Advancing WMO Information System (WIS) for Weather, Water & Climate Data Management

1. WMO Information System (WIS)Managing & Moving Weather, Water and Climate Informationin the 21st Century WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION Weather – Climate - Water World Meteorological Organization

2. Overview • What is the WMO Information System (WIS)? • Why is it being developed? • What services will it provide? • What will the NMHS gain from WIS? • What is the overall WIS plan? • How far has its implementation progressed? • What are the major challenges still to be met? World Meteorological Organization

3. WMO Information System (WIS) Direction from WMO Congress (2003) • Develop: • Over-arching approach for solving data management problems for all WMO and related international programmes • A single, coordinated global infrastructure, the WMO Information System (WIS) for the collection and sharing of information World Meteorological Organization

4. Reasons for WIS • Various WMO Programmes developing information systems independently • Incompatibilities, inefficiencies, duplication of effort and higher overall costs • Continued systems development in an uncoordinated manner would: • Exacerbate these problems • Increase difficulty in sharing information between programmes • Further isolate WMO Programmes from each other and from wider environmental community World Meteorological Organization

5. Current situation: GTS WWW GTS Regional/Specialized Meteorological Centres Meteorological and R&D Satellite Operator Centres World Meteorological Centres National MeteorologicalCentres interconnects World Meteorological Organization

6. Current situation: GTS For WWW • GTS provides: • Information collection and distribution • Real-time push for WWW data & products (and some other programmes data) • Information management • Standard data formats • Implicit metadata & catalogs World Meteorological Organization

7. Current situation: GTS and Other WMO Programmes systems • Information exchange • Multiplicity of procedures • Real-time and non-real-time • Very limited pull • Information management • Multiplicity of data formats • Uncoordinated/lack of metadata & catalogs • No discovery World Meteorological Organization

8. WIS Vision • Integrated approach for all WMO Programmes • Routine collection and dissemination of time-critical and operation-critical data and products: • Real-time “push”through dedicated telecommunication • Data Discovery, Access and Retrieval service: • “Pull” through the Internet (HTTP, FTP,…) • Timely delivery of data and products: • Delayed mode “push” through dedicated telecommunication means and public data networks, especially the Internet • Unified procedures • More efficient data exchange • Coordinated and standardized metadata • Interoperability between programmes • Improved data management • ISO 191xxx series for geographic information World Meteorological Organization

9. DCPC NC NC NC/ DCPC Managed, Regional and Internet NC NC/DCPC Communication Networks NC GISC NC GISC GISC NC DCPC DCPC GISC GISC Satellite Dissemination (IGDDS, RETIM, etc) NC NC SatelliteTwo-Way Systems NC NC On-demand “pull” WIS World Radiation Centre Regional Instrument Centres International Organizations (IAEA, CTBTO, UNEP, FAO.. ) GAW World Data Centres GCOS Data Centres Global Run-off Data Centre Global Precip. Climatology Centre IRI, Hadley Centre, and other climate research centres; Universities; Regional Climate Centres (CIIFEN, etc.) Commercial Service Providers WMO World Data Centres International Projects (e.g. GMES HALO) internet Real-time “push” World Meteorological Organization

10. WIS brings new features and opportunities • Common information exchange standards, functions and services forall WMO programmes • Inter-disciplinarydiscovery, retrieval and exchange of information in real-time and non-real time • Inter-operability through on-line catalogues usingmetadata based on ISO 19100(geographic information standard) • Industry standards and off-the-shelf hardware and software systems to ensurecost-effectiveness and compatibility World Meteorological Organization

11. What will a NMHS gain from the WIS? • Improved forecasting/warning services • Faster and more cost-effective exchange of operation-critical information; • Improved and expanded range of services • Discovery and access to new data and products: • Satellite data and products, ensemble prediction products, climate predictions, oceanographic data and products, operational, and research data and products, reports, publications • Strengthened role as national service provider • Ability to “push” to national users critical information: • Warnings, advisories, selected measurements, etc.; (eg: national agencies dealing in disaster mitigation, agriculture, energy and water management,) • Better appreciation by partner agencies • Supports their “pulling” relevant information from WMO World Meteorological Organization

