NWS Operations Proving Ground

Better Preparing the NWS to meet America's Growing

Needs

Information Brief

1

NWS Operations Proving Ground The Vision: Get it to the field faster

Preparing NWS staff for Impact-Based Decision Support Services (IDSS)

Effective transfer from Research to Operations for more accurate and timely forecasts, warnings, and information to save lives and enhance the U.S. economy

Feedback from Operations to Research optimizing limited resources to focus new science and technology research to improve future NWS services

Preparing today's forecaster for tomorrows Weather Ready Nation

2

NWS Operations Proving Ground Drivers:

Weather Ready Nation StrategyServices Roadmap

Science and Technology Roadmap

Workforce Evolution

Business Plan

Preparing today's forecaster for tomorrows Weather Ready Nation

3

NWS Operations Proving Ground What is it?

Proof of concept prior to national implementation

Proving Ground

Improved Operations and Services

Research toOperationsNational

Test beds

New

Models

Services

NewSys

tems

Customer

Feedback

Field Innovations/ RITT

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Need/OpportunityCollection

&Validation

Stage 1

• Define and ValidateNeeds andOpportunities

Concept Exploration

&Definition

Stage 2

• Perform Exploratory Research

• Develop Concept of Operations and Operational Requirements

AppliedResearch

&Analysis

Stage 3

• Perform Applied Research

• Develop Requirements

• Analyze Solutions

Operational Development

Stage 4

• Validate in Operations Proving Ground

•Develop/AcquireOperational Systems

Deploy, Maintain, &

Assess

Stage 5

• Implement Solutions

• Begin O&M

• Assess Results

NWS Operations Proving Ground Where does it fit?

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NWS Operations Proving Ground Benefits:

Build a little...test a little…field a littleEvaluate human factors/impact to operationsCustomer /field office feedback prior to new

service implementationDirect linkage to future training needsOperational feedback to researchers and

technologists

Innovation while limiting risk to mission critical operations

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State EOCs

IDSS Web of Collaboration

Incident Responders

County EOCsWFO

NWS Ops Proving Ground

WFORegional Ops

WFO

7

New sciences are developed,

channeled through

various test beds,

validated in the Ops. Proving Ground,

replicated at prototype

centers,

and then released for

general NWS

operations improveme

nt.

Anticipated Processes

AWIPS Updates

GOES-R Proving Ground

Aviation Weather Testbed

Climate Testbed

Hazardous Weather Testbed

Societal Impacts Program

Joint Hurrica

ne Testbed

Hydromet

Testbed

Prototype WFOs

Prototype RFC

Prototype CWSU

IDSS Training8

Hire Staff

Order Proving Ground Hardware

Develop prioritization and governance

Design Proving Ground Communications with Prototype WFOs

Leverage other funding sources

FY11PrioritiesLaying the Foundation Proving Ground

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Complete proving Ground Plans

Select and develop test scenarios and datasets

Begin conducting Proving Ground evaluations

Begin integrating other test-bed activities

FY12 PrioritiesImplementation of the Proving Ground

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SummaryDedicated resources are key to successPreparing NWS staff for Impact-Based Decision

Support Services (IDSS)Effective transfer from Research to Operations for

more accurate and timely forecasts, warnings, and information to save lives and enhance the U.S. economy

Feedback from Operations to Research optimizing limited resources to focus new science and technology research to improve future NWS services

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Next StepsBegin recruitment of Proving Ground Director/IT

staff

Begin procurement for Proving Ground equipment

Integrate with Services 2020 roadmap

Interate with S&T roadmap

Integrate with existing test bed community12