1. WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION Weather - Climate - Water
WIS Overview
28 March 2017
WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
Weather - Climate - Water
WMO
Overview of the WMO Information System (WIS)
This Workshop will address the question: How should WMO Members better enable successful online information providers to take advantage of the wealth of WMO data and information?
Specifically, this Workshop concerns innovative approaches for helping potential users to make use of data and information resources encompassed in the catalogue of the WMO Information System (WIS).
My presentation is an overview of WIS. There is an associated handout available on the table outside.
I will explain why WIS is required by WMO, and what are its expected benefits.
I will note how the Global Telecommunication System (GTS) serves the WMO mission in collecting and exchanging data.
We will see that WIS is being implemented in two parallel parts: Part A and Part B.
I will show the three types of WIS Centres, and speak about their roles in moving data and metadata, from raw observations to delivered products.
Especially relevant for this Workshop is that WIS establishes a comprehensive metadata catalog, covering a broad range of data and information across all WMO and cooperating programmes.
I will explain how the WIS Technical Compliance Specifications define the interoperability of WIS implementations across WIS Centres.
I will also show that the WIS architecture is interoperable with the high-level architecture of major systems involving WMO.
First, let me begin with some words about the mission of WMO.
Peiliang Shi, Director, WIS
6 April 2011
WMO Workshop on
Strategy for Implementation of CSIS 1

2. Global Observations Systems

3. 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

4. WMO Information System (WIS)
In 2003, the World Meteorological Congress stated that an overarching approach for solving the data management problems for all WMO and related international programmes was required:
a single coordinated global infrastructure, the WMO Information System (WIS).
Slide 3 (73 secs)
In 2003, the World Meteorological Congress stated that an overarching approach for solving the data management problems for all WMO and related international programmes was required:
a single coordinated global infrastructure, the WMO Information System (WIS).
WIS would be used for the collection and sharing of information for all WMO and related international programmes.
WIS would provide a flexible and extensible structure that would allow the participating centres to enhance their capabilities as their national and international responsibilities grow.
Implementation of WIS should build upon the most successful components of existing WMO information systems in an evolutionary process.
WIS development should pay special attention to a smooth and coordinated transition.
The basis for the core communication network should be the communication links used within the World Weather Watch (WWW) for the high priority real-time data.
WIS should utilise international industry standards for protocols, hardware and software.

5. Vision of WIS WMO Members decided that WIS will:
WIS Overview
28 March 2017
WMO Members decided that WIS will:
Use international industry standards
Build on the Global Telecommunication System (GTS), with a smooth and coordinated transition;
Provide time-critical data exchange, as well as data access and retrieval services;
Support all WMO and related international programmes.
The member nations of WMO decided that WIS will :
Use international industry standards for protocols, hardware and software;
Build on the existing WMO Global Telecommunication System (GTS), with special attention to a smooth and coordinated transition;
Provide time-critical data exchange, as well as data access and retrieval services;
Support all WMO and related international programmes.
28 March 2017
WIS Overview 5 5

6. WIS services
WIS provides an integrated approach suitable for all WMO Programmes to meet the requirements of:
Routine collection and automated dissemination of observed data and products (“push”);
Timely delivery of data and products (appropriate to requirements);
Ad-hoc requests for data and products (“pull”).
Data discovery service for all data stored by any WMO programme regardless of location.
Slide 5 ( 28Secs)
WIS provides an integrated approach suitable for all WMO Programmes to meet the requirements of:
Routine collection and automated dissemination of observed data and products (“push”);
Timely delivery of data and products (appropriate to requirements);
Ad-hoc requests for data and products (“pull”).
Data discovery service for all data stored by any WMO programme regardless of location.

