1. (Future) WMO Information System FWIS -> WIS
WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
Weather – Climate - Water
(Future) WMO Information System FWIS -> WIS
Dieter C. Schiessl
Director, WWW Department
WMO
Tel.: +(41 22) Fax: +(41 22)

2. Regional Meteorological Telecommunication Network for Region II (Asia)
RTH in Region II
NMC in Region II
Moscow
64K
Washington
Centre in other region
64K
MTN circuit
Regional circuit
Interregional circuit
Additional circuit
Novosibirsk
K (V.34)
Khabarovsk
IMTN-MDCN CIR<32/768K>
K (V.34)
NI No implementation
K (V.34)
K (V.34)
Via Moscow
9.6K
K (V.34)
Almaty
Non-IP link
IP link
K (V.34)
K (V.34) NI
K V.34
Bishkek
K (V.34)
Ulaanbaatar
PyongYang
Tokyo
Id V.34
Ashgabad
Tashkent
Offenbach
Id V.34
IMTN-MDCN
Frame Relay
CIR<16/16K>
CMA-VSAT
IMTN-MDCN
Frame Relay
CIR<48/48K>
CMA-VSAT NI 75
Baghdad 75 NI
Tehran NI
Dushanbe
IMTN-MDCN
Frame Relay
CIR<48/48K>
Beijing
IMTN-MDCN
Frame Relay
CIR<16/8K> NI NI
Frame Relay
CIR<32/32K>
2.4K NI
Offenbach 75
Frame Relay
CIR<16/16K> 50
Kabul
Kuwait
64K
64K
9.6K NI
Karachi
64K
IMTN-MDCN
Frame Relay
CIR<16/16K>
Seoul
Bahrain
64K
64K
New Delhi
Jeddah
Frame Relay
CIR<16/16K>
200
128K
64K 50
64K
Doha
1200
Kathmandu
Moscow NI
Internet
Emirates
Internet
Hong Kong 50
CMA-VSAT
64K
2.4K
100
ISDN 128K
Internet
100 50
Hanoi
Algiers
64K
Macao
Cairo
Dhaka
Frame Relay
CIR<16/16K>
Muscat
Internet
Internet
Internet
Vientiane
9.6K
Internet
Cairo 50
Frame Relay
CIR<16/16K>
Sanaa
Yangon
IMTN-MDCN
CIR<16/32K>
Colombo
1200
200
Male
Melbourne 50
200
64K
Washington
Bangkok
Manila 75 NI
Phnom Penh
Melbourne
2.4K
Frame Relay
CIR<16/16K>
Regional Meteorological Telecommunication Network for Region II (Asia)
December 2004
Singapore
Kuala Lumpur

3. The GTS Network World Weather Watch GTS
- Global Telecommunication System -

4. GTS current users WWW GTS
Regional, Specialized, National and World Meteorological Centres, as well as, Meteorological Satellite Operator Centres currently exchange with the WWW GTS
World Meteorological Centres
WWW GTS
Regional/Specialized Meteorological Centres
National Meteorological Centres
Meteorological and R&D Satellite Operator Centres

5. Commercial Service Providers
Current situation
Information exchange – multiplicity of procedures; real-time and non-real time
Information management - multiplicity of data formats; uncoordinated metadata and catalogues
internet
World Radiation Centre
Regional Instrument Centres
WWW GTS
stop
stop
stop
Regional/Specialized Meteorological Centres
Meteorological and R&D
Satellite Operator Centres
WMO World Data Centres
National Meteorological Centres
World Meteorological Centres
The GTS has constantly been improved to meet the ever growing data exchange requirements of the WWW centres. Regional and sub-regional systems and networks are interconnected and standardization across the networks is achieved through coordinated telecommunications procedures and protocols and the strict application of WMO code forms for data representation within a message or bulletin. Each message has its specific type of content and routing information encoded in the bulletin header. Only centres that are able to interpret and use the bulletin header information can participate in the GTS. This is a serious disadvantage for many meteorological, hydrological and environmental centres, agencies or research institutions, which cannot participate in the GTS because the do not wish to, or are not able to, invest in the rather complex data handling computers and specialized staff necessary for access to the GTS.
To overcome that draw back is the strategic goal of FWIS. The FWIS should facilitate for all programmes and relevant centres the exchange of and and access to the data they require for their specific tasks,.
stop
Commercial Service Providers
stop
stop
5 GAW World Data Centres
GCOS Data Centres
Global Run-off Data Centre
IRI and other climate research institutes
Universities
Regional Climate Centres
International Organizations (IAEA, CTBTO, UNEP, FAO.. )

