Creating a new operation PWL

REQUIREMENTS
Permission	Submission moderator and higher
Connectivity	Online and Offline

This document describes how to create a new Operation PWL in the InfoEx system.

Background

An Operation PWL is a locally defined persistent weak layer (PWL) in the snowpack. While PWLs in the old InfoEx system were simply referred to by a burial date, the new InfoEx system requires PWLs to be explicitly defined. This allows PWLs to be tracked more easily and offers opportunities for advanced queries.

Operation PWLs are managed within operations. Operation have full control over the characteristics of these PWLs.

An new Operation PWL can be created in two different ways:

• Via the Operation PWL menu item under the PWL heading (online only)
• Via the Snowpack workflow module (offline and online)

Step-by-step description

Creating a new Operation PWL via the Operation PWL menu item (online only)

1.	Fig. 1: Accessing the Operation PWL menu Click on the PWL menu in the header of the InfoEx application and select 'Operation PWL'(Fig. 1). This will get you to a page that lists of all of the Operation PWLs that have been created by your operation. In addition to the general characteristics of the PWLs, the list also offers an overview of the number of associated observations and assessments.
2.	Fig. 2: Adding an Operation PWL dialog Click on the button beneath the 'Operation PWL' title to open a popup window where you can provide the baseline information for your new Operation PWL (Fig. 2). Provide the following baseline information for your new Operation PWL: Name A meaningful name for your new Operation PWL. Date The date your new Operation PWL was created or buried. Comment A descriptive comment about your new Operation PWL, if desired. Community PWL You may link your Operation PWL to a Community PWL (see Community PWLs for more information) NOTE Linking your Operation PWL to a Community PWL allows you to retain your local definition and description of the PWL while linking with the same PWL observed by other InfoEx operations Colour A default colour that will identify any avalanche problems associated with your new Operation PWL in the Hazard assessment module.
3.	Click on the Okay to submit the new Operation PWL to the InfoEx system.

Creating a new Operation PWL in the Snowpack workflow module (offline and online)

1.	Fig. 3: Snowpack workflow module with list of Operation PWLs in bottom half of screen. In the snowpack module of one of your workflows, (Fig. 3), click on the New PWL button. This will open a popup window where you can provide the baseline information for your new Operation PWL (Fig. 4).
2.	Fig. 4: Adding an Operation PWL dialog in snowpack workflow module. Provide the following baseline information for your new Operation PWL: Name A meaningful name for your new Operation PWL. Date The date your new Operation PWL was created or buried. Comment A descriptive comment about your new Operation PWL, if desired. Community PWL You may link your Operation PWL to a Community PWL (see Community PWLs for more information) NOTE Linking your Operation PWL to a Community PWL allows you to retain your local definition and description of the PWL while linking with the same PWL observed by other InfoEx operations Colour A default colour that will identify any avalanche problems associated with your new Operation PWL in the Hazard assessment module.
3.	Click on the Okay to submit the new Operation PWL to the InfoEx system.

Related documents

• Persistent weak layer overview

Operation PWLs

• Creating a new operation PWL
• Modifying the baseline information of an existing operation PWL
• Deleting an existing operation PWL

Community PWLs

• Creating a new community PWL
• Modifying the information for an existing community PWL
• Deleting an existing community PWL

Assessing PWLs

• Snowpack module

Functionality tested by

• Jan. 2, 2014: Pascal Haegeli