12. Structure of WIS Functional centres: • National Centres (NC) • Global Information System Centres (GISC) • Data Collection and Production Centres (DCPC) and • Data communication networks WIS concerns only information exchange and data management functions World Meteorological Organization

13. National Centre (NC) • Provides information collected/generated in the country to a GISC or DCPC • Serves as portal for national users and/or administrates their access to WIS • Several NCs in a country are possible (not just the NMC) Data Collection or Production Centre (DCPC) • Provides the programme-related data & products for international exchange • Supports information “Push” and ”Pull” mechanisms • Generates, maintains,makes accessible and provides to GISCs metadata catalogues of its data & products World Meteorological Organization

14. Global Information System Centre (GISC) • Receives information from NCs and DCPCs • Exchanges information (data and metadata) with other GISCs • Disseminates, within its area of responsibility, the entire set of WMO data and products for routine global exchange • Supports information ”Pull” mechanisms • Generates, maintains and makes accessible metadata catalogues of all data and products for global echange • Ensures around-the-clock, reliable and secure operations World Meteorological Organization

15. WIS, a key issue: interoperability • Interoperability enables the discovery, the retrieval and the usage of the data • It needs the development and the implementation of relevant Metadata standards • Development of a WMO Metadata Profileof the ISO 191xx series for geographic information • Step 1: development of the WMO Metadata Core Profile of ISO 19115 for data discovery • Step 2: Use of the ISO 191xx series for the access and use of the data World Meteorological Organization

16. WIS SERVICES WIS provide three types of services to meet the different requirements: (1) Routine collection and dissemination service for time-critical and operation-critical data and products: Based on real-time “push” mechanism (incl. Multicast); implemented essentially through dedicated telecommunication means with guaranteed quality of service, e.g. leased circuits, dedicated data communication network services and satellite-based data-distribution systems; (2) Data Discovery, Access and Retrieval service: Based on request/reply “pull” mechanism with relevant data management functions; implemented essentially through the Internet (HTTP, FTP,…); (3) Timely delivery service for data and products: Based on delayed mode “push” mechanism; implemented through a combination of dedicated telecommunication means and of public data networks, especially the Internet. World Meteorological Organization

17. Data pull Data push WIS DATA-COMMUNICATIONS FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES(for weather, water, climate and related data and products) DAR WIS IGDDS GTS WIS/GTS: for time and operation-critical data & products WIS/IGDDS: for space-based data & products WIS/DAR: data discovery, access and retrieval Data push: routine distribution of data & products Data pull: access to and retrieval of data & products World Meteorological Organization

18. Data pull Data push WIS DATA-COMMUNICATIONS IMPLEMENTATION(for weather, water, climate and related data and products) DAR Essentially through the Internet(HTTP, FTP, VPN…) Essentially through telecom. with guaranteed quality of service, e.g. leased circuits, dedicated data com network services, sat.-based systems, .. WIS Essentially through satellite based data distribution systems, e.g. DVB-S IGDDS GTS WIS/GTS: for time and operation-critical data & products WIS/IGDDS: for space-based data & products WIS/DAR: data discovery, access and retrieval Data push: routine distribution of data & products Data pull: access to and retrieval of data & products World Meteorological Organization

19. WIS Data Policies • Complies with WMO data policies • Res. 40 (Cg-XII) and Res. 25 (Cg-XIII) • Will follow evolution of WMO data policy • Procedures for managing of access rights, control of data retrieval, registration and identification of users, etc can be defined, as and when required • Anonymous downloading is technically possible, but depends on whether a NC permits that feature • Has no system-inherent features that would violate international legal frameworks World Meteorological Organization

20. WIS contribution to GEO W M O Weather Domain Climate Domain Water Domain GTS IGDDS W I S Internet GEO-NetCast G E O Health Energy Disasters Weather Climate Water Agriculture Ecosystems Biodiversity World Meteorological Organization

21. WIS implementation • Part A: GTS Evolution into WIS • Provides consolidation/improvement for time-critical and operation-critical data • Includes extension to meet operational requirements of WMO programmes in addition to World Weather Watch (including improved management of services); • Part B: Extension to WIS • Provides for an extension of the information services through flexible data discovery, access and retrieval services to all users, as well as flexible timely delivery services; World Meteorological Organization

