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Snowpro Plus+ Software (Annual Subscription)
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What
is Snowpro Plus+?
Snowpro
Plus+ is the newest version
of our Snow Profile Software.
Snowpro
Plus+ is designed to
provide high quality plots of Snow Cover Profile information according
to the International Classification for Seasonal Snow on the Ground
(ICSI). Snowpro was developed in
conjunction with the
Snow Avalanche Programs
of the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Highways in Victoria,
British
Columbia, Canada. It incorporates a method for plotting results of
Ramsonde
hardness measurements, the shovel shear test described in the National
Research Council of Canada, and Canadian Avalanche Association
guidelines
(2007) and also the Rutshblock system advocated by researchers at the
University
of Calgary (Jamieson and Johnston, 1992). Other
Shear Tests include Shear-frame, Deep Tap, Extended Column
and Propagation Saw. Layer hardness can be plotted
according to a system that approximates a ram profile. Snow and Shear
Layers can be tagged with a "Nickname" to track layers over progressive
profiles. The save format is based on CAAML XML allowing easy
data interchange with other related applications.
Snowpro
Plus+ is the latest
version of the Snowpro snow cover profile software designed and built
by
Gasman Industries Ltd. Snowpro Plus+ was in development for two years
and
and has been sold to the ski and avalanche industry since December 1999
(Under the name Snowpro 2000). It incorporates many new features requested
by users of the previous version Snowpro 2.1.
The
Snowpro Plus+ version, written
for Windows 2000/XP/Vista, has a new user interface that uses
drag-and-drop
technology to place profile objects such as snow temperature points,
grain
from symbols, and hardness layers on the graph. The user is able to
easily
move these objects anywhere on the graph. Dynamic location information
is displayed to assist the user in placement of the graph objects. Each
object on the graph can be queried easily for its location and values
and
special functions by simply placing the mouse cursor over the object.
Weather
data can also be directly entered on the graph in appropriate fields.
The
graph fonts, line sizes and object colours are user settable. Printing
has been enhanced to give the user total control over the sizing and
fonts
of the printed profile. Graphs can be scaled to print on a
single
page regardless of snowpack height. Included is a graph export option
that
allows you to create bitmap files suitable for the internet allowing
web
based data exchange. High quality PDF profile graphs can be created with the free add-on print driver from PrimoPDF.
Snowpro
Plus+ is able to read
all profiles created under Snowpro versions 1.6 to 2.1 and 2000, and
Plus+ versions to R2009.7.22B
Snowpro Plus+ is sold on an Annual
Subscription basis. Click here for
details.
The
next section describes many of
the new features.
Top
What's
New in Snowpro Plus+
Click here for current release
new features and fixes.
- 4 New Layer Tests: Shear Frame,
Deep Tap, Extended Column, and Propagation Saw Tests (Oct 2009)
- Persistant Layer Nicknames (Oct 2009)
- Updated Grainforms to
ICSI
2009 Standards - Version now uses the symbol fonts from ICSI organization
- Updated saved values to Canadian
Avalanche Assocation Dec 2007 OGRS Standard
- New save format (*.prx) files now
in
XML CAAML Format.
- Import/Export compatible with Avert
Online Snow Science Systems which is a product to manage your avalanche data and your backcountry business
- Automatic update of new releases
(Oct 2009)
- Updated installer support for Windows 7 (Oct 2009)
- Redesigned
user interface: now uses Tool Bars with drag and drop functionality
- All
fields can are directly entered on the graph except for Shear Test
layers.
- Software
still supports forms for entering all non-weather data items.
Weather is entered directly on graph.
- All
Ramsonde calculations (Reduce) are now done in table entry form
- Detailed
information on any profile object by placing mouse cursor over it
(i.e. layer height, temperatures, crystal form names)
- The
temperature, hardness, and stress scales are user settable
- Support
for 15 metres snow packs (Up from 8 metres)
- Hardness
for Fist, Pencil etc. now has plus and minus graduation modifiers
- Log of
profile session reports errors and allows user entry
- Fonts,
colours, and line sizes are user settable
- Graph can
be scaled to fit on one printed page no matter what size
- Borders,
Fonts, Line thickness on printer graph are user settable
- Multiple
graphs can be loaded at once and shown on screen at one time
- Textual
reports for Snow, Shear, Ram layers, and comments data can now be
printed
- New snow
layer slope field (used in calculating shear stress)
- Generate
export image files in JPEG and BMP formats that allow you to use graph
in word processing documents, Internet sites etc.
