NOAA Integrated Surface Observing System (ISOS)

Forum/Working Group Meeting

Purpose:  Bring together NOAA Surface Observing System Managers (terrestrial, atmosphere, and ocean) to discuss how to begin a process of integrating NOAA surface observing systems.  

Goals

•    The Weather and Water and Climate Mission Goal Teams will develop and deliver a NOAA Integrated Surface Observing System (ISOS) Plan to be used in support of the NOAA Planning, Programming, Budgeting, and Execution System (PPBES), Program Budget Assessment (PBA) process. 
•    The NOAA ISOS Plan will be used to develop a funding profile, part of the PPBES process.

Outcomes

•    Improve coordination and collaboration within NOAA regarding the planning and implementation of NOAA surface observing systems.
•    Reduce and eventually eliminate atmospheric and ocean observing “gaps” through greater economy and efficiency by employing “Best Business Practices” across Corporate NOAA.

Objectives

•    Identify common operational activities that will benefit from the integration of these operational activities.
•    Create small working teams to develop a concept of integration for each identified common activity.
•    Develop a NOAA ISOS Plan with specific recommendations, milestones, performance measures, and deliverables that will demonstrate successful planning and cooperation across NOAA surface observing systems.

This plan will address near-term activities to integrate NOAA COOP, USCRN, and ASOS observations and elements into an end-to-end data management system with respect to data ingest, quality control processing, station history data (metadata), rapid/easy/convenient access to new and historical data, and long-term stewardship (archive).

This forum will help to develop the ISOS Plan and expand its scope to other existing NOAA observing systems leading to a NOAA-wide concept of and plan for incremental progress toward achieving an integration of key operational aspects common to all NOAA surface observing systems described in many of the NOAA Program PBAs under each of the NOAA Mission Goals.

This plan will be provided to the NOAA Observing Systems Council (NOSC), the Climate Office, and the NWS/NESDIS for their review and consideration prior to presentation to the NOAA Executive panel (NEP) and the NOAA Executive Council (NEC). 

Discussion Thoughts 

Please think about prior to the July 20-22 meeting.

Everyone is expected to have a view and opinion and engage in an
Open and Critical dialog, in a non-attribution environment.

What should be the structure and content (critical elements) of the ISOS Implementation Plan?

• Common NOAA Meta Data System (station history).
• Common Data Format for reported obs from the observing station to the NNDCs, ASC II/III, Delimited, …
• Integrated QC Process for select parameters performed at a NNDC.
• How to organize NOAA Process for Identifying Observing Requirements. (NOSA is working on this)
• How to organize a NOAA process for Prioritizing observations and observing systems.   (IWGEO has developed a proposed criterion.)
• Easy NOAA Process for incorporating all of NOAA obs as part of the NNDC long-term data
• stewardship program (Archive and Access).
• How NOSA can benefit the NOAA ISOS Process and NOAA Users.
• Customer Access to NOAA Data – Nearest real time and later (weeks, years, decades), GIS map with links to data, rapid on-line retrieval, etc.
• Defined the deliverables by FY and Lead POC for each chapter/section.

Do we have the focus and is there the will to make NOAA ISOS a priority of Corporate NOAA?

Where to go from here? Who should lead the NOAA ISOS Process?  What is the next step?

How can the In-situ based (land and coastal/open ocean to include airborne) platforms partner with the Remote (satellite) based platforms to enhance and maximize NOAA observations?

Does NOAA care about the influences of GEO “Network of Networks”? or How will GEO impact NOAA?

Creating Integrated Ecosystem Reference Sites: multiple observing systems/multi-agencies/multiple disciplines – atmosphere, land use (forest), carbon/aerosols, biomass, ecosystems, etc.

How does NOAA (you) define/know what the 100% observing requirement needs are (how many of what parameters and where-terrestrial, atmospheric, and oceans) to do the job?  What is the job?

What is the current per cent completion of this 100% requirement?  NOSA could help here.

Can not buy it all, so how does NOAA get from here to there?  What is/should be the Corporate NOAA “Best Practices” Business Plan?

Agenda:  Day One:  Tuesday July 20, 2004

0830    Opening Remarks                                                                                                                            Sponsors
“A Perspective: NOAA ISOS - A Corporate Need, Commitment, and Actions of the Need for and Actions”                                                                                   
Jack Hayes, NWS Science & Technology (S&T)
Frank Kelly, NWS, Team Leader NOAA Mission Goal - Weather and Water
Tom Karl, Director, National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)

    Objectives:
o    Convey the significance of ISOS in support of the NOAA Mission.
o    Convey the level of commitment of Corporate NOAA to implementing an ISOS Plan.

