NOAA online charts with wind forecast, geolocation and more

Jelf

.
Mar 10, 2015
4
None yet 24 Seattle
Hello Everyone,

The following link will display the NOAA raster charts that cover the USA. The charts are loaded to your screen directly from NOAA's GIS (Geographical Information System) server. Note that there is no data for areas far from any coast and far from the Great lakes. Be patient. The charts may take a few seconds to appear.

http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gma...m/p/public_land_map/USA/USA_NOAA_nautical.txt

To find your area do Menu ==> Search. If you are zoomed in a bunch then you will see the super detailed charts.

The software displaying the charts is Gmap4 which is an enhanced Google map viewer that I developed. Gmap4 map links will open in most browsers on most devices from smartphones to desktop computers. Your browser does have to be online in order to open the map.

If you open a Gmap4 map link with a mobile browser then you automatically see a touch-friendly interface. Also on mobile devices that include a GPS feature you can do Menu ==> "My location" and the map will center at your position. The symbol you see will follow you as you move. Touch that symbol and your coordinates will be displayed.
(You might need to turn the GPS feature on and give permission to your browser to use the GPS data.)

Please click the "About this map" link in the upper left corner of the map to:
* Learn how to turn other GIS overlay layers on/off and restack layers
* Get tips for using the map
* See links to documentation for displaying GIS data with Gmap4

To display the list of basemaps and GIS overlay layers, click the basemap button (it is next to the 'Menu' button). Click the overlay layers to turn them on/off. The first layer you turn on will be #1 and at the bottom of the stack. The last layer you turn on will have the highest number and be at the top of the stack.

This map is part of a project I am doing to make Gmap4 links that show GIS recreation information at both the federal and state level. Here is the homepage for this project where you will find links to the other maps that have already been produced.
http://www.propertylinemaps.com/p/public_land_map.html

If I have already processed your state then you might want to check and see if there is a map link with boating information specific to your state. States that are done include New York, Maryland, Florida, California, Oregon and Washington.

Joseph, the Gmap4 guy
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Re: NOAA online charts with wind forecast, geolocation and m

Nice job. A quality seamless raster viewer. You are right, the tiling is a little on the slow side, but not too bad at all. What are your longer term plans with that? I can see using it as a desktop route/destination viewer.
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Re: NOAA online charts with wind forecast, geolocation and m

Making the weather overlay translucent would be handy.

Changing the wind from simple arrows to barbs (direction and speed) would be handy.
 

Jelf

.
Mar 10, 2015
4
None yet 24 Seattle
Nice job. A quality seamless raster viewer. You are right, the tiling is a little on the slow side, but not too bad at all. What are your longer term plans with that? I can see using it as a desktop route/destination viewer.
Long term plans are to continue to maintain the Gmap4 code and add selected features. For example, later this year I plan to add more GPS-like features.

Also as time allows I am going to produce more Gmap4 map links that display recreation data for additional states.
 

Jelf

.
Mar 10, 2015
4
None yet 24 Seattle
Making the weather overlay translucent would be handy.

Changing the wind from simple arrows to barbs (direction and speed) would be handy.
The wind data is hosted on a GIS (Geographical Information System) server operated by NOAA. All Gmap4 does is display that data. The symbol is defined by whoever setup that server.

Now the good news.

NOAA is just finishing a huge project to upgrade their GIS server technology. I am one of their beta testers. They expect to go 'live' around May-June. The new data will include wind barbs, tide predictions and much more. I will be converting all the Gmap4 links that I am hosting to make use of this new data.

Joseph, the Gmap4 guy
 

richk

.
Jan 24, 2007
495
Marlow-Hunter 37 Deep Creek off the Magothy River off ChesBay
Re: NOAA online charts with wind forecast, geolocation and m

Jelf...just a thought; you may want to include a key to what the barbs mean or a link to an explanation.
2 cents from a retired USN wxperson
 

Jelf

.
Mar 10, 2015
4
None yet 24 Seattle
Jelf...just a thought; you may want to include a key to what the barbs mean or a link to an explanation.
2 cents from a retired USN wxperson
I just remembered that there is a GIS layer you can turn on that displays wind barbs and not just arrows. Here is a map showing the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca. There is a wind barb just above the map center.

http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gma...m/p/public_land_map/USA/USA_NOAA_nautical.txt

To see the map legends, including the wind barb key, please click the "About this map" link in the upper left corner.

The Gmap4 homepage has a FAQ, examples, quick start info (on the Help page) and more to quickly get you up to speed.

Gmap4 default map: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php

Gmap4 homepage: http://www.mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.html

Joseph, the Gmap4 guy


When the new GIS data goes 'live' later this year you will be able to click the wind barb and get a popup with data.
 

richk

.
Jan 24, 2007
495
Marlow-Hunter 37 Deep Creek off the Magothy River off ChesBay
Re: NOAA online charts with wind forecast, geolocation and m

thanks, great!