- Generate
export file in XML format. Allows easy import of profile data into your
database or spreadsheet apps.
- Snow Load
Plot Line
- All items
on graph can be hidden in groups on Graph Properties Menu
- Improved
error handling added to system
- Added
support for Compression Shear Test
- New
Rewritten User Manual
- Context
sensitive Online Help redeveloped
- Plus
hundreds of little improvements...
- HTML Help Support
- The Fist Hand
Hardness and Dry
Water Content symbols can not be displayed as a dot instead of blank
- Watch
for updated list of features
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What
Snowpro Plus+ Includes
- Flag checklist for identifying unstable
layers
- High
quality printing of industry standard
Snow Cover Profiles
- Based
on International Snow Classifications
Symbols and Snow Cover Profile Format
- Full
32 bit application supported on Microsoft®
Windowstm 2000/XP/Vista
- Basic
9 Categories of Grain Shape Classifications
(over 40 symbols)
- Detailed
Grain Shape Sub-classes
- Computes
each Snow Layer Equivalent Water
Content
- Computes
Ram Hardness
- Computes
Water Equivalent (HSW) of Snow
Cover
- Computes
Snow Pack Average Density
- Computes
Snow Layers cumulative shear
stress and layer stress
- Weather
Notational Symbols from the NRCC
& CAA guidelines
- Print
profile graphs and textual data
from Shear, Snow, and Ram Layers
- Supports
MDI interface allowing multiple
profile graphs to be viewed at a time and
- allows
arranging, tiling, cascading,
and sizing of each profile graph
- All
entry fields on main screen can be
entered directly on field
- Most
display objects on the graph screen
are drag and drop from toolbar and allow you to drag to new locations.
- Layer
hardness can be based either Ramsonde
or Hand Methods
- Function
(entry screens) buttons can be
placed at top, bottom, or hidden
- Enhanced
Ram Hardness entry supporting
calculations of Ram Hardness
- Fonts,
lines, and colours are user
settable
- Enhanced
control over printed output
- Graphic
objects colours are user settable
- Supports
Multiple Languages (We supply
User Manuals and help in English only)
- Export
graphs to bitmap files and PDF (with free add-in from PrimoPDF)
- Enhanced
reporting on entry screens for
Shear, Snow, and Ram layers
- Snow
Layer Slopes allow separate slope
for each layer to be recorded
- Calculation
of Cumumulative Shear Stress
based on either surface or layer slopes
- and
more ...
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Is
Snowpro Plus+ Easy to Use?
Snowpro
Plus+ uses the
full Microsoft ® Windows graphical
interfaces and is designed with you in mind. This powerful package
provides
you with a tremendously flexible tool that allows you to easily plot
high
quality Snow Cover Profile graphs. The current version has been
enhanced
based on fifteen years of field use to be even easier to use and quicker
to
build a profile graph.
Snow
Grain Classifications
are selected using either symbol or textual labels and can be dropped
onto
the profile by dragging from a pallette. Layers can be entered from
either
the ground up or surface down, and in any order. The profile graph is
automatically
shown and updated as changes are made by you. Printing the profile
graph
to your Windows printer takes only two mouse clicks.
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Who
Uses Snowpro?
Snowpro
is used world wide by:
- Avalanche
Experts
- Ski
Hills
- Heli-Ski Operations
- Back Country Guides
- Government
Agencies
- Highways
Departments
- Mining
and Forestry Companies
- Research
Agencies
- Educational
Institutes
- and hopefully your organization!!
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System
Requirements
Snowpro
Plus+ has been designed
with the following system requirements:
- Any
computer supporting Microsoft ®
Windows tm 2000/XP/Vista/Windows 7
- Internet Connection (Must be available at least once every 15 days while Snowpro is running to validate the subscription)
- A
mouse or other pointing device
- Any current monitor
- 15
megabytes disk space for program, plus
additional space for saved profiles.
Top
Snowpro
Plus+ Support
Snowpro
Plus+ customer support
is provided by Gasman Industries
Ltd. Snowpro
Plus+
is accompanied with Technical Support during the subscription period
which includes a Web support problem form, Email, Phone and Mail support. A
detailed User Manual (Adobe PDF Format) and On-line
Help
file are included with the software.
Click here
for details on the Annual Support Program.
Top
This
page last updated 2009/10/20.
