Friendly access to radar images: advanced database hosting rain maps, patterns, their descriptors and models

Abstract

The database developed for the meteorological radar of Spino d'Adda in north Italy is presented as an example of automation in this field. The system has facilities for collection, retrieval, and modeling of radar images of rain as well as their components (individual patterns) and descriptors. The SPINO80-GRM software applies techniques of image analysis to radar rain data in order to identify and characterize the required data items (rain patterns) and then organizes them into a hierarchical, relational database. The component retrieval is based on a free combination of its attributes: some statistical investigations are also possible.<>