1. NOAA Observing Systems Architecture (NOSA)
Eric Miller
NOAA Observing Systems Architect (acting)
May 12, 2004

2. Background: Taskers and Drivers
NOAA Program Review Team Recommendation 32
Centrally plan and integrate all observing systems
Develop a NOAA-wide observing system architecture
NOAA Strategic Plan
Develop integrated global environmental observation and data management system
The initial driver for the NOSA effort was articulated during the Program Review process that directed that all NOAA observing systems be centrally planned and integrated. We needed to eliminate the stove pipe management and separate data management systems. In order to get to this point we needed to develop an observing system architecture.
As the NOAA Strategic Plan developed another key driver became the overarching goal of developing an integrated environmental observation and data management system.

3. Background: NOAA Decisions
Establish Observing Systems Council
Establish NOAA Observing Systems Architect
Matrix managed within NESDIS
Implement observing systems architecture toolset across NOAA
Document baseline NOAA Observing Systems Architecture (NOSA)
Develop target (10-20 years) NOSA
The NOAA Executive Council issued the decisions listed here to facilitate the achievement of the tasks.

4. Benefits of an Architecture
Architecture establishes a semantic bridge between…
Mission
Technology
Facilitates true alignment of mission goals and programs to technology
Provides the information needed for informed decision making
Provides an ability to prioritize budget initiatives/alternatives
Provides a mission goal to technology blueprint
Provides reliable impact analysis
Provides ability to find cost reductions and/or realignment of resources

5. What is an Observing System Architecture?
It is analogous to a set of building blueprints
To make a change to a building...
one consults the blueprints
To make a change to an observing system...
consult the Observing System Architecture.

6. Observing System Architecture Relationship Diagram
Observation Control System
is controlled by
Owner
Larger System
Support
supported by
owned by
part of
provides data directly to
Data Handling System
Observing System
Operator
User
operated by
provides data to
provides info to
contains
is type of
Platform / Station
situated on
< drives
located at
Stake-holder
Sensing Element
senses
Location
is a
Environmental Parameter
has
In putting together the NOSA architecture the main driver is to ensure that NOAA puts in place all the pieces necessary to meet a customers needs. is
characterizes
Stakeholder Requirement
Fixed
Mobile
Sensor
Human
Environmental Phenomenon
Space
Space
Air
Air
Basic Service Requirement
Ground
Ground
< drives
< drives
Ocean
Ocean

7. GOES R
How does this system fit into the overall architecture
Satellite Systems cut across all goals.

8. GOES R Statement of Need
Replacement Satellite required by end of 2012 to maintain GOES Continuity
User Requirements Improved Sensors
Better temporal, spatial and spectral resolution
Climate, coastal, and estuary measurements
Traditional meteorological requirements
Requires Follow-on System
10 year acquisition cycle
2012 Launch Date
2013 Operational Availability
Develop integrated end-to-end ground and satellite systems

9. GOES R Statement of Need Supports NOAA Strategic Goals
Ecosystem
Determine environmental impacts of chaotic processes
Ocean Color
Ocean Optical Properties
Ocean Turbidity
Ocean Currents
Climate
Provide quantitative environmental data for use in weather and climate prediction and analysis
Ozone Layers
CO2 Concentration
Vegetation Index
Weather and Water
Real time weather data to accurately track and analyze severe weather events and reduce loss of life and property
Temperature Profiles
Lightening Detection
Cloud Measurement
Wind Currents
Commerce
Uninterrupted hemispheric observations and products for safe and efficient transportation and commerce systems
Volcanic Ash
Solar Radiation
Ice

10. GOES R End-to-End Approach
Implement process to identify and validate user requirements
Consistent with new NOAA Requirements Process
Addresses NOAA-wide requirements including climate, coastal, estuaries, etc
Considers other Federal and International requirements
GOES-R End-to-End System includes
Space and Launch Segment
Command, Control and Communications (C3) Segment
Product Generation and Distribution Segment
Archive and Access Segment
User Interface and Assimilation Segment
Working with NASA to develop joint process for major system acquisition approval
Select notional architecture as baseline for budget submission and assessing future system trades
Establish cost, schedule, performance baseline
Will re-assess upon completion of Industry System Architecture efforts and review for compliance with NOAA Observing Systems Architecture

11. End-to-End Overview Ground System Functions Uplink & Downlink
Data Handling
Product Production
Data Distribution
Archive and Access
Spacecraft Operations
Users
Ground System Functions

12. NOAA Information Service Enterprise for 2020
ENGAGE, ADVISE, and INFORM
National and
Regional
International
National
Other
Collectors
Environmental,
Space, and
Solar Phenomena
NOAA Leadership and Support Services
METHODOLOGY
INNOVATION &
IMPLEMENTATION
Info Request/
Discovery Tools
Communications
and Network Mgmt
Metadata
Algorithms
and
Models
Management Info Tools
Science
Applications
NOAA Library
IV&V
MONITOR and OBSERVE
ASSESS and PREDICT
UNDERSTAND and DESCRIBE
This is where we want to get

