the image has a grainy appearance, it actually shows more valid radar data than the smoothed standard radar image. Our users have been commenting on this and some have requested a smoother looking super resolution image. We have been debating whether or not to make a change so that the super resolution radar images have as smooth a look as the regular radar images. We have been able to create a smoother image and I have posted two images created from the same super resolution data stream to show this. The first one is the current super resolution image that is displayed in RadarLab HD and the second one is the smoother image that we can produce using the super resolution data. Please let us know which one you like better and would like to see us use in RadarLab HD.
1. Current Super Resolution in RadarLab HD
2. Proposed Super Resolution in RadarLab HD
Comments (22)
I would think that those of us who use your radar data for severe weather tracking would prefer the images to be as accurate as possible. To cosmetically alter the image so that it looks "better" to somebody who just wants to see where its raining, seems like a waste of time. I think you have made great strides with your product and my personal preference is leave this request alone.
Posted by Bill Manion | August 22, 2008 11:59 AM
Posted on August 22, 2008 11:59
Bill,
I see your point, but when the "Smooth Radar" option is selected in RadarLab HD, the data is already cosmetically altered whether the image is standard or super resolution data. And this altered image is the one we are talking about here. That is why we have the "Smooth Radar" option so people can turn it off if they don't want to look at altered data. So I guess what I should have asked is when the "Smooth Radar" option is selected, which cosmetically altered image do you prefer for super resolution images, the first one or the second one.
Posted by Stacey Simmons | August 22, 2008 12:37 PM
Posted on August 22, 2008 12:37
I had forgotten about the smooth radar switch (because I don't use it) and the request does make more sense to me now. So I will bow out and let the users who use smoothing select the image of their choice. Keep up the good work.
Posted by Bill Manion | August 22, 2008 3:27 PM
Posted on August 22, 2008 15:27
My vote would be 100% to the smoother image.Thank you for all the hard work.
Posted by weathertracker | August 22, 2008 5:28 PM
Posted on August 22, 2008 17:28
I prefer the greater detail of the unsmoothed display, so long as it is true detail and not aliasing and/or artifacts. At high zooms especially the detail is worth preserving IMO.
Posted by Dave Wolfson | August 23, 2008 2:47 AM
Posted on August 23, 2008 02:47
I prefer the looks of the unaltered image or the non-smoothed one myself. Mark me down for image #1.
Posted by Mark Blue | August 23, 2008 8:49 AM
Posted on August 23, 2008 08:49
I want the most accurate radar image available. No smoothing for me please, just the facts.
Actually, I find the current image to be more pleasing than the proposed image.
OBTW, thanks for the new features, and the addition of StormSpotter data!
Posted by Sam Barricklow | August 23, 2008 10:15 AM
Posted on August 23, 2008 10:15
The second image looks like a jpeg that has been resampled too many times. I'd take the first, but then again I probably wouldn't be using the smoothing feature much anyway.
Posted by Paul Austin | August 23, 2008 10:53 AM
Posted on August 23, 2008 10:53
Mark Blue,
Just so you know both of the above images have been smoothed. So image number one has been altered. We are wanting to know which of the smoothed images you like better, 1 or 2. Both have been smoothed so both of them are altered.
Posted by Stacey Simmons | August 23, 2008 2:54 PM
Posted on August 23, 2008 14:54
The current image looks much better then the proposed. I wouldn't change it. I use both smoothing and non when viewing radar. But the current image is much better IMHO.
Posted by Anonymous | August 23, 2008 3:32 PM
Posted on August 23, 2008 15:32
I think you should change to the smoother image for the people who want the smooth radar and for people who don't want the altered image, they could just not click on the smooth radar box which would give the most accurate radar information.
Posted by weathertracker | August 23, 2008 4:33 PM
Posted on August 23, 2008 16:33
Smoothed image number 1 looks far better..almost unsmoothed.I wouldn't change it at all.
Also any chance of adding more loops to
the satl. animations ?
Posted by Jim Zandonai | August 25, 2008 5:53 PM
Posted on August 25, 2008 17:53
I much prefer the first smoothed image to the second one. The second one appears a bit TOO smoothed, and loses a bit of detail IMHO.
Posted by Mike V | August 27, 2008 10:38 AM
Posted on August 27, 2008 10:38
I would like to see the smoother image be on radar lab hd. That way I can have smoothness when I want it and I can take it off to see the most accurate radar data.
Posted by Austin | August 27, 2008 3:44 PM
Posted on August 27, 2008 15:44
First of all. thanks for RadarLab HD. One of the best features I've ever seen in a program.
I would easily prefer image #1. Even though it has been smoothed, it shows a greater amount of detail than image #2...much more like a raw image. The second image does appear to be a bit too smoothed, and I also feel it loses detail.
Also, I agree with Jim..it would be great to have longer satellite animations!
Thanks for all the great work!
Joe Maggio
Posted by Joe Maggio | August 30, 2008 2:24 PM
Posted on August 30, 2008 14:24
I prefer image number 1. It shows much more detail than the other one.
Posted by Alex | August 30, 2008 4:47 PM
Posted on August 30, 2008 16:47
Is it possible that you could could have both images on radar lab hd, and let the person choose which one.
Thank You
Posted by weathertracker | August 31, 2008 8:14 AM
Posted on August 31, 2008 08:14
I like the first image better. I will choose rather or not to have the data smoothed by checking it in the options.
Thanks,
Tim
Posted by Tim Willson | September 10, 2008 3:50 PM
Posted on September 10, 2008 15:50
I strongly prefer the detailed unsmoothed data in graphic 1. It depicts significantly greater fine detail, which is noticeably lost in the smoothed graphic 2. Afterall, we are paying for the most accurate information available.
Posted by Larry P | September 19, 2008 11:29 AM
Posted on September 19, 2008 11:29
I also prefer the first image. It shows much more detail.
Thanks
Posted by Rich Delboccio | December 13, 2008 10:05 AM
Posted on December 13, 2008 10:05
I like the second image. The color differences are more defined. Because of the answer from Stacey to Bill above I went and switched off smoothing. What a difference. I am definitely looking for differences in intensity. I think the second image represents that better.
Thanks for asking. Keep up the great work.
Posted by Robb Mutch | December 25, 2008 8:32 PM
Posted on December 25, 2008 20:32
Image two so long as we continue to have the ability to turn smoothing off.
Posted by Paul Roberts | December 30, 2008 1:43 AM
Posted on December 30, 2008 01:43