Using NWSChat during Floods: Set up & Demonstration from a USGS

Perspective

Annual Tri-Agency Coordination Meeting, Mississippi Valley

Memphis, TN

James FallonNovember 17, 2009

U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological Survey

Background

• NWSChat –a NWS application to host secure, simultaneous communications among agencies

https://nwschat.weather.gov/ • The NWS hosts many chatrooms that vary by

topic, group membership, and location• USGS can join chatrooms hosted by the NWS

River Forecast Centers• Intent is to share emergency information

efficiently during floods

Background - Features

• Works on computers and smart phones (Blackberrys)

• Member access is restricted, controlled by NWS• Chatrooms are secure• Logs of chats are maintained and accessible

Background – USGS Status

• ND & MN WSCs used for 2009 Red River floods • Illinois and Iowa WSCs have connected• Fallon did demonstration at National Data

Chiefs meeting last month• USGS permission & access issues seem to be

resolved

Background – NWS Status• Not all RFCs using yet, but many of WFOs are• North Central River Forecast Center using with

USGS WSCs, St Paul COE, and other agencies• WSCs can coordinate with local RFC to set up

their own "agencies" room • USGS staff are encouraged to establish

accounts and get feel for how chat works before floods occur

Chat room uses, USGS 2009

• Inform NWS, COE & other agencies of – Recent measurement updates– Gage status: broken and repaired gages– Field crew deployments and plans– Discussion of ratings and shifts– Needs from other agencies

Possible future uses and issues

• Populate recent measurements automatically?• Post measurements & flood information

directly from field?• Last slide has further discussion on this

• Need to decide when to activate & monitor chat room: at NWS invitation? When flood warning issued?

NWSChat Demonstration – Laptop

https://nwschat.weather.gov/my/index.php?logout=yes

• Start application, login• Find chat room (show many)

– Join wrong one and leave• Review archived logs (March 30, 2009

@17:09)• Chat with group• Chat privately• Change status away, etc

Demonstration - Blackberry

• Same as laptop

NWSChat Setup – major steps (see handout for following slides)

• Apply for new NWS account at https://nwschat.weather.gov/create.php

• Read and agree to terms of use https://nwschat.weather.gov/NWSChat_Terms_of_Use.pdf

• Make sure your WSC network connections and firewalls set correctly (apparently resolved)

• Install software on Laptop or Blackberry• Check access before the floods

Background – MN’s timeline• 1/16/09 – NWS asks us to use NWSChat for floods• Jan.–Mar. 2009 – IT staff work on firewall issues, WSCs seek guidance

& permission to use service • 3/17/09 – snowmelt begins• 3/23/09 – I apply for NWSChat account• 3/24/09 – NWS approves, pending “training”• 3/24/09 We decide to use Verizon laptop modem so Chat not on

USGS network• 3/28/09 – Red River at Fargo peaks• 3/30/09 – NWSChat training completed. Chatting begins!• 5/13/09 – Acquire Blackberry chat application• 6/4/09 – Successfully log in to Chat using Blackberry• 6/5/09 –Successfully log in to Chat on laptop and USGS network

Set up – NWS account

• Contact your local NWS

• Visit website and request account

• Wait for email• Complete

training & account set up

https://nwschat.weather.gov/create.php

Set up details – USGS • Consider type of installation:

– Computer on DOI network– Computer off DOI network (home, cell modem)– Smartphone (Blackberry)

• Tell IT staff of needs– Computer:

• (Firewall, Pidgin* software, www.pidgin.im, Cellular data card modem)

– Blackberry• Chat app, e.g., Vayusphere* (http://www.vayusphere.com)

*Use of brand names is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey

Log in to Chat – Computer• https://nwschat.weather.gov/

– Under "Access Online Tools", login– At next window, click "Launch Web Based Jabber Client" (Jeti). Run

Jeti app that loads• New chat window opens

– log-in again– acknowledge (Reply and Send) warning(s)

• You should now have 2 small windows open, titled – (1) Jeti Applet, – (2) lounge@nwschat.weather.gov

• At bottom of Jeti window (1), click on Jeti>Group Chat>Join/Create– A 3rd window opens, select Chat Room Name you were given

