
Post by
YourMomSA | 2020-07-02 | 14:17:34
Thanks for considering it. Here's what I had in mind, but if you don't like the idea, that's ok with me. I need to use my own time zone in the example, so I apologize if it doesn't match up with yours...
-The new wind forecast update starts at 1030. Usually we see the first updates in Zezo sometime between 1033 and 1038. Then of course it builds out further and further, usually finishing its update around 1200. Then the table update runs at 1215 or 1220 or so.
-My proposal is to run the program that updates the table at 1045, 1100, 1115, 1130, 1145, 1200, and 1215.
-You suggest that we wouldn't want to use a partially updated forecast, but my thought is actually exactly the opposite... My idea is that at 1100, it would be helpful to know what the latest partially updated forecast says. But then it would be overwritten with a "more complete partial" 15 minutes later, and so on.
-The important thing with managing the partials would be for the user to be able to see which table entries are fully within the new forecast's horizon, and which are partial. This could be done with color codes or fonts or maybe just with text indicating the end date/time of the latest forecast update. Or, if you prefer to only show those that are fully represented, you could choose to leave the boxes blank white until the finish falls within the latest forecast horizon. I'm not sure which would be better, as you are correct that partial-forecast estimates could be worse than no data at all in some cases.
-To clarify further, I don't mean to request new columns every 15 minutes. The columns would stay the same as we see now. It's just that each time a new column arrives, it would be updated several times before it's considered final.
Anyway... no need to go to a lot of trouble for this idea. Particularly because it is true that one can run those numbers individually anyway. Just an idea that crossed my mind when it was 1135 or so and the table update was still 45 minutes away.