7. WIS users
WMO programmes who will benefit from the services offered by WIS for the implementation of their data exchange tasks.
NMHS’s who will be able to interactively alter their operational data provisions
Individual users, either a person or an institution, who will be the main beneficiary of WIS, because WIS will provide a single entry point for any data request, be it on a routine basis by dissemination of certain user defined information sets or on an ad-hoc basis for a special data set..
GEOSS because WIS is a major contributing system and an exemplar implementation of the underlying interoperability principles of GEOSS.
Slide 6 (56 Secs)
The beneficiaries of WIS will be the
WMO programmes who will benefit from the services offered by WIS for the implementation of their data exchange tasks.
NMHS’s who will be able to interactively alter their operational data provisions
Individual users, either a person or an institution, who will be the main beneficiary of WIS, because WIS will provide a single entry point for any data request, be it on a routine basis by dissemination of certain user defined information sets or on an ad-hoc basis for a special data set..
GEOSS because WIS is a major contributing system and an exemplar implementation of the underlying interoperability principles of GEOSS.

8. WIS concept Virtual structure Global Information System Centres (GISC)
Data Collection or Production Centres (DCPC)
National Centres (NC)
Data communication network
Only GISCs are new centres

9. WIS Centres – a three-tiered architecture to serve the users
WIS Overview
28 March 2017
WIS Centres – a three-tiered architecture to serve the users
Data and Product Users
National Centres (NCs)
Global Information System Centres (GISCs)
Peiliang:
Architecturally, WIS can be seen as a Service Oriented Architecture implemented through communications networks.
The WIS Compliance Specifications concern primarily network services that occur at interfaces between communicating WIS components.
By focusing on interoperability at these interfaces, WIS greatly reduces the complexity otherwise evident across the diverse systems. It also minimizes impacts on any given component system other than at its WIS interfaces. This is very important because the component systems are built and managed independently.
Here is a high‑level architectural view of the major parts of WIS. Interoperability opportunities are shown as arrows to users and among GISCs, DCPCs, and NCs.
WIS Compliance Specifications focus on the points of those arrows--the touch points where WIS components must interoperate.
Data Collection or Production Centres (DCPCs) 9

10. National Centres (NC)
Collect observational data from within their country
Provide observations and products intended for global dissemination to their responsible GISC (possibly via a DCPC)
Provide observations and products intended for regional or specialized distribution to the responsible DCPC
Collect, generate and disseminate products for national use.
Participate in monitoring the performance of the system
Authorize their national users to access WIS, as required.

11. Data Collection or Production Centre (DCPC)37 14 11 7 16 8 5
Receive information intended for dissemination to NCs within its area of responsibility (i.e. regional collection)
Collect programme-specific data and products
Produce regional or specialized data and products
“Push” information intended for global exchange to their associated GISC
Disseminate information intended for regional exchange
Support access to their products via request/reply (”Pull”) mechanism
Maintain data and product catalogues in a WMO-agreed standard format and facilitate access to this catalogue

12. Global Information System Centre (GISC)
Receive observational data and products that are intended for global exchange from NCs and DCPCs within their area of responsibility
Exchange information intended for global dissemination with other GISCs
Disseminate, within its area of responsibility, the entire set of data and products agreed by WMO for routine global exchange X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
Slide 9 (72 Secs)
The functions of a global information centre can be defined as follows;
To receive observational data and products that are intended for global exchange from NCs and DCPCs within their area of responsibility
To exchange information intended for global dissemination with other GISCs
To disseminate, within its area of responsibility, the entire set of data and products agreed by WMO for routine global exchange
To hold the entire set of data and products agreed by WMO for routine global exchange for at least 24 hours and make it available via WMO request/reply (”Pull”) mechanisms
To maintain, in accordance to the WMO standards, a catalogue of all data and products for global exchange and provide access to this catalogue to locate the relevant centre intended for global exchange; and
To coordinate the communication network within their area of responsibility.
Hold the entire set of data and products agreed by WMO for routine global exchange for at least 24 hours and make it available via WMO request/reply (”Pull”) mechanisms
Maintain, in accordance to the WMO standards, a catalogue of all data and products for global exchange and provide access to this catalogue to locate the relevant centre intended for global exchange.
Coordinate the communication network within their area of responsibility 12

13. Benefits of WIS In addition to improving efficiency, WIS:
WIS Overview
28 March 2017
In addition to improving efficiency, WIS:
Enhances collection of critical data
Catalogs all WMO data and products
Enhances availability of time-critical data and products at all national centres
Opens up GTS to other types of data
Exploits technology innovation
I would like to close by stating exactly what WMO Members expect to gain from WIS:
- WIS enhances the collection of critical data needed to monitor and predict aspects of the environment, including hazards
- WIS catalogs the full range of data and products, simplifying search and assuring equitable access per WMO policies
- WIS enhances the availability of time-critical data and products at centres in all nations, ensuring the effective provision of services to their populations and economies
- WIS opens up GTS to other types of environmental data so that all programmes have stronger infrastructure support
- WIS exploits opportunities as they become available with technology innovation.
This concludes my presentation. 13

14. Centre publishes metadata to GISC DAR catalogue
Search Request
Sounding AND Jan Mayen
GISC – DAR service
Security/authentication/authorization and even charging is managed by each service provider
Search Results
Information request to custodian
User searches for metadata then retrieves information from data custodian
Retrieve information
Centre publishes metadata to GISC DAR catalogue
Slide 9 (130 sec)
Note that the WIS diagrams are functional descriptions. Information paths will vary. For instance, a user finding information in the GISC catalogue will be directed to the data custodian, most likely a DCPC or NC to access the information. In this way, all the security, charging and volume measurements are managed at the data download stage by the custodian, not by the GISC. For instance, using the Global Marine Distress Signal System (GMDSS), a user could be directed to the GMDSS web site as follows:
The GMDSS publishes its metadata to the GISC catalogue (advising it has forecasts and warnings for Metarea One)
The user wants to search the metadata and retrieve information (for example “marine warnings in area bounded by 40W to 10W and 45N to 70N”)
The user searches the GISC DAR service for information (ie sends a search request to the GISC)
The DAR returns a list of solutions to the user (such as a sorted list of possible marine forecasts and warnings registered at the GISC – several of which point to the website
The user selects a solution and visits the custodians centre, in this case the GMDSS website
The centre then downloads the data to the requestor
Security, authentication, authorization and even charging mechanisms are managed by the centre. WIS does not try to enter into financial actions or, outside of collaborative virtual organisation agreements, try to pass user roles or validation to the custodian.
NC/DCPC information access service

15. Expose GTS Data via Metadata
WIS Overview
28 March 2017
Peiliang:
A primary objective of WIS is to expose the full set of GTS data available across WMO.
Here is a prototype GISC portal in Germany, showing how GTS data can be found through standard metadata and the interoperable search standard adopted in WIS.
28 March 2017
WIS Overview 15 15

16. World Climate Programme (WCP) as an user of WIS
WIS Overview
28 March 2017
World Climate Programme (WCP) as an user of WIS
Data and Product Users
WIS Global Information System Centres (GISC's)
World Climate Programme (WCP)
WMO Information System (WIS)
WIS National Centres (operated by NMHS's)
Regional Climate Centers (WIS DCPC's)
World Climate Data Centres (WIS DCPC's)
Global Climate Forecast Producing Centres (WIS DCPC's)
National Climate Data Management Systems
National Climate Forecast Systems
The World Climate Program (WCP) coordinates activities in climate data collection, monitoring, research, prediction, applications and training.
WCP facilitates climate data and metadata collection through various global climate observing systems, and climate data should be available through international exchange.
WCP also assists in implementing Regional Climate Centers.
External interfaces for data discovery, access, and retrieval include:
National Meteorological Services,
Regional Climate centers,
World Climate Data Centers and
Global Climate Forecast Producing Centers.
28 March 2017
WIS Overview 16 16

17. WIS implementation status
The Manual on WIS, and related amendments to WMO Technical Regulations (WMO-No.49) to be approved by Congress in 2011
The Guide to WIS endorsed by CBS in 2010
First set of GISCs and DCPCs to be designated at Congress in 2011
More DCPCs, including those in the climate service area, will be certified and designated on a yearly basis by WMO Executive Council

18. Questions? For further information, visit our web page www.wmo.int/wis
Managing & Moving Weather, Water and Climate Information in the 21st Century
Questions? For further information, visit our web page