Standardizing ice reports - HELP

[DN 805]

Now you're getting the idea. 
The goal should be to inform iceboaters with regard to a number of variables.

[Ken Smith]

I agree with the multiple choice idea.  Who can/will do it?  Maybe I can get our web guys to add an app if someone writes it...

My stab at a multiple choice ice report.  Three are a few fill-ins:

Lake:

Nearest Town:

State or Province:

Ice thickness  "Th":  a.  More than 5 inches  b.  4-5 inches c. 3-4 inches  d.  2.5 - 3 inches 

Ice surface character (under the snow, if applicable) for majority of sail area "Ch": 
a. black, smooth  b. white, refrozen snow  c. Refrozen chunks after sheet first broke-up d. Black, but rough  e. Soft spring ice

Snow cover "Scov":  a.  none  b. occasional coverage (<20%)  c. scattered (20-40%)  d. overcast (40-60%)  e. covered (60-100%)

Snow fell when "Sage": 
a.  none  b. last day or fluffy  c. 2-3 days ago or a bit stiff  d.  Wet and slushy  d. Hard bumps  e. hard plus new snow on top

Deepest drifts Sdepth:  a. less than 1.5 inches  b. 2-3 inches c. 3 - 4 inches  d. 4-6 inches e. more than 6 inches

Estimated good sailing area "L": 
a. Mile (1.7 km) or more, any direction  b. Mile or more, with good wind, 1/2 (.8 km) mile or more, adverse wind   c. 3/4 of  option "a"  d.  3/4 of option "b"  e.  less

Subjective score "Rating": 
1.  Smooth without obstructions  2.  A few minor bumps, cracks, or obstructions ...  5.  Moderate bumps or rough ice, occasional visible obstructions ...  9. Known open hole or thin ice area on course ... 10.  Sail slowly and avoid holes and obstructions


So a complete report: Lake Como, Williams Bay, WI, Th-c; Ch-b;  Scov-c; Sage-c; Sdepth-a; L-c; Rating-4

[Fredrik Lönegren DN S-8]

Have a look here.
The best  http://www.dn-finland.net/jaatieto/browseareas.php?lang=ENG

[miked]

Please let me know what smartphones you all use so I can tell which to support.

Thanks.

[TimoL731]

Hi

Have a look here.
The best  http://www.dn-finland.net/jaatieto/browseareas.php?lang=ENG

Thanks for the referral, Fredrik!
The site referred to above is the ice database of the Finnish DN Icesailing Association. We designed the database to make it possible to keep track of our sailing friendly lakes and bays. The database has permanent data and icereport data for each sailing location and separate user interfaces for browser and mobile phone access.

The permanent data:
Area    = name of the lake or bay
Locality = name of closest town
Location   = GPS co-ordinates
Description = Free text description of the sailing site
Drive instructions = Free text for driving instructions
Road link = link to www page with map to the site. e.g. google maps
Weather link = link to weather forecast oft
Size of area = sailable area
Accommodation = www and street adress and phone number to recommended and nearby accomodation
Store address   = street address to closest shop
Miscellaneous   = free text, we usually use this for inserting the name and phone number of the local farmer who lives by the lake 
Only the user who has originally created the permanent data can edit or remove any of the information above. This way we do not rely on any central administrator to maintain the information, it is maintained by the originating user.

The ice-report data:
Ice = Ice thickness in cm
Snow = snow thickness in cm
Description = free text to describe the ice
Anyone can leave an ice report to any of the locations to update the "Fresh" information. The database keeps 5 latest updates.

The data is used through a nice graphical user interface with icons for the key informations. Please visit our site and have a look!

Accessing the database via smartphone is made easy through a dedicated mobile user interface:
http://www.dn-finland.net/jaatieto/mobile/browseareas.php?lang=ENG
Through this interface anyone can insert the ice and snow thickness and upload a picture of the ice using a smart phone on the spot. I encourage you to test this with your smart phone to get a feel for how it works.

The database is currently translated into English, Swedish and Finnish languages and is easy to translate further. The database is written in php and runs on a MySQL database, both of which are standard services offered by web hotels. Design and requirements for the software were done by the Finnish DN Ice Sailing association and the software development was done by a local software company.

Please visit our database and have a look. We, DN-Finland, own the copyright to the software and would be happy to help you setting up your copy.

See you on the ice!

Timo L-731
Communication Officer
Finnish DN-Icesailing Association
http://www.dn-finland.net