0915    Overview: NOAA Mission Goal Team Perspective: 15 minute each Goal (4)      Team Reps
 “Role of NOAA Observing Systems in the NOAA Mission Goal”  

    Objectives:
o    Describe Purpose of these Observing Systems from a Goal perspective.
o    How they contribute to the NOAA Mission Goal.
o    Highlight key Issues of Concern and Needs.
o    How a NOAA ISOS corporate approach could benefit the Goal/associated programs.
o    How might the Goal Team/Programs contribute to a NOAA ISOS corporate approach.
o    Understand the level of interdependence between the NOAA Mission Goals

1000    Break

1015    Overview: NOAA Mission Goal Team Perspective: (continued)            Goal Team Reps
“Role of NOAA Observing Systems in the NOAA Mission Goal”   

1030    Overview: NOAA Line Office (LO) Perspective: 15 minute each LO (5)              LO Reps
“LO role managing NOAA observing systems in the NOAA Mission Goal”       

    Objectives:
o    Describe Purpose of these Observing Systems w.r.t. the NOAA Mission.
o    How they contribute to the NOAA Mission Goal.
o    Highlight key Issues of Concern and Needs
o    How a NOAA ISOS corporate approach could benefit the NOAA LO.
o    How the NOAA LO can contribute to a NOAA ISOS corporate approach.
o    Understand the level of interdependence between LOs and the NOAA Mission Goals

1200    Lunch (on your own)
 
1330    Role of the NOAA Observing Systems Council (NOSC)                                             Eric Miller

    Objectives:
o    Describe the purpose and role of the NOSC.
o    Describe the support role of the NOSA people.
o    Attendees understand the role of the NOSC

1345-1405  NOAA Observing System Architecture (NOSA)                                               Eric Miller

           Objectives:
o    Describe current NOSA structure and data inventory in the account.
o    Describe current user access capabilities.
o    Describe how to query the account, sort, and retrieve information
o    Describe what type of reports can be currently generated.
o    Demonstrate web-based capabilities to include GIS map, etc.
o    Describe future efforts and planned user capabilities.

1405-1430   Facilitated Discussion: Using and Improving NOSA  (25 Min)                              All

           Objectives/Outcomes: Define Action Items/Deliverables for next 12-14 months
o Identify what is planned to be implemented over the next 12-14 for NOSA improvements/capabilities.
o    Implement an on-line Training Module for NOSA Users (?)
o    Start a NOAA-wide Public Relations Awareness blitz.
o   Identify existing/soon to be available capabilities that can be implemented at the NOAA National Data Centers for use by NOAA customers (businesses, public etc.)
o    Identify collaborative efforts within NOAA, e.g.  GIS developments. Refer to:
www.nosa.gov and http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov (bottom – map services)

1430-1500  Metadata/Station History Improvement and Integration Initiatives    NWS/NCDC

Joe Facundo/Steve Pritchett (NWS), Gus Shumbera/Jeff Arnfield (NCDC)     (25 min)   

       Objectives:
o    Describe the Metadata Integration and Improvement Initiative (MI³)
o    Describe/Demonstrate the web-based station history form/data entry
o    Describe the NOAA Stations Metadata System 1 (formerly CSSA)
o    Describe/Demo Management Information Retrieval System (MIRS)

1500-1530 Facilitated Discussion: Metadata documentation for NOAA Observing Systems  All

       Objectives/Outcomes: Define Action Items/Deliverables for next 12-14 months
o    NOAA NOSC/NEP/NEC/Admiral endorse common NOAA Stations Metadata
          System/Data Base for NOAA Observing Systems.
o    Documentation process into the NOAA Business Operations Manual (BOM).
o    Establish plan (order of priority) for creating and implementing specific web-based form for each NOAA Observing System.
o    Establish completion dates for web-based form for ASOS and USCRN.
o    Identify other candidates for the 12-14 month implementation.

1530    Break
 
1545-1615  Where are the NOAA Observations Now?/Reporting Obs.          Obs. Sys./NNDC Reps
 
       Objectives:
o    Summarize which Observing Systems’ data/observations     
      are archived at the three NOAA National data Centers (NCDC, NGDC, and NODC)
o    Describe optimum data format for long term stewardship (archive and access)
o    Query attendees (Ad Hoc Q&A) - Where their respective observing systems
      data are “right now” – PORTS, Buoys, Ecosystems, etc.  Why?

