Improvements…
No respite for this application : two and a half months after integrating the currents into the routing calculation, this latest version provides significant advances on this function. The improvements bring greater precision to the calculation of the optimized route and new parameters allow for fine-tuning.
… and two pieces of good news :
They concern currents, follow the leader…
Currents :
First of all, the subscription to the Tidetech global current prediction service is reduced to 60$ (or approximately 45 €) yearly. This is a Weather4D specific offer, knowing that the normal rate is 348$. It therefore makes it possible to obtain GRIB files of currents for the whole world at less than 4 € per month. The subscription is on a dedicated page of Tidetech website.
Then new models of fine grid currents are provided for free by MyOcean (¹) and directly available in data settings. Three models are provided :
- IBI Model (Iberian-Biscay-Irish) : two resolutions 1/16 (4 NM) and 1/32 degree (2 NM), step 1h., up to 5 days.
- Mediterranean : 1/16 degree resolution (3,75 NM), step 24h., up to 8 days.
- Global : Global coverage at 0.5° and 1/12° (5 NM), step 24 hours steps, maturities at 7 days.
Routing :
There are many improvements :
The vector coastline is used to calculate an accurate distance to the coast
- Vector outline of the coast (200m accuracy).
- Better detection accuracy crossing ashore.
- More accurate routes simulation with currents.
- Routing algorithm improved with currents.
- Stimulation of boat heading with position icons (green and red).
- Capacity of routing without polar (engine-only routing).
- Displaying the route in case of partial routing.
- Saving the display isochronous selection.
- Polar : new TWS Max settings (Maximum True Wind Speed), TWS Min (Minimum True Wind Speed).
- Polar : can disable a sails set.
A window has been added to select fine-tuning before starting the route calculation :
- Selection passing waypoints for routing (You can choose to deselect some of them).
- Minimum distance to the coast (0 Nautical Mile, 1NM, 2NM, 5NM, 10NM, 20NM).
- Isochronous steps (15Minutes, 20Minutes, 1h, 3h, 6h).
- TWS Up Max (Maximum True Wind Speed close-hauled).
- TWS Down Max (Maximum True Wind Speed before the wind).
- Maximum wave height.
With this advanced settings set, the boater will be able to put constraints, e.g. wave height, that will determine more comfortable route, even if it is less efficient than the direct route, or in the worst case interrupt routing if weather conditions do not match these requirements (in that way, We don't go there !). Consideration of wave height should be considered a major element of crew well-being. The "engine only" routing function, i.e. without selecting a speed polar, is also extremely interesting to navigate the best route and therefore the most efficient fuel economy that may result. Finally, the choice of isochronous steps allows to adjust calculation of the optimization with route length.
Weather4D PRO 1.3.3 crosses yet another step on the way to excellence. In any case, this application offers, for a really low price, enough to satisfy the most demanding boaters of us.
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(¹) A word about MyOcean :
MyOcean is a project initiated by the European Commission and led by Mercator Ocean, the French analysis and ocean forecasting center. It fits into one of the 2 European Space Programmes named COPERNICUS. The other being GALILEO space program.
The MyOcean project aims to implement from 2014 a sustainable European service of oceanic survey to provide user-actionable forecasting products and services for all marine applications : Marine Safety, Marine Resources, Marine and coastal environment, weather forecast, Oceanographic and climatological.
MyOcean Acquires and compiles data of space and in-situ observations, the analyses, develop predictive ocean models, designing products and put it available for free to all relevant stakeholders on an internet portal. Ocean current forecasts, temperatures, salinity are, in example, are part of these products.
Bonjour
Many thanks again for your applications and their responsive and efficient developments.
The currents in W4D PRO are really great.
A quick question : I tried to retrieve the W4D current GRIB from MyOcean in iNavX but nothing appears !
Is there a particular manipulation or iNavX does not yet provide it? ?
Thank you for your answers
We sent the sample files to Rich Ray, this should soon be compatible if its “Todo List” is not too busy.
Hello, I updated the version 1.3.3
Thank you again for your work which is a valuable help.
I did several routing simulations this weekend. In some road cases, routing proves impossible. This seems to depend on the minimum distance to the coast parameter entered.. On a Cherbourg/St Peter route, routing is possible with distance to 0 but we pass too close to Cap de la Hague (danger). It is possible with distance 2 Nm but we hit the NE tip of Guernsey. It is impossible with distance 5 Nm. It is not impossible that I have mastered the new functions of the software poorly but can you reproduce this and tell me if it is a bug or an error on my part.
Thank you for your support
@damien:
Your example is interesting and I admit that I had not imagined this case. Unfortunately to date it is not possible to transfer part of a GRIB file to another. This said, I just did some tests and in your case if you section 48 hours of wind data (GCWF model) with currents at 1/18° you obtain a 360KB file (and 900KB at 1/36°).
Bonjour!
To start, congratulations for this application…
A quick question based on an example :
– I would like to go to Vannes > Cherbourg at a time T. On land before departure I retrieve a file with current and wind.( environ 3 Mo with the mesh 1/16 de myocean ) and I launch my routing.
Arrived off the coast of Guernsey, I capture an Edge network and download a new Grib file with only wind data ( connection not fast enough for the current ), roughly 50 KB. I would like to relaunch a routing for the Raz de Blanchard with the currents.
I haven't found how to mix the wind data from my brand new file with the current data from my old file… This would be interesting given the size of current files.
Thank you for your attention
damien
Bonjour
Update made
Everything works perfect
Thank you for your responsiveness
As well as that of Olivier
Extraordinary work you do
One last question
Outside of any external network, is it possible to bring together a PC and an iPad via WiFi to transfer gribs for example (received on PC to iPad)
Friendly
Roland
See articles on the subject in the category Network.
Weather4D Pro v1.3.3 is available on the App Store.
@Roland
Tidetch's new offering is linked to the release 1.3.3 by W4D. This is why the data sent back to you is not displayed. In fact you receive data from “demos” which are outside the temporal range covered by the atmospheric data. This version will be available within a few days. It was submitted to the App Store last Monday and normally the validation process lasts a week maximum.
@Benoit
The next developments in W4D will concern the connection with on-board instrumentation. Among others, NMEA PNKEP frames will be managed.
We can speak of both normal evolution and incredible development… Our iPad to date was more of a landing assistance screen, night navigation in the channel etc.… and now he is busy following closely behind the Maxsea which, with its Timezero version, doesn't completely convince me… More detailed “regatta” data, more tools for optimizing navigation… in brief, one goes down and the other goes up… When will the iPad repeaters be on deck?, this one having dethroned the tactical PC on the card table… consumption, ease of use… apart from tactile navigation not always easy with wet fingers, what is left for the others…
Bientôt un billet sur la répétition de l’iPad vers un écran déporté 😉
Bonjour
J’ai ouvert mon compte Tidetech
Je demande une zone: English Channel par ex
Je reçois manifestement mes gribs de courant
Mais ils ne s’affichent pas alors que j’ai bien activé le bouton d’affichage
Ai je raté une manip
Merci
Excellent !
Est-ce qu’il est possible de prendre en compte également les hauteurs d’eau ?
Merci pour ces articles fort intéressants !
Sincerely,
In this case, il faudrait aussi prendre en compte la pression atmosphérique qui peut influer sur la hauteur de la marée ! No, franchement il ne faut pas trop en demander, la navigation perdrait tout son charme 😎