NEXRAD Product Improvement&

Operations & Services Improvement Process

Bob Saffle (Mitretek Systems, NWS OST)

Quantitative Precipitation Estimation Workshop

June 28-30, 2005

Norman, OK

June 28, 2005 QPE Workshop - Norman 2

NPI Vision

The goal of NEXRAD Product Improvement is to continually provide the best possible weather radar data, and advanced scientific processing of those data, so that:

• Tornado, severe thunderstorm and flash flood warnings continue to improve

• General use of weather radar data in both the government and private sectors is enhanced

• The cost for maintenance and growth of the radar systems is minimized

June 28, 2005 QPE Workshop - Norman 3

NPI Scope

• NPI is an ongoing process of NEXRAD evolution for improvements to WSR-88D technological and scientific capability

• NPI projects involve acquisitions or scientific developments that are outside the scope of the Radar Operations Center O&M charter and funding

• NPI projects are approved and executed within the framework of the tri-agency (DOC, DoD, DOT) operation and cost-sharing agreements for NEXRAD

• For the NWS, NPI may include agency-specific (and DOC funded) projects that enhance weather radar data availability and utility for field operations (e.g., data from FAA radars)

• For completed NPI projects, O&M responsibility is transferred to the ROC

June 28, 2005 QPE Workshop - Norman 4

Current and Planned Projects:• Open Systems Radar Product Generator (ORPG)

• Open Systems Radar Data Acquisition (ORDA)

• Dual Polarization (Dual Pol)

• TDWR Data access and product generation

• Ongoing operational implementation of approved scientific algorithms

• Ongoing prototyping of scientific and technical concepts

• Development and maintenance of Common Operations and Development Environment (CODE) – an enabling package for those who need, or wish, to utilize the baseline ORPG for development, implementation or testing of algorithms (weather.gov/code88d))

NEXRAD Product Improvement

June 28, 2005 QPE Workshop - Norman 5

What is OSIP?

OSIP is the NWS requirements-based management process (RMP) approved by the Corporate Board in June ’05.

OSIP is a standard, systematic, and disciplined process for evaluating needs/opportunities…

ocaptures requirements odevelops solutionsoprioritizes resources

OSIP is managed by a working group comprised of OST, OCWWS,OHD, OOS, CIO, CFO, Regions, and NCEP.

OSIP is structured so that needs throughout the NWS can be identified and solutions to those needs can be found based on requirements; ensuring that solutions meet these requirements.

June 28, 2005 QPE Workshop - Norman 6

OSIP Five Stage Process

Need/Opportunity

Collection &

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

• Develop/AcquireOperational Systems

Deploy, Maintain, &

Assess

Stage 5

• Implement Solutions

• Begin O&M

• Assess Results

G1 G2 G3 G4

Gates or Key Decision PointsGates or Key Decision Points

June 28, 2005 QPE Workshop - Norman 7

OSIP Documentation

AppliedResearch

&Analysis

Concept Exploration

&Definition

Operational Development

Deploy, Maintain, &

Assess

Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5

Need/Opportunity

Collection &

Validation

Stage 1

Key Information is captured in a “maturing” project document

G1 G2 G3 G4

• Statement of Need or Opportunity

• Plan for Stage 2& beyond

• Exploratory Research Evaluation

• Concept of Operations and Operational Requirements

• Update Planfor Stage 3 &beyond

• Applied Research Evaluation

• Technical Requirements

• Business Case

• Update Plan for Stage 3 & beyond

• Operational TestingResults

• Update Plan for Stage 4 (Integrated Logistics Plan)

• Assessments