GIS Support for Field Offices Hydrology Program Managers Conference SR Breakout Session December 5, 2002 Ben Weiger Chief, Hydrologic Services

GIS Support l Internet Mapping Service (IMS) Information Team Status l SR ARC IMS Server Status l Status of FFMP script conversion l GIS training

IMS Information Team Status l l SR representative – Jack Settelmaier (SSD) l l Team analysis will include - -potential impacts on NWS web servers - -IMS software options - -ease of access - -national consistency - -workload considerations - -cost effectiveness l l Team will not address - -web interface design - -data content - -product format.

IMS Information Team Status l Team Decision - use ArcIMS – no compelling reason to move from earlier team recommendation -No robust COTS with IMS functionality -Follows direction of NOAA l Used by NOS Enterprise GIS effort -Briefed to and encouraged by Adm. Lautenbacher

IMS Team Status l Issues -Development of business case going slowly l Team members committed to many other projects l Need all team members to contribute l Need for meeting in lieu of conference calls -December in Silver Spring l Deadline for completion of team’s work extended to end of February l l WGRFC providing various shape files for the NWSH ARC IMS server to support the IMS Information team briefing to Corporate Board.

Internet Mapping URLs l NDFD Demonstration /website/ndfd/ndfdhttp:// /website/ndfd/ndfd l l Storm Reports - - l l River Conditions - - WGRFC Effort (In Progress) - - NOS Enterprise Info - -

SR ARCIMS Server Status l Dissemination and Enhancement Team within CWWD providing technical oversight of this project. l Goal to have ARCIMS on LINUX development workstation/server in December l HSB/SSD working closely with DET to get development workstation/server online. l GIS team will contribute to developing a GUI for the SR ARCIMS server.

FFMP Script Conversion Avenue to Visual Basic l HSB raised this issue during HSD conference call. l NWSH took action to document legacy software requirements and submit an unfunded requirement to the Corporate Board. l NWSH plans to coordinate draft document with regions prior to official submission.

GIS Training l HSB/SSD plan to canvass field offices for GIS training needs. l HSB investigating regional GIS training classes opportunities at the NOAA Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC) and NOAA Coastal Services Center (CSC). l Both locations offer significant discounts for ESRI GIS training. l If you know of other institutions offering GIS training at discount prices, please let us know.

Customer Surveys Hydrology Program Managers Conference SR Breakout Session December 5, 2002 Ben Weiger Chief, Hydrologic Services

Customer Surveys l Regulations for soliciting customer feedback during meeting, conferences, or workshops less stringent than web-based surveys. l Do not require any formal approvals from NOAA. l Do not use the word “survey” in any handout provided to customers at a meeting, conference, or workshop to solicit feedback on NWS products and services.

Customer Surveys l NWS has developed a baseline customer survey to acquire feedback on experimental products/services via the INTERNET. - l Field offices can edit the baseline survey to solicit feedback from customers on specific experimental products and services.

Customer Surveys l NOAA has web page with guidance about conducting customer surveys - l Click on customer surveys and Frequently Asked Questions for further information. l Web page above has an approved web based survey that you can tailor to a specific product/service. NOAA clearance takes about 2-3 weeks.

NWS Customer Survey

NWS-approved Customer Survey NWS-approved Customer Survey

NOAA-approved Customer Survey

COOP Program SR Breakout Session December 5, 2002 Ben Weiger Chief, Hydrologic Services COOP Modernization Status

COOP Modernization l Network spatial study l Phase I (Rescue) l Phase II (Modernization)

Figure 6. Color scheme number of current COOP sites per 20 x 20 mile grid 2/4/2002 Needed: One site per 20 x 20 mile grid (gray box)

Figure 41. Color scheme number of current COOP sites per 60 x 60 mile grid Problem: Most sites not reporting daily temp and precip data.

COOP Program Modernization l Implementation: -$1.9M investment for FY02 l 5,000 temperature (MMTS) display units l 300 F&P upgrades deploy early FY03 Phase I

Budget Status FY 2002 Budget $300K included in OAR U.S. Senate mark for improved daily temp. forecasts (modeling & sensors) $300K included in OAR U.S. Senate mark for improved daily temp. forecasts (modeling & sensors) Updated phone lines at New England sites to report temperature hourly Updated phone lines at New England sites to report temperature hourly FY 2003 Budget FY 2003 Budget President’s FY03 budget allocates $3M for COOP modernization President’s FY03 budget allocates $3M for COOP modernization Modernization of 200 platforms for Southeast US Modernization of 200 platforms for Southeast US

COOP Modernization Plan Phase II Status - Budget

COOP Program Phase II Project Goals Improve Drought & Climate Monitoring Improve Drought & Climate Monitoring Improve Snowfall Monitoring Improve Snowfall Monitoring Improve Flood Forecast Accuracy Improve Flood Forecast Accuracy Improve Local Temperature Forecasts Improve Local Temperature Forecasts Increase Data Availability Increase Data Availability Modernization

