NEXRAD Product Improvement & Operations & Services Improvement Process

1. NEXRAD Product Improvement&Operations & Services Improvement Process Bob Saffle (Mitretek Systems, NWS OST) Quantitative Precipitation Estimation Workshop June 28-30, 2005 Norman, OK

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 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 QPE Workshop - Norman

4. NEXRAD Product Improvement 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)) 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… • captures requirements • develops solutions • prioritizes 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. QPE Workshop - Norman

6. Gates or Key Decision Points Gates or Key Decision Points G4 G3 G1 G2 Applied Research & Analysis Need/Opportunity Collection & Validation Deploy, Maintain, & Assess Concept Exploration & Definition Operational Development Stage 1 Stage 3 Stage 2 Stage 4 Stage 5 • Implement • Solutions • Begin O&M • Assess Results • Develop/Acquire • Operational Systems • Perform Applied • Research • Develop • Requirements • Analyze Solutions • Perform Exploratory • Research • Develop Concept • of Operations and • Operational • Requirements • Define and Validate • Needs and • Opportunities OSIPFive Stage Process QPE Workshop - Norman

7. Key Information is captured in a “maturing” project document G4 G3 G1 G2 Applied Research & Analysis Need/Opportunity Collection & Validation Deploy, Maintain, & Assess Concept Exploration & Definition Operational Development Stage 1 Stage 3 Stage 2 Stage 4 Stage 5 • Statement of Need • or Opportunity • Plan for Stage 2 • & beyond • Exploratory • Research • Evaluation • Concept of • Operations • and Operational • Requirements • Update Plan • for Stage 3 & • beyond • Applied • Research • Evaluation • Technical • Requirements • Business Case • Update Plan • for Stage 3 & • beyond • Operational • Testing • Results • Update Plan • for Stage 4 • (Integrated • Logistics Plan) • Assessments OSIPDocumentation QPE Workshop - Norman