AHPS Update

1. AHPS Update HIC Meeting July 11, 2006

2. AHPS Update • NRC AHPS Report • FY07 Planning • Program Execution and Tracking • OHD Coding Standards and Guidelines

3. National Academy of Sciences AHPS Report • Study started - Feb. 2004 • Report published – 22 June 2006 • http://newton.nap.edu/catalog/11598.html • 16 Major recommendations found in Summary chapter • Programmatic • Scientific and Technical • User-related • Have prepared draft responses to the major recommendations • Feedback or questions to OHD by July 23

4. AHPS Management Elements • AHPS Project List • Currently called AHPS Program Plan - rename • AHPS Plan • Includes schedules, milestones, and dependencies • Currently called AHPS Program Management Plan – rename • Under development • Short-term Planning for FY07 • Annual Guidance Memorandum • Theme Teams, Program Areas, and ARC • RFC Plans for AHPS location implementation • Program Execution and Tracking • HOSIP/OSIP projects – link status to AHPS Plan • AHPS monthly quad charts for NWS management • AHPS EVMS (monthly), Exhibit 300 (quarterly) documentation • AHPS quarterly reports

5. AHPS Planning for FY07 • Annual Guidance Memorandum • Areas of emphasis for Theme Teams to consider • Theme Teams - Innovation, Flash Flood Services, Short- to Long-Term Forecast Services, Software Architecture Enhancements, Dissemination of Products • Program Areas - Outreach, Training, Web-Based Deployment, New Service Locations, Program Management

6. AHPS Planning for FY07Schedule

7. AHPS Planning for FY07New Service Locations • Current status (3rd Quarter FY06) • Target 268 • Current 157 (74 over plan for 3rd Q) • 185 scheduled for Q4 • Target 309 new locations for FY07 with full AHPS funding • Will need to have draft plan ready Oct. 1 • Work with ARC/HICs to prepare plans

8. AHPS Program Execution and Tracking • Most (all?) development projects in HOSIP/OSIP • ~58 projects in HOSIP/ ~22 projects in OSIP • HOSIP still evolving (as is OSIP) • No longer require a NID – just SON • Formats to look more like OSIP • Developing a database to improve tracking and reports and reduce amount of administrative work to maintain information – also tie into APMP work

9. AHPS Program Execution and Tracking • HOSIP/OSIP relation to AWIPS Software Recommendation and Evaluation Committee (SREC) • AWIPS requirement – all projects must go thru OSIP Gates 1&2 to be on the SREC list to be considered for a build • HOSIP documents accepted for OSIP • After passed onto SREC – they’re out of OSIP but stay in HOSIP • ~20 projects in SREC (most targeted for OB8 - 4 in OB9) • Need Region support for Hydrology SREC projects

11. What’s next • This year – help produce AHPS program management plan • For next year – include all Hydrology Program in list and plan • Identify all activities needed across the Hydro program • Help identify projects when new funding becomes available

12. OHD Coding Standards and Guidelines • OHD’s Science Infusion and Software Engineering Process Group (SISEPG) developed standards for the OHD officially supported software. • Initially – general standards and guidelines • Later – language specific • Goal: Well structured and documented software • Easier to maintain • Reduces the amount of time needed for a new developer to learn how a program works. • Aids in the debugging process. • Features • Does not restrict programmer creativity • Standards – programmer expected to do • Enforced in code reviews • Guidelines – programmer encouraged to do to improve quality of software

13. OHD Coding Standards and Guidelines • Table of Contents • 1.Introduction • 2.Internal Documentation Standards • 3.Coding Standards • 4.Coding Guidelines • Appendix A - Internal Documentation Templates • Appendix B - Documentation Example

14. Backup Slides

15. NRC AHPS ReportMajor Recommendations - Programmatic • Programmatic Recommendations • Developing and implementing AHPS should continue to be a high priority for the NWS • Regional and local offices should play a larger role in the administration and management of AHPS activities. • The NWS should require a degree or extensive formal education in hydrology for positions that involve a hydrologic emphasis. • The program’s goals and budget should be brought into closer alignment. • AHPS should develop a detailed and comprehensive, multi-year implementation plan that is updated on an annual basis • The NWS should focus collaborating with federal, academic and private sector organizations to advance the AHPS program and product development.

16. NRC AHPS ReportMajor Recommendations - Scientific and Technical • Scientific and Technical • AHPS developers are encouraged to work with satellite precipitation groups to ensure the AHPS hydrologic requirements for precipitation are considered in other federal activities, such as NASA’s Global Precipitation Measurement mission. • AHPS should strengthen the QPE and QPF through an end-to-end evaluation that assesses QPE/QPF quality and impacts on flood and streamflow products for basins of diverse size and topography. • NWS should strengthen connections between DMIP Phase I/ DMIP Phase II and AHPS goals.

17. NRC AHPS ReportMajor Recommendations- S&T (cont.) • NWS should clarify the criteria and decision-making process for selecting the next generation hydrologic model(s) for AHPS, using an advisory group that involves modeling experts from inside and outside of NWS to ensure that the state-of-the-art modeling advances are incorporated objectively into NWSRFS. • The NWS should invest in the next generation of NWSRFS that includes a flexible framework that allows alternative models, methods, or features that can be tested, verified and implemented expediently. A total redesign of NWSRFS is needed for AHPS to fulfill its scientific and technical goals.

18. NRC AHPS ReportMajor Recommendations – User • User-related Recommendations • The NWS should focus AHPS development and implementation initially on the activities and needs of the RFCs and WFOs. • An AHPS outreach, education, and training program should be designed to ensure that AHPS products are used properly and to their fullest potential. • While NWS is making progress towards its goal of creating new formats for AHPS products, graphical formats need greater consistency across all AHPS web pages. • NWS should consult a communications specialist to assist with developing consistent and clear modes of presentation. • NWS should develop specific measures of success for AHPS product development and implementation.

19. Details on Recommendation • AHPS should develop a detailed and comprehensive, multi-year implementation plan that is updated on an annual basis and include the following: • A detailed prioritization of milestones and schedule for implementation; • Itemized fiscal and human resources allocated to each task; • Specific measures (metrics) of success for the objectives and progress towards meeting objectives; • Progress made towards meeting the objectives; • Methods for incorporating user feedback into the AHPS program for improving AHPS products and services; and • Follow-on strategies to achieve longer range goals.