(ncrfcagencieschat)– If successful, window (2) will be live chat room:

Chatting – Computer

• Window title will reflect your chatroom you are in• You will be able to see

– chatting from others (on left), including NWS automated alerts (nwsbots)

– who's in the chat room (on right)• To chat, type your message in the lowest window and send.• Inform others of your status (online, away from desk, etc) by

– clicking the button that says "online" at the lower right • To send chat privately with one, right click on persons name• To exit the Chat completely, click on User>Exit Room, and then

logout/close remaining windows

Set up – Blackberry• Familiarize self with Vayusphere app or similar chat app.

http://www.vayusphere.com/ , click Blackberry Solutions)• Use computer to visit the website first for easier reading; tour

the features, demo, etc.– Review Knowledge Base>Popular XMPP Server Settings> Settings for

IEM Chat - Now National Weather Chat (NWSChat), where Vayusphere has a special help page specifically for NWSChat setup (http://support.vayusphere.com/vayuxmpp/index.php/kb/article/000005)

• Download Vayusphere for Blackberry– This is best done directly from your Blackberry by navigating to – http://www.vayusphere.com/, click on Blackberry solutions, – select the download option you want to use

• Free 30 day trial (which I did to make sure it works) or $20 for license

Set up – Blackberry• After downloading application to Blackberry, use the

Vayusphere email sent to Blackberry to activate license• Vaysphere icon will load on your Blackberry click on Icon• The application should start automatically, if it doesn't,

– click the menu "cloud" button on Blackberry (to left of scroll ball) and select "login"

• Set up chat to NWSChat using info from knowledge base. • As I recall you select NWSChat and Vayusphere easily sets

itself up.

*Use of brand names for identification purposes only and not endorsement

Login – Blackberry

• Click on Vayusphere icon now on Black berry• You now see window called

yourchatID@nwschat.weather.gov, with "recent Conversations,” Online Users, etc.

• Click Blackberry Cloud button and select "Join A Conference", – Enter "ncrfcagencieschat" or whatever chatroom name you were given (your

username and password may autopopulate, or they do after first time)– If you entered correct name, you should see chat messages, like window

above– If you did NOT enter conference room name correctly, you likely just created a

new conference room and you're the only one in it– That's a lonely place, so click the Blackberry menu button, select "Leave" and try again

*Use of brand names for identification purposes only and not endorsement

Chat – Blackberry

• To see who all is in the room Click Blackberry menu button, select participants (click the BlackBerry “back” button to return)

• To chat with all participants, enter comment after the “:” prompt at the bottom, hit enter

• To chat privately you must first establish contact with person on previous menu

• Be sure to logoff and exit Vayusphere when finished because the application will drain your battery if you leave it open.

*Use of brand names for identification purposes only and not endorsement

The following slides are examples of NWSChat screenshots

In case the live demonstration

does not work

Laptop screenshots

Archive of chat logs

Archive of chat logs

Log-in screens

Log-in warnings & chat window

Choosing your chatroom

Chatting

Blackberry Screenshots

Log in

Second screen

Enter your agency room and log-in

Chatting

See who’s in the room

See who’s in the room

Log out

Exit (or drain your battery)

Serving discharge measurements to NWS and other agencies

• Issue: NWS and other agencies would like measurement data in near real-time

• USGS would like to satisfy this need, while– Verifying information before disseminating– Have the same information the NWS receives so

communication about data is efficient– Automate dissemination to minimize time, calls

by field and office staff—all have plenty to do during floods)

Recent examples

• Illinois WSC Web page (& LDM?)• Automated Records Tool (ART) email. ART is

application from Indiana WSC and not used by all USGS WSCs. A national application under development may incorporate some features.

• Minnesota WSC Script output

ART output automatically sends email when measurement input

Summary for 05061500 SOUTH BRANCH BUFFALO RIVER AT SABIN, MN03/25/2009 at 10:00 to 03/25/2009 at 18:30

Gage Height Corrections were applied as follows:-.06 ft at a gage height of 0 at 17:10:00 on 2009-03-25

Discharge and shift application:Measurement 812 was a moving boat measurement An ADCP was used to measure the velocity. The measurement section was at the gage. There was no description of the weather.

