VISIT
Virtual
Institute for Satellite Integration Training
The Virtual Institute for Satellite Integration Training (VISIT) program, part of the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, performs pioneering research in the use of tools, data and techniques that advance the visualization of atmospheric data and support distance learning activities in the atmospheric sciences.
The National Weather Service in the United States, as well as the World Meteorological Organization and weather services in other countries, have used this research to decentralize their training activities for their respective constituents.
The freely available VISITview software continues to evolve as community feedback is received. To date, more than 14,000 people throughout the world have used VISITview for collaborative and distance learning activities. It has been adopted for use by the World Meteorological Organization, the U.S. National Weather Service, as well as the national meteorological organizations in Finland and Australia. The effective collaboration capability of VISITview was recognized during the High Profile Training Event, conducted in 2006.
A primary objective of this VISIT work is to effectively integrate and maximize the use and benefits of GOES (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) and POES (Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellite) meteorological satellite imager and sounder data into the weather analysis, forecast and storm warning decision-making processes.
The satellite component is being developed through the collaboration of experts at two NOAA Cooperative Institutes: the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) at Colorado State University, and CIMSS. The VISIT team also works closely with scientists in the NWS COMET program.