Frequently Asked Questions

Ilystics is a weather intelligence platform designed specifically for construction subcontractors. We combine 10 years of historical weather data with soil science to predict realistic weather delay days for your projects—helping you bid smarter and document delays for claims.

Our estimates are based on a rolling 10-year historical average from NOAA/Open-Meteo weather stations combined with scientifically-validated soil drying formulas. While no prediction is perfect, our methodology provides realistic averages that align with industry experience. Actual conditions may vary based on specific site factors.

We use authoritative sources including:

• Weather Data: Open-Meteo Archive API, NOAA, ECMWF
• Soil Data: USGS/NRCS soil surveys
• Methodology: Geotechnical engineering principles for soil drainage

Yes! Our free Estimator tier lets you generate 1 estimate per day with standard soil logic and PDF export. It's perfect for quick bids and trying out the platform. Upgrade to Pro for unlimited estimates, advanced geotechnical parameters, project tracking, and the Live Mud Map.

The Mud Map is a real-time visualization tool that shows current soil trafficability across entire regions. Instead of looking at a single point, you can move the map to see a high-resolution choropleth grid showing exactly where the "wet line" is moving after a storm.

You can toggle between three primary data views:

• Mud Risks: Color-coded grid (Red/Yellow/Green) based on our saturation algorithm.
• 7-Day Total Rain: Historical rainfall depth showing where the heaviest accumulation occurred.
• Live Radar: Official NWS NEXRAD imagery showing real-time rain movement.
• Soil Survey: USDA NRCS data overlay for site-specific geotech checks.

It's simple:

• Enter your project's ZIP code
• Select the predominant soil type
• Choose your project start and end dates
• Click "Generate Estimate" to download your PDF

Logged-in users can also set advanced parameters like site gradient and exposure.

We support various soil classifications:

• Clay: 4.0 days drying time (Heavy, high water retention)
• Silt: 3.0 days drying time (Moderate drainage)
• Mixed: 2.5 days drying time (Standard baseline)
• Loam: 2.0 days drying time (Average drainage)
• Sand: 1.0 day drying time (Fast-draining granular)
• Rock: 0.5 days drying time (Near-instant runoff)

Generic weather apps only track rain—but a heavy rain on Saturday might not delay work on Monday if you're on sandy soil. Clay sites, however, could remain muddy for days. Our soil-specific logic calculates realistic drying times so your delay estimates match real-world site conditions.

Site gradient affects drainage speed:

• Flat (0-2%): Water pools, 1.4x longer drying
• Moderate (2-5%): Normal drainage, baseline drying
• Steep (>5%): Fast runoff, 0.8x faster drying

Yes! Our PDF reports are designed to serve as "Anticipated Weather Delay" exhibits in construction contracts. They include methodology documentation, data sources, and professional formatting. However, please note that Ilystics provides estimation tools only—we recommend having your contract language reviewed by legal counsel.

Our updated Saturation Engine tracks soil moisture levels over time. Unlike simple filters, it "remembers" heavy rainfall. If a site becomes saturated with 2.0" of rain on Monday, a small 0.1" sprinkle on Tuesday won't reset the status—it knows the soil is still water-logged from the previous major event. This provides a much more realistic prediction of when site trafficability will truly recover.

The Mud Map uses Dynamic Viewport Analysis. To maintain high performance and accuracy, we only analyze weather patterns within your current map view. When you pan to a new city, click "🔍 Redo Search in Area" to trigger a fresh localized weather study for that specific bounding box.

• Mud Risks: Shows site "Trafficability" (Can heavy equipment drive here?). This accounts for soil drying time.
• 7-Day Total Rain: Simply shows the cumulative volume of rain.
• Live Radar: Shows real-time intensity from NWS.

Check the Methodology page to see how we map rainfall totals to risk levels.

Daily logs create a permanent record of site conditions that's invaluable for:

• Documenting weather-related delays for claims
• Providing evidence in disputes
• Meeting contract documentation requirements
• Identifying patterns in site accessibility

Yes, you can click on any previously logged day in the calendar to view and edit the entry. Changes are saved with a timestamp for audit purposes.

Billing management is coming soon! Currently, all users have access to core features. Contact sales@ilystics.com for enterprise pricing or early access to Pro features.

Yes. All data is encrypted in transit (HTTPS) and we follow security best practices. You can export all your data at any time from Settings, and we offer GDPR-compliant data deletion upon request.

Navigate to Settings → scroll to "Danger Zone" → click "Delete My Account." This action is permanent and will remove all your projects, logs, and account data.

No. Ilystics is an estimation and documentation tool—not a replacement for professional meteorologists, geotechnical engineers, or legal experts. Our reports can support claims but should be used alongside professional judgment and expert opinion when needed.

You do. Your project data, logs, and generated reports belong to you. We don't sell user data to third parties. See our Privacy Policy for complete details.