SnowCloud

PI: ERIC SPROLES, MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY 

SnowCloud is a prototype web-based, cloud-computing framework for snow mapping and hydrologic modeling. SnowCloud is the overarching framework that functions within the Google Earth Engine cloud-computing environment. 

Through the ESIP Lab project, the team: 

• Transitioned a published hydrologic model from “research grade” science to a cloud-based operation.
  • Transitioned from 1.5 days of work to about 0.5 hours using only a web browser and an internet connection.
  • Minimal training needed
  • No need to download/re-project/store/manage data
• Surveyed water resource managers in Chile, Spain, and the United States. Overwhelmingly they  woud use these types of tools and recommend them as well (I attached the results, with responses graphed).

PUBLICATIONS:

Sproles, E.A.; Crumley, R.L.; Nolin, A.W.; Mar, E.; Lopez Moreno, J.I. SnowCloudHydro—A New Framework for Forecasting Streamflow in Snowy, Data-Scarce Regions. Remote Sens.2018, 10, 1276.

PRESENTATIONS:

• PNW Climate Conference (Anne Nolin)
• ESRI Educator's Summit (Anne Nolin)
• Google Expo both at 2017 AGU Fall Meeting

FUNDING: 

• USGS Montana Water Center Grant