1615-1645  Facilitated Discussion: Near real time reporting to the NNDCs/Data Formats      All
         NOAA Observing Systems       

        Objectives/Outcomes: Define Action Items/Deliverables for next 12-14 months
o    Does your data have long term value to the Nation?
o    Discuss how to engage observing system managers to send NOAA data to the NNDCs
o    Discuss the communications options for nearest real time reporting/delivery
      to the NNDCs after observations taken and recorded.
o    Identify candidates for the next 12-14 implementation.
             
1645    End the First Day.
 

Agenda:  Days Two and Three:  July 21-22, 2004

Day Two: Wednesday, July 21, ‘04

0830-0900  Remarks: “A Perspective: NOAA ISOS - A Corporate Need, Commitment,    Sponsor  and Actions of the Need for and Actions”                                                         Chet Koblinsky OAR, Director, Climate Office, Team Leader NOAA Mission Goal – Climate, and Climate Program Manager 

Objectives:
o    Convey the significance of ISOS in support of the NOAA Mission.
o    Convey the level of commitment of Corporate NOAA to implementing an ISOS Plan.

0900-0910  Access to and Archive of Observations.                                                           John Jensen   

Objectives:
o    Describe the NOSC Data Stewardship Committee.
o    Describe how to request/apply that your data gets into the NNDCs.

0910-0930 Facilitated Discussion: Access/Long-term Data Stewardship (Archive)                All

Objectives/Outcomes: Define Action Items/Deliverables for next 12-14 months
o    Where do they go now?
o    What should be done in the future?       

0930-0955  Quality Control: Integrated Surface Data Processing System (ISDPS) and Integrated Surface Data (ISD) format (25 min)                                       Steve DelGreco  and  Neal Lott

Objectives:                                           
o    Describe current joint NCDC/AFCCC/USN ISD processing system
                                           
0955-1015  Facilitated Discussion: Integrating Quality Control for selected parameters          All

Objectives/Outcomes: Define Action Items/Deliverables for next 12-14 months.
o    Examine suitability/feasibility/acceptability to expand ISD to other observing networks.
o    Identify candidate networks for implementation over next 12-14 months (dependent on timely reporting of obs to NCDC).   
o    Examine adding additional parameters to the ISD process.

1015    Break

1030-1045  Transfer Functions (Instruments) between Observing Systems                 Bruce Baker
1045-1100 Benchmarking Satellite Obs – EROS Center Test Bed Brief                              Mike Crane

Objectives:                                           
o    Describe current status of analysis/development of transfer functions between ASOS/COOP/USCRN instruments based on data from Sterling, VA and Johnstown, PA.
o    Describe current activities in benchmarking/validating satellite observations with in-situ surface observing systems – EROS test site.

1100-1130 Facilitated Discussion:  Increased utility of/confidence in NOAA observations     All

Objectives/Outcomes: Define Action Items/Deliverables for next 12-14 months.
o    How can these applied research efforts be transitioned into operation utility?
o    What can be expected from these two projects over the next 12-14 months?
o    Define time line when the instrument transfer functions (ASOS/COOP/USCRN), temperature and precipitation are available to scientists.

1115-1145   Overview of Interagency Working Group on Global Earth Obs (IWGEO)        Tom Karl
         
Objectives:                                           
o   Describe current activities and the relationship to NOAA’s Mission.
o   Describe proposed prioritization and review criteria process for observations and observing systems.

1145    Lunch

1300-1645    Open Discussions:                                                                                                                             All
•    Content/Format of the ISOS Plan.
•    Identify Lead Author and Team members for each section/chapter.
•    Open discussion of other issues (refer to attached appendix)
•    Define Specific Activities to implement in FY 05 and FY 06 and Lead POCs.

1430    Break

1450-1645   Open Discussions (Continued)                                                                                                    All

Content/Format of the ISOS Plan.
•    What is a NOAA ISOS?
•    What should it be?
•    Where does NOAA ISOS go from here?
•    How to achieve a NOAA Integrated "network of networks"?
•    What Next?

Objectives:                                           
o   Identify common operational activities that will benefit from the integration of these operational activities.
o     Create small working teams to develop a concept of integration for each identified common activity.
o  Identify and develop a NOAA ISOS Plan with specific recommendations, milestones, performance measures, and deliverables that will demonstrate successful planning and cooperation across NOAA surface observing systems.

1645    End Second Day

Day Three (half day), Thursday, July 22, 2004

0830-1000 Identify teams/lead authors for drafting sections of the ISOS Implementation Plan.                                                                                                                                                                                   All
    Set dates for drafts to review, etc.

1000    Break

1015-1100   Review Deliverables/Leads for Key Topics from Day 1 and Day 2.                              All

1100    End Forum