Measurement 812 was made using a RIOGRAND with an unspecified number of sections. The measurement is rated good. Channel control is in effect for this measurement The control was not cleaned. The measurement was made on 03/25/2009 at a gage height of 18.78 ft. and a discharge of 6440 cfs There was a -0.050 ft change in stage during the 1.317 hours duration of the measurement.

The user checked the do not store shift corrections on the PC-ART frontsheet. No shift corrections will be stored.

Can still be data entry errors needing review

ART output, cont.• The Texas Water Science Center's RECord Period ANalysis was run.

RECPAN's output follows and also is contained in the file/projects/artman/archive/wy2009/05061500/stanalysis/ArtRecPan_QM-812_20090325.txt

----------------------------------------------------------------PERIOD: Date: 2007/10/22 to 2009/03/25 Data descriptor: 7----------------------------------------------------------------VISITS:.................................MEAS #798 taken 2007/10/22 at 07:45 by JDL Stage: 7.29 Q: 63.6 Code: MEAS Rating: 20.0 Ind.Shift: -0.130 App.Shift: % Rating Diff: % Shift Diff: GHT Change: 0.00 in 0.70 hours Rated: FAIR Baseflow: UNSP Control: LGDB Status: L Remarks: REPLACED N2 TANK WITH FELTON TANK (200PSI).................................MEAS #811 taken 2009/03/25 at 10:00 by JG/CE Stage: 19.01 Q: 7100 Code: UNSP Rating: 21.0 Ind.Shift: -0.03 App.Shift: 0.00 % Rating Diff: -0.7 % Shift Diff: -0.7 GHT Change: in hours Rated: UNSP Baseflow: UNSP Control: CLER Status: U Remarks: Bridge and flow over road measurements combined.

• ----------------------------------------------------------------UNIT VALUES:

Missing gage-height values: Detected 48 unit values per day. The following days have 5% or more missing unit values: 2008/07/15 42 out of 48 (12.5%)

Days that have X-flagged unit values: 2008/07/15 To 2008/07/15----------------------------------------------------------------CORRECTIONS:................................. Gage height (from DCP):

** WATER YEAR 2009 ** 2009/03/22 @ 15:40:00 CDT 1 16.33 0.00 Remarks: ART: QM-810Additional Remarks:

2009/03/25 @ 17:10:00 CDT 1 0.00 -0.06 Remarks: ART: QM-812Additional Remarks: ................................. Datum Corrections from Levels: ** NONE DURING PERIOD **................................. Other: ** NONE DURING PERIOD **

ART output, continued•

----------------------------------------------------------------WARNINGS: One or more days have a unit value FLAGGED WITH AN X.

----------------------------------------------------------------REMARKS:

----------------------------------------------------------------RECOMMENDATIONS:

----------------------------------------------------------------END OF REPORT

• ----------------------------------------------------------------RATINGS AND SHIFTS:

** WATER YEAR 2009 ** Start Date End Date ID GH Shift GH Shift GH Shift Aging Status 2008/10/15 @ 08:09:00 CDT 19 8.00 0.00 12.70 0.00 Remarks:Additional Remarks: 2008/10/15 @ 08:09:00 CDT 1 8.00 0.00 12.70 0.00 Remarks:Additional Remarks:

----------------------------------------------------------------DAILY VALUES:................................. Write protected values: The following daily values are write protected (remark contains a 1): DATE REMARK 2008/07/15 1 2008/09/30 1 2008/10/02 1................................. Estimated record: 11-21-2007 To 11-22-2007 12-01-2007 To 04-07-2008 07-16-2008 To 07-21-2008 10-12-2008 To 10-12-2008................................. Gaps in record: 11-21-2008 To 11-21-2008

Minnesota WSC Script• Retrieves Qms added to data base in last 24 hours.

• Currently activated and posted manually • Can run automatically via cron• Would there be method to auto-post to NWSChat?

Third idea

• Field staff directly log measurements into data base from field, as is currently done

• Field staff send SMS-text to office staff (cc NWS, NWSChat, etc.) verifying, site ID, stage, discharge, corrections

• Office staff at USGS scan for inconsistencies resulting from data entry errors