Phase I project will research the problems, current operations, file structures, and data compression requirements to facilitate the rapid error-free transmission of weather maps, alphanumeric weather data sets, and satellite images. Supporting the Interagency Fire Weather Program, it will also research the commercially available hardware and software which will meet transportability, reliability, maintainability, and power requirements.Field experiments will be conducted to evaluate actual rates of error as first-order functions of transmission band, linking method, and compression techniques. The goal will be to define, and in a lab prototype, to demonstrate a system which is able to provide the National Weather Service with rapid, error-free transmission and the ability to print at the receiving station, with the requisite resolution, both maps and satellite images. The project will form the basis for a capability of NWS to transmit both graphics and alphanumeric.Commercial application:Transmission of files containing a mixture of graphics and text. Expected users include all transmitters of weather information, trucking companies, search and rescue teams, businesses with remote and/or mobile operations, etc.