22. WIS services & implementation • XV Congress recognized the routine collection and dissemination service and the timely delivery service should have the highest priority. • XV Congress emphasized that, in implementing Part A, highest priority should be given to overcoming the persisting shortcomings in the current GTS. World Meteorological Organization

23. WIS Implementation – accomplishments • Continued GTS upgrades (IMTN, satellite-based datacast,..) • WMO Core metadata • Internet portal • Basic data acquisition, discovery and push-pull services • GISC prototype: RA VI VGISC project • DCPCs prototypes: • ECMWF & EUMETSAT associated with VGISC project • NCAR (Boulder) • NODC (Obninsk) for JCOMM related data • IGGDS (Space-based data) • Asia-Pacific VPN pilot project • Technical Conference on WIS (Korea, 6-8 November 2006); VGISC & DCPC prototype demo World Meteorological Organization

24. European Virtual GISC Project World Meteorological Organization

25. WIS governance • XV Congress endorsed in principle, upon ICG-WIS and CBS recommendations, the procedures for the designation Global Information System Centres (GISC) and the Data Collection or Production Centres (DCPC). • Congress encouraged Members to adhere to them until they would eventually be included in WIS regulatory documentation. World Meteorological Organization

26. DESIGNATION PROCEDURES FOR GISCs AND DCPCs i) Statement of WIS requirements • WMO TCs and other bodies state & review their programmes requirements for WIS services. WIS requirements and functions are compiled and regularly reviewed by ICG-WIS and reported to EC. ii) Service offers by potential GISCs and DCPCs • Existing centres from WMO systems and programmes may apply for designation as GISC or DCPCs. The service offer addressed to WMO should include: • - A statement of compliance with the required WIS functions - GISC: proposed area of responsibility for WIS data services - DCPC: programmes’ candidate DCPCs endorsed by relevant TCs - Formal commitment by the PR of the Member to implement the GISC or DCPC and provide the WIS services. • ICG-WIS analyzes the proposed services versus WIS requirements and the compliance to the required WIS/GISC or DCPC functions and specifications, and formulates a recommendation. World Meteorological Organization

27. DESIGNATION PROCEDURES FOR GISCs AND DCPCs iii) Demonstration of GISC or DCPC capabilities • Candidate GISCs and DCPCs demonstrate to CBS their capabilities to provide WIS services to accredited users with the necessary reliability and quality. Adherence to WIS standards and relevant data exchange policies and access rights must be granted. (real-time functions of data and product collection and dissemination, non real-time services for requests, storage functions, coordination / synchronization functions with GISC, up-to-date metadata catalogues). • CBS formulates recommendation for the GISC and DCPC designation. iv) Designation of GISCs and DCPCs • The Executive Council considers for approval the ICG-WIS recommendation and CBS recommendation for the GISC and DCPC designation • Upon EC approval, the GISC or DCPC is included in the relevant WMO programme documentation. World Meteorological Organization

28. Key Future Milestones • Consolidate plans on development, governance and implementation of WIS: 2007-2008 • Develop WIS regulatory documentation and guidance material for implementation, including specifications for the GISC interfaces and a unified user interface: 2007-2008 • Develop scheme and practices for security, authentication and authorization procedures for WIS services : 2007-2008 • Implementation of first operational GISC: 2008 • Implementation of other operational GISCs: 2009 - 2011 • Implementation of DCPCs, i.e. WIS interfaces at WMO programmes’ centres: 2008-2011 World Meteorological Organization

29. Challenges • Good progress made in concept, technological solutions and prototypes for WIS, but much work to be done for an operational WIS • Understanding of WIS – both internal and external to WMO: • What it is, why it is important, what it does for NMHSs, what needs to be done, … • Active participation of WMO Technical Commissions and other bodies -- stating requirements, developing metadata and implementing WIS interface at their data centres, etc • Involvement of all NMHSs in the WIS development, including awareness of users communities • Adequate financial and human resources for WIS development into operations World Meteorological Organization

30. Thank you World Meteorological Organization