WESTERN REGION TECHNICAL ATTACHMENT
NO. 96-08
MAY 7, 1996
AWIPS UPDATE
Andy Edman - WRH, SSD - Salt Lake City, UT
AWIPS is the last of the major systems scheduled to be deployed as part of the initial NWS Modernization. AWIPS will provide the capability to integrate datasets, run improved applications, and generally allow the forecaster to improve services through the use of better science. This Technical Attachment (TA) provides a quick update on the status of the AWIPS project. A thick set of documentation was sent to each NWSFO, NWSO, RFC and WR Division Chief from SSD on April 12, 1996. For more detailed information about AWIPS, refer to this documentation prepared by various NWS Headquarter groups.
The AWIPS program began in 1983 when the NWS was given permission to create the project and to assemble a set of user requirements. A series of documents were generated and seven groups of companies bid on the project. In 1989, an award was made to two groups. One group of vendors was led by Computer Science Corporation and a second group was led by the Planning Research Corporation (PRC). This award marked the start of the Definition Phase where the two groups worked independently with the Government to demonstrate key capabilities and refine their designs. Toward the end of the Definition Phase, both groups submitted their best and final proposals. The AWIPS contract was awarded to PRC near of the end of 1992. The award marked the beginning of the Development Phase where PRC was tasked to develop the initial AWIPS system and prepare for deployment.
The AWIPS program is nearing the end of the Development Phase. PRC and the Government are working jointly on the initial AWIPS system. The Government will provide the bulk of the user applications. TDL and the Office of Hydrology are primary government organizations working on the applications. PRC is tasked with developing the basic system (i.e., hardware, communications database) and will integrate the government furnished applications. They are also tasked with developing a common user interface and developing the support structure.
The next major AWIPS milestone is the AWIPS Production Decision (APD), formerly called Key Decision Point IV (KDP IV). APD consists of deploying an initial AWIPS capability at seven field sites and demonstrating that the systems will have a positive impact on the field offices. The initial AWIPS system will consist of communications, workstations, and some of the applications. The Salt Lake City NWSFO and RFC are one of the initial seven national sites. An Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) and a Operational/Service Evaluation (OSE) will be conducted, and these evaluations will become the basis for a NWS APD report. Successful completion of the APD is important, since it essentially grants the NWS the authority to install AWIPS and commission the system at all of the remaining NWS sites scheduled to receive AWIPS. This authority requires approval by the Department of Commerce. The current schedule calls for the NWS to complete all of the necessary APD documentation by a target date of August 1.
The key word to remember with AWIPS is "Phased". AWIPS will consist of a:
Phased Deployment: AWIPS will be deployed at all WR sites based on the schedule provided in Fig. 1. It will take approximately two years to deploy AWIPS across WR. A list of the number of workstations and other equipment that will be installed as part of the initial AWIPS system was provided to each office in the April 12, 1996 set of documentation.
Phased Capability: While the hardware and system software will remain nearly the same during the deployment, the capability of the applications will vary dramatically during the deployment. Applications will be phased in as a series of builds. Figure 2 provides a comprehensive list of the applications and capabilities provided with each build. Each build will provide the office with a steady series of growing functionality. When AWIPS is deployed at a site, it will contain the latest build. Therefore, sites early in the deployment sequence will have receive a steady series of application software upgrades.
Phased Impact to the Operations: The initial AWIPS Build 1 system will not have sufficient capability to support all of the office's service programs. The offices will need to continue to use AFOS and WR systems to supplement AWIPS until later application builds are completed. As new software capabilities arrive, the office will need to decide which current systems can be decommissioned.
The AWIPS system is essentially a Wide Area Network (WAN) connected to the office's Local Area Network (LAN) to which a number of workstations and other devices are inter-connected. The AWIPS WAN consist of a satellite broadcast (called the Satellite Broadcast Network (SBN)) and a terrestrial network (which AWIPS calls the WAN). Most of the data (i.e., satellite and model data) is acquired by the office through a 3.7 meter satellite dish. The data stream consist of two channels, one running at a T1 rate and the other at a 128 Kbps rate (Fig. 3). Local data and forecasts are routed back through the RFCs to the Network Control Facility (NCF) through the terrestrial network.
