Project $1$: The Storm Chaser

Goals

This is the instructions and helper file for Project #$3($The Storm Chaser$).$ This project

incorporates concepts that we already understand $($i$.$e$.$ methods, loops, input, output$)$ and

introduces some new ones $($i$.$e$.$ a deeper look at classes$).$

Step$-$by$-$Step Development

As you know, programs are written in stages, not all at once. Start with a small piece of the

program, and work up to the final version in small steps. Here is a suggested strategy for this

project. At each step, make sure you have a working program before you go to the next step!

$1.$ Get Familiar with the Problem

Carefully read the program description and look at the data file to gain an understanding of

what is to be done. Make sure you are clear on what is to be calculated and how. That is$,$

study the file and program description and ponder!

Think!

$2.$ The Storm Class Type

Now concentrate on the Storm class that we define to hold the summary information for

one storm.

$$ First, look at the definition of Storm in the Storm.java file.

$$ You must complete the methods in the Storm class and use them effectively throughout

your program.

$$ Note: The SaffirSimpson$()$ method uses wind and pressure to calculate the category of

a Storm.

$$ Whenever you update wind, you must convert it from knots $($how it is stored in the data

file$)$ to miles per hour.

$$ The SaffirSimpson$()$ and print$()$ methods have been written for you and do not need any

further coding. The print$()$ method might need some tweaking for alignment purposes.

$3.$ The GetStorm$()$ Function

This is the most challenging method in the program! Here are some points to consider as

you try to design this function.

$$ Take another look at the data file $-$ and notice that typically there are several records

associated with one storm. It will be the job of GetStorm$()$ to process these records, and

build a Storm object, containing the relevant summary information.

$$ Work out the while loop needed to process the correct records. For example, process

records until the sequence number changes, or $....$

$$ Remember that this method returns a Storm object. It will have to use the new operator

to allocate memory for this object.

$4.$ Final cleanup and testing

Clean up any small bugs and add comments for documentation.

What to Hand In

Submit your code and screen output by the due date.

Project Files

The relevant files for this project are:

$$ StormChaser.java $($program starter file$)$

$$ Storm.java $($Storm class definition$)$

$$ hurricane.data $($data file$)$

Work Step$-$by$-$Step

Get a Working Program at Each Step