This research and development project seeks to provide a usable interactive graphical interface to an environment that otherwise involves primarily numerical data in a static, non-interactive format. Tools will be developed that enable users to prepare numerical data required for the SWAN refraction model and to visualize the results in an interactivie three-dimensional graphical context. SWAN (acronym for Simulating Waves Near shore) is a numerical wave model that is used to predict wave parameters according to a given set of conditions. The design of the 2-D and 3-D graphical interfaces and their impact on the system will be discussed.

Includes bibliographical references.