Moderator:

Dr. Edwin Welles, OST Systems Engineering Center Development Branch Chief

Panelists:

Paul Kirkwood, NWS Southern Region Technology Infusion Branch Chief

Peter Browning, NWS Central Region Scientific Services Division Chief

Gustavo Limon, NWS Office of the Chief Technology Officer

Luis Cano, NWS National Centers for Environmental Prediction Enterprise Architect

Panel Session:NWS Needs and Challenges

Panel Session:NWS Needs and Challenges

Technology Infusion Challenges

Paul KirkwoodChief, Technology Infusion Branch

Science and Technology Services Division, NWS Southern Region Headquarters

October 30, 2008

Technology Infusion Challenges

• Let service requirements dictate Technology Infusion– Get User Requirements (How do they do their job)– Get away from product based ideas to more service oriented

• What do our partners need• Better Understanding core partners

– DHS, FEMA, EM’s, etc… vs. General Public– Just because we can do something does not mean we should– What services should we provide– What services should we remove– Unlimited Resources cannot be assumed

Technology Infusion Challenges

• Sustaining Innovation within Government– If the Services already exists, utilize those technologies

– Is Open Source really cheaper and better

– The agency seems to re-build or develop services that already exists (COTS VS. GOTS)

– Dissemination technologies are evolving very fast

– Determining the total cost of ownership for new technologies

• Complete Life Cycle Cost

• Hardware and Software Refresh

• What is operational? pseudo-operational? non-operational? – One of the biggest issues we face in the National Weather Service

– Life Cycle Cost

– Support Infrastructure

– Clear definition of what is required for Operational System

– Clear understanding of expectations of the service / technology

– Public and Private Partnership for our Public Services

Peter BrowningChief, Scientific Services Division

NWS Central Region

October 30, 2008

NWS Needs and ChallengesNWS Needs and Challenges

NWS Needs and ChallengesPete Browning, Chief, Central Region SSD

Decision Assistance Tools

[R]evolution in forecasting• From model of the day

to ensembles• From deterministic to

probabilistic

NWS Needs and Challenges Pete Browning, Chief, Central Region SSD

Decision Assistance Tools

[R]evolution in warning services

• From warn on detection to warn on forecasts

• From warning issuance to on-site support

T=2140

T=2140

T=2130

T=2150

MostLikelyTornadoPath

NWS Needs and Challenges Pete Browning, Chief, Central Region SSD

Dissemination of Information

[R]evolution in Information Services– From TEXT products to 21st Century Technologies

• Services enabled by GIS• Weather Hazards for where you are (i.e.,cell phones)• Pinpoint information for planning

– Web 2.0 • user interactivity/feedback loop to make the most effective use

of NWS information

NWS Technology DayInfusion Technologies

forSustainable Evolution

Gustavo Limon

National Weather Service

Office of the Chief Technology Officer

October 30, 2008

Infusion Technologies

• Systems that enable Decision Support in a mobile world:– GIS/GPS integrated Weather Service products that bring the wealth

of knowledge into a scalable system of systems.– Faster transport/translation tools (ie PDA data acceleration and

exml)

• Technologies that are not only net centric but user centric (ie web2)

• Real-Time Metadata verification and validation systems to support the broadcast and discovery of relevant systems and data.

Sustainable Evolution

• Technology cannot be sustained if it’s lifecycle doesn’t identify the end or transition of its existence.

• IT evolution in the private sector must be relevant to and collaborated with public entities.– We can only infuse at a nominal pace– We can only pace what we know exists– We can only know what we can collaborate on.

NWS Technology DayNCEP Central Operations (NCO)

“Big Four”

Luis CanoEnterprise Architect (EA) National Weather Service

National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) October 30, 2008

04/20/23 13

NCEP Central Operations“Big Four”

Moderator:

Dr. Edwin Welles, OST Systems Engineering Center Development Branch Chief

Panelists:

Paul Kirkwood, NWS Southern Region Technology Infusion Branch Chief

Peter Browning, NWS Central Region Scientific Services Division Chief

Gustavo Limon, NWS Office of the Chief Technology Officer

Luis Cano, NWS National Centers for Environmental Prediction Enterprise Architect

Panel Session:NWS Needs and Challenges

Panel Session:NWS Needs and Challenges