6. Commercial Service Providers
Current situation
Information exchange – multiplicity of procedures; real-time and non-real time
Information management - multiplicity of data formats; uncoordinated metadata and catalogues
internet
World Radiation Centre
Regional Instrument Centres
WIS
NMHS
NMHS
NMHS
Regional/Specialized Meteorological Centres
Meteorological and R&D
Satellite Operator Centres
WMO World Data Centres
National Meteorological Centres
World Meteorological Centres
The GTS has constantly been improved to meet the ever growing data exchange requirements of the WWW centres. Regional and sub-regional systems and networks are interconnected and standardization across the networks is achieved through coordinated telecommunications procedures and protocols and the strict application of WMO code forms for data representation within a message or bulletin. Each message has its specific type of content and routing information encoded in the bulletin header. Only centres that are able to interpret and use the bulletin header information can participate in the GTS. This is a serious disadvantage for many meteorological, hydrological and environmental centres, agencies or research institutions, which cannot participate in the GTS because the do not wish to, or are not able to, invest in the rather complex data handling computers and specialized staff necessary for access to the GTS.
To overcome that draw back is the strategic goal of FWIS. The FWIS should facilitate for all programmes and relevant centres the exchange of and and access to the data they require for their specific tasks,.
NMHS
Commercial Service Providers
NMHS
NMHS
5 GAW World Data Centres
GCOS Data Centres
Global Run-off Data Centre
IRI and other climate research institutes
Universities
Regional Climate Centres
International Organizations (IAEA, CTBTO, UNEP, FAO.. )

7. Cg-XIV (2003):
The multiplicity of systems of the different Programmes causes incompatibilities, inefficiencies, duplication of efforts and higher overall costs.
Congress approved the concept of the Future WMO Information System (FWIS), which will provide a single coordinated global infrastructure for the collection and sharing of information in support of all WMO and related international programmes.
EC-LVI (2004):
Identified FWIS to be one of the key contributions of WMO to GEOSS

8. (F)WIS brings new features and opportunities
Common to all WMO programmes
Inter-disciplinary locating, retrieval and exchange of information in real and non-real time
On-line catalogues using metadata based on ISO (geographic information standard)
Industry standards and off-the-shelf hardware and software systems to ensure cost- effectiveness and inter-operability

9. Interoperability of Information Systems
Example of queries:
Where to find data on the Antarctica for the period ?
How to get them?
How to use them?
Network
NETWORK
Network
At present, WMO Programmes do not offer
appropriate response to such queries in quasi real-time

10. Structure of (F)WIS National Centres (NC)
Global Information System Centres (GISC)
Data Collection and Production Centres (DCPC)
Data communication networks

11. Data Collection and Production Centre (DCPC)
National Centre (NC)
Several NCs in a country are possible (not just the NMC)
Exchange information collected or generated in the country with the GISC or DCPC
Serve as portal for national users and administrate their access to FWIS
Data Collection and Production Centre (DCPC)
Serve as information production facilites in response to stated requirements
Facilitate access/exchange from/with NCs and GISCs
Support information “Push” and ”Pull” mechanisms
Generate, maintain and provide metadata catalogues of their information

12. Global Information System Centre (GISC)
Receive information from NCs and DCPCs
Exchange information with other GISCs
Disseminate, within its area of responsibility, the entire WWW set of data and products for routine global exchange (GTS function)
Maintain metadata catalogues
Ensure around-the-clock, reliable and secure operations

13. Information collection data flow
Plan of the Framework WMO Information Systems (FWIS) of the future

14. Information distribution data flow
Plan of the Framework WMO Information Systems (FWIS) of the future

15. (F)WIS implementation
Build upon the most successful components of existing WMO systems and prepare a smooth and coordinated transition
Map existing WMO Programme centres into the functional (F)WIS centres (e.g. WWW/RSMC <=>DCPC)
Evaluate functions, technologies and architecture through pilot projects and prototype solutions
Ensure a flexible system structure that can respond to growing requirements and technological progress

16. (F)WIS implementation
The information and communication functions of existing WMO Programme centres are mapped into the corresponding functions of (F)WIS centres as illustrated below for the WWW:
Current WWW Centres
FWIS Functional centre
NMC (as regards information and communication) NC
RSMC (as regards information and communication)
DCPC
WMC (as regards information and communication)
DCPC and/or GISC
RTH (on the MTN)
RTH

17. Strengthen GTS capabilities benefit from technology opportunities
From the GTS towards the (F)WIS core network
Internet like applications
Flexible services
Saving implementation costs
and human resources
Expanding bandwidth
Flexible connectivity
Saving recurrent costs
Improved GTS
Migration to
TCP/IP
Use of
cost-effective
networks
Strategies
Leased circuits
Legacy protocols
Legacy GTS
Strengthen GTS capabilities benefit from technology opportunities

18. The GTS (Global Telecommunication System)
The GTS (Global Telecommunication System) towards the FWIS core network
NMTNs
National Meteorological Telecommunication Networks
NMTN
MTN = Core of the GTS
managed by MTN centres
in cooperation with WMO
RMTN
managed by each
Regional Association
RMTNs
Regional Meteorological
Telecommunication Networks
RMTN in RA I
RMTN in RA II
RMTN in RA III
RMTN in RA IV
RMTN in RA V
RMTN in RA VI
National level network
managed by
each Member
MTN
Main Telecommunication
Network
　Centre classification
MTN Centres
(RTHs on the MTN)
RTH
RTHs (Regional
Telecommunication Hubs)
NMC
NMCs
(National Meteorological Centres)
Structure of the GTS

