Case Study: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory improves coastal estuarine modeling and visualization with Tecplot 360

Predictive Ocean Model Helps Coastal Estuarine Research

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) needed a way to turn large, complex coastal modeling outputs into clear, consistent visual products for restoration planning, water-quality management, and climate-change response work in the Salish Sea and Puget Sound. Using Tecplot 360, the hydrodynamic modeling team had to post-process high-resolution FVCOM simulation results and present them in a way that was useful for clients, stakeholders, and the public.

Tecplot, Inc. helped PNNL streamline bulk visualization with Tecplot 360, including Chorus for comparing multiple plots in a single view and georeferenced image support for better spatial context. The software enabled efficient handling of many large files and scenarios, produced professional top-down plots and videos, and improved automation and consistency; as a result, PNNL could more easily generate high-quality outputs for project planning, public communication, and future operational ocean predictions.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Jonathan Whiting

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory