NextGen and the Weather Information Database part 1

1. NextGen and the Weather Information Databasepart 1 Oct 23, 2008 Steve Abelman Aviation Meteorology Focal Point Office of Science and Technology

2. Overview • NextGen 101 • What is the Weather Information Database (WIDB) and the Single Authoritative Source • Why NOAA? • What are we doing now • The roadmap ahead

3. NextGen 101

4. NextGen 101 • Weather accounts for 70% of all air traffic delays within the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS) • The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has determined two thirds of this is preventable with better weather information • "A key finding, based on an analysis of several 2005-2006 convective events, is that as much as two-thirds of the weather related delay is potentially avoidable." -Research, Engineering and Development Advisory Committee; Report of the Weather-ATM Integration Working Group; Oct3, 2007

5. NextGen 101 • “The total cost of domestic air traffic delays to the U.S. economy was as much as $41 billion for 2007.” • Air-traffic delays raised airlines' operating costs by $19 billion. • Delays cost passengers time worth up to $12 billion. • Indirect costs of delay to other industries added roughly $10 billion to the total burden. • Your Flight Has Been Delayed Again; Congressional Joint Economic Committee; May 2008

6. NextGen 101 • NextGen goals are not achievable without improving integration of weather information into decision support systems • NextGen weather vision (a major paradigm shift) is focused on: • Providing a multiple user common weather picture • Consistent and reliable weather information • An improved weather information data storage approach containing observation and forecast data (i.e., the WIDB or the “4 Dimensional Weather Cube”) enabling NextGen dissemination capabilities)

7. NextGen 101;Key Themes • An integrated and nationally consistent common weather picture for observation, analysis, and forecast data available to all system users • Direct integration of weather information into operational decision making processes

8. NextGen 101;Key Themes • A Net-centric (net-enabled) capability is envisioned: • “Network Enabled”… • An information network that makes information available, securable, and usable in real time • Information may be pushed to known users and is available to be pulled by others • Weather information sharing is two-way • “Virtual” repository with no single physical database or computer • Conceptually unified source distributed among multiple physical locations and suppliers, of which NOAA is the leading data supplier

9. What is the WIDB? • The WIDB (aka the 4-Dimensional Weather Data Cube) will contain: • Continuously updated weather observations (surface to low earth orbit, including space weather and ocean parameters) • High resolution (space and time) analysis and forecast information (conventional weather parameters from numerical models) • Aviation impact parameters • Turbulence • Icing • Convection • Ceiling and visibility • Wake vortex • The WIDB of the future will contain “all” weather data, not just aviation parameters.

10. What is the 4-D WeatherSingle Authoritative Source? • The 4-D Wx Single Authoritative Source (SAS): • Is only a portion of the WIDB • Provides a common weather picture for National Air Space (NAS) participants (Airlines, DoD, FAA, etc.) • Is the basis for all aviation decisions by Air Traffic Management (ATM) in the FAA • Is formed by merger of model data, automated gridded algorithms, climatology and observational data, and meteorologist input/data manipulation to ensure consistency and accuracy

11. The WIDB:A Conceptual Model Observations Forecasting Numerical Modeling Systems Satellites Network Enabled Operations Statistical Forecasting Systems NWS Forecaster Radars Data Integration WIDB Aircraft 4D Wx SAS Automated Forecast Systems Surface Forecast Integration Soundings Grids Decision Support Systems Custom Graphic Generators Custom Alphanumeric Generators Integration into User Decisions

12. Why NOAA? • NOAA/NWS, through the JPDO’s Senior Policy Committee, has committed to build the WIDB for NextGen Weather • NWS AA has echoed this commitment to Congress

13. Why NOAA? • NOAA is the most logical integrator and operator of this data cube based on its: • Extensive experience with data ingest and assimilation • Ownership of major observation and modeling capabilities • Experienced meteorological workforce • Legislative mandate to provide weather to the FAA • Existing related capabilities such as AWIPS and NDFD

14. Why NOAA? Integrated Work Plan Defines Our Role • “NOAA stands ready to accept the role as the Office of Primary Responsibility for Weather Information Services as this responsibility is core to NOAA’s mission, and we are confident that [the IWP] will enable us to better align NOAA’s weather portfolio with NextGen” Mary Glackin; April 7, 2008

15. So What’s Happening Now? • Multi-agency Subject Matter Expert teams have put together reports on the 4-D Cube which address: • Policy issues - scope, roles and responsibilities, cost apportionment • Functional Requirements: an initial set of requirements for the 4-D Wx SAS (still a living document with updates expected). Performance requirements work (how good is good enough) has begun as well • NextGen Integrated Work Plan (IWP) v1.0, also a living document • Weather Working Group and Sub-teams More info on these JPDO initiatives available www.jpdo.gov

16. So What’s Happening Now? • Other multi-agency initiatives: • NextGen Network Enabled Weather (NNEW) IOC Development Team • Environmental Information Team – What’s in the Cube • IT and Enterprise Services Team – Cube “plumbing” • Live Demonstrations

17. The Roadmap Ahead • Initial Operational Capability (2013) • Integrated environmental information sources • Meteorologist oversight of gridded data • Common data standards and protocols • Initial integration of diverse weather elements into decision support tools • Intermediate Capability (2016) • Improved modeling and science enables higher resolution more accurate information • Full Network compatibility of environmental information • Direct integration of weather into Air Traffic Management Systems • Full Operational Capability (2022) • All NextGen requirements met and benefits achieved • High resolution, nested scale forecasts available for all elements • Full network connectivity ensures consistent information use across service areas and user groups

18. Summary • NextGen will require significant changes in the way weather information is produced • The NextGen paradigm suggests that most weather information will be assimilated into decision support tools and the decision making process • NOAA has been designated as the Office of Primary Responsibility (OPR) to build and deploy a 4-D Weather Data Cube (WIDB) by IOC (2013) and beyond • Even though NOAA is the OPR, multi-agency teams are working all the issues involved with the cube • The FAA is leading the Integration effort and this is just getting started