19. The Improved Main Telecommunication Network
Network I
Tokyo
Beijing
Washington
Melbourne
Sofia
Moscow
New Delhi
Prague
Brasilia
Exeter
Buenos Aires
Jeddah
Offenbach
Network II
Nairobi
Toulouse
Cairo
Managed
data communication network
Point-to-point services
Dakar
Algiers
IX-2004

20. Specific characteristics of IMTN clouds
High reliability, guaranteed quality of service, full security
Scalability, Flexibility for establishing logical connections
Asymmetric bandwidths
Cloud I
Frame Relay
Melbourne
Tokyo
1.5Mbps
Washington
256kbps
Exeter
Access circuit
32kbps
16kbps
CIR=
768kbps
64kbps
(CIR: Committed Information Rate)

21. GTS traffic Snapshot spare capacity 1192Mbytes 25Mbytes 14.4% 7.2%
384kbps line
(Half of CIR)
spare capacity
Traffic on the GTS Example at RTH Tokyo
From Washington
(CIR=768kbps)
From Melbourne
(CIR=32kbps)
From other GTS circuits
Daily Average of actual use of capacity
Daily volume received
1192Mbytes
25Mbytes
7Mbytes
14.4%
7.2%

22. Complemented by the Internet
Evolution to IP-VPN through provider networks (full any-to-any point interconnectivity, high security & reliability)
Complemented by the Internet
VPN
group
Core Router
Closed
IP network with MPLS
by a provider CE
VPN group
Core Router
Core Router
Internet
VPN : Virtual Private Network
MPLS : Multi Protocol Label Switching

23. Several current pilot projects test and evaluate various functional concepts and architectures and thus spearhead the implementation of (F)WIS
RA VI VGISC : Exeter, Offenbach, Toulouse, ECMWF and EUMETSAT are developing a distributed GISC – prototype demo at CBS-XIII
EUMETNET - UNIDART: data portal
RA II & V VPN Project: VPNs via Internet linking NMCs in the Regions
Roshydromet CliWare project (CCl)
WAMIS (CAgM)
Cooperation with Earth Sciences Portal, NCAR, etc
Test and evaluation of WMO Core Metadata standard coordinated by focal points of the TCs

24. Main challenges:
Development of interoperability through active involvement and contribution of all WMO Programmes and Technical Commissions
Promotion and support of pilot projects and prototype solutions
Regional and sub-regional development and implementation planning

25. Impact on and benefits for WMO
(F)WIS concerns only information exchange and data management functions and does not affect data processing components.
(F)WIS maximizes cross-programme standardization related to data and data connectivity between all applications
(F)WIS information cataloguing and metadata ensure finding of and access to information by each user (person or institution) within established data policies
(F)WIS is a cost-effective comprehensive solution for developing countries to actively participate in the WMO Programmes

26. Inter-commission Coordination Group on FWIS
Established by EC-LVI as a coordination and collaboration mechanism spanning across the technical commissions and reporting to EC
Includes TCs’ representatives and other ad-hoc experts
Facilitates sharing of knowledge, resources and commitment to strengthen the FWIS development and implementation processes
First session: January 2005

27. Frequently asked questions
Q1: Will there still be a GTS data exchange mechanism as we know it today?
A1: Yes, but more flexible and based on WMO TDCF
Q2: With several NCs within a country, what is the role of the NMC/RTH?
A2.1: Only the NMC/RTH manages the GTS traffic according to the WMO Manual on the GTS
A2.2: The NMC/RTH is the network coordinator for connection and access rights of the “other” NCs
Q3: Who are the so-called “other” NCs in a country?
A3: Examples are national or international data centres, academia, research institutions, commercial service providers if permitted according to A2.2

28. Frequently asked questions
Q4: What can a NC gain through the connection to (F)WIS?
A4: Cost-effective, standardized access to a wealth of national and international data archives and data bases of the GEOSS; in reverse, the international user community can obtain access to the data bases and archives of the NC in conformity with established data policies
Q5: Is there a financial and administrative burden on the NMC/RTH?
A5.1: Financial - That depends how the national network is organized;
if the “other” NCs are directly connected to the Network Service Provider: NO!
if their data flow through the NMC/RTH: YES!
A5.2: Administrative – NO! at least not more than in the current GTS/RMDCN situation

29. Frequently asked questions
Q6: Will the (F)WIS in conformity with the WMO data policy (e.g., Res. 40 (Cg-XII) and Res. 25 (Cg-XIII), and is it flexible enough to permit an evolution of the WMO data policy?
A6.1: Yes, the management and practices related to essential and additional data and products and related conditions will remain unchanged
A6.2: Procedures for the management of access rights, control of data retrieval, registration and identification of users, etc. can be defined as and when required
A6.3: Anonymous downloading is technically possible, but depends on whether a NC permits that feature

30. Frequently asked questions
Q7: Are there implications in connection with relevant international law, convention, such as copyright, patent, etc.?
A7: (F)WIS has no inherent or system-specific features that would violate international legal frameworks; the control procedures are fully within the responsibility of the NMCs/RTHs

31. WMO Information System
Thank you
(F)WIS
WMO Information System