Two LANs provide the basic communication backbone for the office. One is a redundant high speed LAN operating at 100 Mbps and the other is a low speed 10 mbps LAN. HP Series K processors are connected to the LANs and are used as database and application processors. The database system is both redundant and mirrored. The K computers come equipped with two processors and can be expanded to four processors. The forecaster workstations will be initially configured as a two-monitor system support by a HP J-200 computer. The J computer will contain one processor but can be upgraded to two processors. NWS headquarters is evaluating upgrading the workstation to a three-monitor system to support future applications. The HP J and K series computers are significantly faster than a HP755 or HP715 computer (Fig. 4).
Most of the system software will consist of commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) packages. While still subject to final testing and approval, the system is basically UNIX, TCP/IP and SQL based using packages such as HP-UX, Informix , WordPerfect, and other common system software.
As mention above, the applications will be developed primarily by the NWS and integrated into AWIPS by PRC. Most of the applications are being written in either Fortran or C. After APD, the plans call for the forecast office to be able to develop and integrate local applications. NWS headquarters is currently working on security and a configuration management plan for this process. Access to local datasets will be through an AWIPS- defined firewall. For more information on the firewall, refer to the April 12 set of documentation.
AWIPS is a relatively easy system to deploy compared to the WSR-88D. The biggest challenge is where to locate the 3.7 meter satellite antenna and the workstations. Figure 5 provides a summary of the pre-installation activities that will occur during the preceding 12 months.
Training will consist of a series of resident and local on-site training. The following was adopted from a draft report prepared by Brent Bower (OM).
Pre-Installation Orientation Material. The training will begin with pre-installation orientation material to introduce the AWIPS system.
Centralized User's Training (CUT). Three WFO/RFC personnel (SOO, DOH, ESA, AWIPS Focal Point (AFP)) will attend the NWS Training Center (NWSTC) for CUT courses. This course will provide AWIPS operator and system administration training. The training will expand from five to thirteen days in length as AWIPS software builds are deployed. Trainees will receive instructional material for use in training at their sites.
On-site User's Training (OUT). After AWIPS is installed, OUT courses for AWIPS operator training will be given at the WFOs for the rest of the staff. The OUT courses will expand from 12 hours to 20 hours, given multiple times over 5 to 10 days.
AWIPS Upgrade Training (AUT). For the AWIPS Build 2 upgrade, two days of on-site training on the differences from the previous build will be given to the SOO, DOH, ESA, and AFP. For each additional AWIPS upgrade, PRC will develop Computer Based Instruction (CBI) training for each WFO.
WFO Operational Hydrologic Forecasting (WOHF) System : A NWSTC course will be provided for three WFO people (i.e., Service Hydrologist and two WFO staff) on WFO Operational Hydrologic Forecasting applications, including the Site-Specific River Stage Forecasting and the Area Wide Hydrologic Prediction System. The Office of Hydrology will also provide a "tiger team" to help each Service Hydrologist set up the hydrological applications on site.
Interactive Forecast Preparation (IFP). The deployment of a IFP application will cause a profound impact on how forecasters create a forecast product. The initial system to be deployed will be the Interactive Computer Worded Forecast System (ICWF). A second generation system called the Advanced Forecaster Preparation System (AFPS) will be deployed in a later build. Training will consist of a number of forums including videotapes, CBIs, IFP, Internet Homepage, and a NWSTC course.
UNIX Training: UNIX training (ESAs, ETs) is being made available via a) NWSTC videotapes on UNIX Operating System and System Administration from the AWIPS Lending Library, b) the NWSTC courses "Introduction to UNIX" and "UNIX System Administration", c) support for other locally obtained training courses or training material, and d) future PDW module "The Learning Kit" which was given to all future WFOs.
SSD is now beginning to examine the AWIPS SBN data stream and provide feedback. One issue that has arisen is the lack of the GOES-9 FOG/Low stratus digital image data. Since WR has demonstrated the positive impact that this dataset has on services, SSD will continue to work to move up the scheduled implementation of this dataset. AWIPS is meant to be modified and improved through its entire planned program life. Once the capabilities of the applications become better known, a more comprehensive update will be provided since it directly impacts both sciences and services. WR will continue to provide updates through the WR Staff Notes and direct cc:Mail messages to offices. A new AWIPS icon has been added to the WR SSD homepage (http://www.wrh.noaa.gov) that is linked to a NWS headquarters homepage where the latest AWIPS schedule information will be posted.
