80 likes | 148 Views
NISAC Review of the LNO ARRA Operational Plan. Wade Sheldon & Will Pockman NISAC Co-Chairs. Draft 1: Areas of Concern. 1. Approach to NIS development appears uni-directional and insular Lines of communication limited, prescribed Long development cycles with limited feedback
E N D
NISAC Review of the LNOARRA Operational Plan Wade Sheldon & Will PockmanNISAC Co-Chairs
Draft 1: Areas of Concern 1. Approach to NIS development appears uni-directional and insular • Lines of communication limited, prescribed • Long development cycles with limited feedback • Need much broader, bidirectional communication explicitly included in plan • Need opportunities for outside collaboration • Draft 2 response: • More interaction planned than articulated – added more explicit communication tasks • Development blocks composed of smaller steps where feedback will be sought • Collaboration welcome, but must be timely (on track)
Draft 1: Areas of Concern 2.NIS development appears isolated from LTER science activities • NIS not sufficiently user or science driven moving fwd • No planned NIS interaction with LTER SC working gps • Apparent lack of flexibility to respond to evolving needs • Need to make SC, IMC groups aware of services, activities • Draft 2 response: • Added explicit plans for CIO to interact with groups • More flexibility planned than described
Draft 1: Areas of Concern 3. The importance of standardization to facilitate network-level CI was not emphasized • Diversity of LTER site data/systems/practices major barrier to synthesis • No explicit support for standardization efforts • Needs site-based funding, but must include “hooks” in Core CI activities and PASTA • Draft 2 response: • Added steps to include support for controlled vocabularies, other efforts • Emphasized role of PASTA in standardization
Draft 1: Areas of Concern 4. Utility of Core CI, NIS for supporting LTER site operations was under-emphasized • OP primarily focused outward • Need to focus on service to sites to ensure buy-in, reward for participation • Improved network databases, use cases for NIS to support site-based research needed • Draft 2 response: • Included more activities to support sites
Draft 1: Areas of Concern 5. Level of technical support and service to sites insufficient • Only 0.3 FTE for helping sites support NIS protocols • Site visits planned, but tech support should take precedence • Help overcoming small barriers can lead to big payoff • Draft 2 response: • Additional, externally-funded FTEs also available • Mixed messages from sites, EB on direct support • Planning more group training, education to augment 1:1 support
Draft 1: Areas of Concern 6. Long software development timelines increase risk that products won’t meet needs • Recent experience in LTER raises concerns • Limited patience for protracted use case development • Best feedback received when prototypes provided • Need to identify major shifts/drifts early enough to have flexibility to make changes (not brittle) • Alternative approaches should be considered where possible (Agile, RAD, simulations) • Draft 2 response: • Many shorter duration milestones implicit in plan • Really need use cases to drive development • RUP approach is flexible enough to accommodate
Draft 2 Discussion • Many points addressed, clarified in Draft 2 • OP largely on track, but serious process questions remain (some out of OP scope) • Need corresponding site funding to succeed • Community dynamics within LTER critical (need to move from sites + LNO to network) – may need experts • “Tiger Team” model useful – NISAC/IM-Exec could be tasked with identifying collaborators, testers • Formal communication plan should be considered • In-reach to LTER committees, groups • Education/training tailored to classes of users • Briefing materials needed to engage more site PIs