WMO Information System (WIS) Management in the 21st Century

1. WMO Information System (WIS)Managing & Moving Weather, Water and Climate Informationin the 21st Century WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION Weather – Climate - Water Project Manager Report ICG-WIS IV 4-7 September 2007 World Meteorological Organization

2. Getting Started • Project Manager (PM) started in March 2007 • TOR in Appendix A • Top Priorities - Project Plan & VGISC • Cg-XV & EC (May) • Rush of TC meetings prior to Cg/EC • Assisted orientation of WIS PM • Assisted in clarifying TC/WIS issues & tie with planning • Delegations tech’s steered to PM to discuss WIS • Position well appreciated by Secretariat World Meteorological Organization

3. Down to Business • Secretariat • Lots of time with Secretariat on WIS • Clarifying issues, addressing concerns • Providing presentations or help preparing • Technical Committee • Directors delegates • 1st task the RRR questionnaires • Pilot projects • DRR, WCRP (YOTC), JCOMM WIGOS • Links to IGDDS, WIGOS • Introducing project management complimentary to RBB World Meteorological Organization

4. Coordination • VGISC • Participation in meetings & understanding issues • GTS functionality • Technical specifications • IGDDS Implementation • First meeting of IG was in July. • Working with C/SAT to ensure coordination • GEO • Ar-07-04 contributing to ar-07-01 & -02 • Focus on ADC and interoperability. World Meteorological Organization

5. Priority Tasks • PP identified three priority tasks - (See Agenda 5.3) • Tech Spec for GISC, DCPC & NC • Requirements • WIS web pages • Utilise contractors for remainder of 2007 • Tech Specs • Base on SIMDAT specs. • Difficult to get right person – starts in Sept. • Requirement • Cg-XV side meeting, contractor, questionnaire • Ambitious timeline, needed to realign to current status –starts in Oct • Web page • Need for coordination and outreach – starts in Sept World Meteorological Organization

6. Requirements • Utilise Secretariat expertise • 16 responses expected. (9 so far) • Contractor to prepare report by end of year. • Few as aware of volumes as WWW • Used short RTH survey to provide some information on volumes. World Meteorological Organization

7. Issues – Project Office • Too much for one person • Need at least one professional officer support • PM finishes in Feb 2008 • Needs urgent action • Interim solution • D/WWW supportive bringing 3 contractors on board • Focus on absolute priorities • Long term strategy • Do something about staffing project office • i.e. As per Plan. World Meteorological Organization

8. Issues – Timelines • WMO has well established communication practices • Timelines of years • Accelerating WIS implementation requires timelines closer to days or weeks at best. • RRR revealed TCs & Members not responding quickly enough • ETs need to manage both timelines • Need to utilise and work with Project Office • Especially need to pass issues back & forth • Developers make their own decisions if not supported World Meteorological Organization

9. Appendix A – Terms of Reference for WIS Project Manager • Under the supervision of C/ISS and the guidance of D/WWW, the WIS Project Manager (SSO-WIS) is responsible to: • Provide technical support to and facilitate the activities of the ICG-WIS, including its ad-hoc experts groups, and the CBS/ISS OPAG experts groups directly relevant to WIS development; • Contribute to and facilitate the development of appropriate regulatory documentation (e.g. a Manual on WIS) as well as an implementation plan and guidance material for WIS implementation; • Interact with and provide relevant technical support to TCs and Programmes, through respective WMO Departments and in coordination with D/CCC, to foster the development and coordination of critical WIS components in WMO Programmes; • Provide relevant technical support and coordinate with the WMO Space Programme, through SAT Department, to ensure full integration of IGDDS into WIS, taking benefit from the rapid progress of IGDDS activities into the overall WIS implementation planning; World Meteorological Organization

10. Promote and facilitate the WMO contribution of the WIS data exchange and data management services to the GEOSS and contribute to relevant GEO activities, in coordination and interaction with the GEO Secretariat; • Keep abreast and facilitate the coordination of WIS related Pilot Projects, especially GISC and DCPC prototypes; • Contribute to the proactive promotion of the WIS in WMO bodies’ sessions, including technical commissions and regional associations, and by preparing presentations in conferences and similar events; • Coordinate the update of a WIS Web page on the WMO Web site by publishing information about WIS, including values and benefits, practical participation in and interaction with pilot projects, giving attention to the needs of the various WIS user communities and target groups; • Contribute to the WIS outreach activities for developing countries and LDCs for promoting the awareness of WIS, and to enable them to cooperate in the development and effective use of WIS; • Assist the WIS Trust Fund steering committee in advising on the best use of the funds for fostering the technical development and implementation of the key components of WIS. World Meteorological Organization