NWS Challenges Drought & Climate Monitoring Drought & Climate Monitoring Fill gaps in coverage – west & Alaska Fill gaps in coverage – west & Alaska Make county-level data available Make county-level data available Snowfall Monitoring Snowfall Monitoring Increase density/reporting for improved winter crop assessment/planning Increase density/reporting for improved winter crop assessment/planning Currently only 1,500 sites report daily Currently only 1,500 sites report daily Flood Forecasts Flood Forecasts Increase number of gages per radar to improve radar precipitation estimates Increase number of gages per radar to improve radar precipitation estimates Reduce river forecast errors for improved flood mitigation decisions Reduce river forecast errors for improved flood mitigation decisions

NWS Challenges (cont.) Temperature Forecast Temperature Forecast Expand basis for local forecasts beyond 1,000 airport sites used today Expand basis for local forecasts beyond 1,000 airport sites used today Make forecasts more representative of surrounding area Make forecasts more representative of surrounding area Data Availability Data Availability Expand real-time availability of observations beyond airports Expand real-time availability of observations beyond airports Eliminate current one day to 2 months lag in COOP data availability Eliminate current one day to 2 months lag in COOP data availability Data Accuracy and Quality Data Accuracy and Quality Standardize observing biases Standardize observing biases Improve and automate quality control of data Improve and automate quality control of data

Prediction – Forecast Accuracy/Increased Data Availability l Hourly COOP precipitation data will be combined with radar estimates for more accurate real-time precipitation estimates. l More accurate precipitation estimates improve forecast accuracy. Benefit: Improved Flood Forecast Accuracy 24 hr Raw Radar Estimate 24 hour RFC-Wide Multisensor Precipitation Estimate COOP gage reports

l Timely CO-OP observations would have allowed for more accurate county forecasts l $400 M in damages could have been mitigated Devastating Florida Freeze January 18, 1997 Decrease Temperature Forecast Error from 4.6º F to 3.1º F Decrease Temperature Forecast Error from 4.6º F to 3.1º F Increase Daily Reporting Temperature Sites from 1,500 to 8,000 Increase Daily Reporting Temperature Sites from 1,500 to 8,000 Improving Temperature Forecast Accuracy

Actions Modernize Temperature and Precipitation Gages at locations identified in the spatial density study Modernize Temperature and Precipitation Gages at locations identified in the spatial density study Add Automated Data Communication, Dissemination, & Archiving at these sites Add Automated Data Communication, Dissemination, & Archiving at these sites -Temperature and precipitation data reported every hour -Snowfall data reported every day Improve Spatial Distribution (Increase Density in West & Alaska) Improve Spatial Distribution (Increase Density in West & Alaska) Equip 1,000 Sites with Soil Moisture,Temperature, Humidity, & Evaporation Sensors Equip 1,000 Sites with Soil Moisture,Temperature, Humidity, & Evaporation Sensors Disseminate All Data Via Internet Disseminate All Data Via Internet

COOP Modernization System Architecture

Outcomes: Modernized Network Network Elements Current Daily Reporting Sites Goal Hourly Reporting Sites Economic Benefits Temperature1,5008,000 l Save Consumers $30M/day per Degree Improvement l Seasonal forecast improvement Precipitation3,0008,000 l Local power prediction l Better water and drought management crop planning Soil Moisture 401,000 l Better water/drought mgmt./crop planning/spring flood outlook improvement Snowfall1,500 6,000 (daily) l Better water/drought mgmt./crop planning/spring flood outlook improvement

Outcomes: Economic Benefits Agriculture/Water Management Better Data for Local Decision Making (Water/Drought Management/Crop Planning) Better Data for Local Decision Making (Water/Drought Management/Crop Planning) Power Industry Power Industry Improve Energy Load Forecasting for Improved Pricing Efficiency Improve Energy Load Forecasting for Improved Pricing Efficiency Potential Consumer Savings of $30M/day per Degree Improvement (Energy Industry ) Potential Consumer Savings of $30M/day per Degree Improvement (Energy Industry ) Weather Risk Industry Improve Market Efficiency of Climate/Weather Related Insurance Contracts (Weather Risk Management Association) Improve Market Efficiency of Climate/Weather Related Insurance Contracts (Weather Risk Management Association) Federal Government Support County-Level Presidential/USDA Disaster Declarations for Drought, Snowstorms, Floods, etc. (FEMA) Support County-Level Presidential/USDA Disaster Declarations for Drought, Snowstorms, Floods, etc. (FEMA)

Secretarial/Departmental Initiatives l Provides for the enhancement of the national economy. l Support the decision-making necessary for Presidential Disaster Declarations. l Improved data resolution: -Supports local drought and flood mitigation reducing the annual cost to the nation. -Support more efficient power generation. -Provides for timely assessments to climate variability and change. -Enhances the NWS mission of protection of life and property.

Schedule FY 2001:Completed COOP network spacing plan FY 2002:Upgraded 105 COOP sites for the New England TAQ Demonstration Project. FY 2003:Establish a second demonstration network in the Southeast United States (upgrade 200 COOP locations) FY 2004:Begin full Coop modernization (upgrade 1200 COOP locations) FY 2010:Complete acquisition phase FY 2011:Complete implementation FY 2012:Steady-state network operation