13. Requirements Collection to Date
Requirements Collected to date span:
Agencies
12 Individual Reqs Databases Created -
All NOAA Los
DoD (AF, Navy, Army)
European
Communities
Operational Weather/Water
Operational National Defense
Climate
Research
Domains
Atmosphere
Ocean
Land
Space
Scales
Geographic: Global to Local
Temporal: Decadal (Climate) to Minutes (Short Term Warnings)
Specifications
Priority Categorized
Threshold and Objective Values
Other Federal Agencies
USDA
EPA
NASA
DHS
DoD
Ecosystems
Climate
Weather and Water
Commerce and Transportation
DOC/NOAA
Interagency Requirements
Collection Process
Research and Academic
Media and Commercial
Meteorological Centers
International Partners
48 Req Matrices
External Requirements
Collection Process
In order to determine the most appropriate target architecture for NOAA and it’s partners we have embarked on a very robust observation requirements process led by Pam Taylor

14. Trade Study or Solution Analysis
Serve Society’s Needs for Weather and Water Information
Mission Goal =
This activity led to GOES- R
Program =
Environmental Modeling
Capabilities =
Weather & Water Forecasts and Warnings
Ecosystem Modeling
Task/Activities =
Measure SST
Measure Wave Height
Measure Water Column Temperature
Trade Study or Solutions Analysis
Gap Analysis
The architecture process, and in particular a Gap Analysis, was how the initial specifications for GOES R were determined.
Once the gap has been identified and verified, a set of trade studies and various solutions are looked at as well as costed so that an investment analysis can be conducted. There can be a whole range of solutions from investing in a new observation system, to upgrading computer or communications capabilities, to discontinuing a particular system, to transferring the responsibility for meeting the requirement to another agency within the government or the commercial sector.
Task/Activity =
SST
SST
SST
Programs or Capabilities that Support Goals =
GOES N-P
OAR TAO
NWS MAN
NOSA Baseline

15. System Characteristics
NOSA Data Flow
Requirements
Tool LO 1
Requirements
System Characteristics
NOAA
Forge
Architecture
Tool LO 2
We used a number of software tools to capture the information and then to present that information to users and decisions makers.
Geo-referenced data
GIS Tool LO N
GIS Geospatial Information System
SURVEYS

16. Here is an example of output information from NOSA in spreadsheet form

17. Internet Maps: A View For Everyone
And the next several slides are outputs available with the NOSA websites GIS capabilities.
These maps are produced on the internet using ArcIMS, the internet map server from ESRI.

18. Open GIS Map Comparisons
This collection of maps was drawn using the Open GIS Consortium Web Map Server (WMS) standard. This standard allows users to request and receive maps using open non-proprietary tools.

19. Desktop GIS: A View for Science
This map was produced using a desktop GIS tool (ArcMAP). It combines Sea Surface Temperature from the NESDIS Satellite Active Archive with observatory layers from the NOSA Geospatial Database at NGDC.

20. Find Your Place: Spatial Searches For Everyone

21. Environmental Observations US National Environmental
PROVIDER Layer
International Global
Environmental Observations
System
US National Environmental
Observing System
NOAA Information
Service Enterprise
USER Layer
Information
On Demand
Defense Sector
Commercial Sector
Civil Sector
Private Sector
Future Operations will be “On Demand” and require “Autonomous Update”
In the defense sector, smart platforms will require environmental information fed directly into the platform such as for manned and unmanned systems (ships, missiles , and unmanned aircraft, etc). Conservation of propellant and the associate weight savings can be realized through more efficient operations when environmental conditions can be taken into consideration. Systems with long loiter capability will be able to re-plan operations factoring changing environmental conditions and predicted conditions. Smart soldier systems to include human personal protection equipment will be able to use environmental data.
Civil
Highway transportation and re-routing in adverse weather
Power Grid and Predictive Optimization and Conservation
International
Sector

22. Backup

23. Integrated Planning Process for Target NOSA Development
NOAA Strategic Plan
Goal Team Priority Lists
Future NOAA CONOPS
Annual Strategic Guidance Memo
Integrated Planning Process
Mission Goal Assessment
Operational & Support Tasks
Mission Needs Analysis
Prioritized Needs
Mission Solutions Analysis
Concepts & Technologies
Integrated Investment Analysis
25-Year Investment Roadmap
NOSA Master Plan
Requirements Management Process
SON
MRD
PRD
Req. Docs (e.g, SON)
Program Plans
Science & Technology
Industry R&D

24. Further Benefits to NOAA
Provides integrated view of NOAA’s observing systems linked to mission requirements
Provide framework for future requirements & costs
Reveal how changes in funding levels for one system will impact many others
Reveals gaps and duplication
Results in more cost-effective overall observation system
Facilitates accessibility to all NOAA observations by all NOAA customers
Facilitate international partnering
Identify opportunities for migration of research to operations
The value of an architecture is represented here where many benefits are depicted.

25. Where we are going?
Today’s implementations of architecture, are in reality, knowledge management and decision support tools.