Method for creating a 3-D image of terrain and associated weather

A method of displaying an illustration of weather relative to terrain using a computer system having a memory and a clock, wherein the memory contains a digital three-dimensional terrain map containing information relating to elevation and geographical features in a predetermined terrain, and wherein the clock provides time and date information, the method comprising:

• input to the computer system digital virtual real time weather information of weather conditions existing within the predetermined terrain at plural selected times, the digital weather information comprising one or more information sources selected from the group consisting of remote locations located at positions within the terrain, weather satellite, and doppler weather radar located at a position within the predetermined terrain, the weather conditions including clouds, storms and precipitation that may be present within the predetermined terrain;
• processing the digital three-dimensional terrain map and the digital virtual real time weather information to form a three-dimensional weather map illustrating clouds, storms, and precipitation in three dimensions relative to terrain elevation and geographical features within the predetermined terrain at the respective selected time;
• input to the computer system three-dimensional coordinates representing plural positions in space in relation to the digital three-dimensional terrain map, the plural positions representing a three-dimensional fly-by path which begins at an initial position and follows a path related in space to the composite digital terrain map;
• input to the computer system view angle information relating to a desired angle of view of weather relative to the terrain in the area represented by the digital three-dimensional terrain map along the fly-by path;
• processing the three-dimensional weather map relative to positions along the fly-by path and the respective view angle to generate a sequence of images to simulate a fly-by in three dimensions relative to the three-dimensional weather map;
• and
• displaying the sequence of images representing a view of weather relative to the terrain along the fly-by path from the view angle.

A computer system for displaying an illustration of weather relative to terrain, the computer system comprising

• a memory containing a digital three-dimensional terrain map containing information relating to elevation and geographical features in a predetermined terrain;
• a clock providing time and date information;
• a digital information processor;
• weather information input means for input to the processor digital virtual real time weather information of weather conditions existing within the predetermined terrain at plural selected times, the weather information input means comprising one or more information sources selected from the group consisting of remote locations located at positions within the terrain, weather satellite, and doppler weather radar located at a position within the predetermined terrain, the weather conditions including clouds, storms and precipitation that may be present within the predetermined terrain;
• the processor including first processing means responsive to the memory and the weather information input means for processing the digital three-dimensional terrain map and the digital virtual real time weather information to form a three-dimensional weather map illustrating clouds, storms, and precipitation in three dimensions relative to terrain elevation and geographical features within the predetermined terrain at the respective selected time;
• fly-by input means for input to the processor three-dimensional coordinates representing plural positions in space in relation to the digital three-dimensional terrain map, the plural positions representing a three-dimensional fly-by path which begins at an initial position and follows a path related in space to the composite digital terrain map;
• view angle input means for input to the processor view angle information relating to a desired angle of view of weather relative to the terrain in the area represented by the digital three-dimensional terrain map along the fly-by path;
• the processor including second processing means responsive to the first processing means, the fly-by input means and the view angle input means for processing the three-dimensional weather map relative to positions along the fly-by path and the respective view angle to generate a sequence of images to simulate a fly-by in three dimensions relative to the three-dimensional weather map;
• and
• display means responsive to the second processing means for displaying the sequence of images representing a view of weather relative to the terrain along the fly-by path from the view angle.