# Presentation: 119360

## GIS Initiatives In Central Region

- Kris Lander
- Central Region HQ
- RFC GIS Workshop
- July 2007

## Overview

- CR GIS Software and Hardware
- CR GIS Team Activities
- NWS GIS Resource Page
- GIS Policy/Hardware/Software Recommendations to CR Senior Staff

## CR GIS Licenses & Infrastructure

- ESRI Concurrent Licenses
- 8 Concurrent ArcGIS licenses
- 8 Spatial Analyst
- 1 3D Analyst
- 1 Tracking Analyst
- 1 Interoperability
- Currently Acquiring Additional Licenses:
- 1 ArcGIS
- 1 3D Analyst
- 1 Geostatistical Analyst

## Inter-Regional ArcView License Sharing

- WR, ER and SR are in the process of acquiring licenses and are sharing
- CR on hold until CR IT Chief approves
- Advantages
- Many more licenses available...
- Supported 24x7
- Challenges
- License Management and policing licenses becomes a bigger task

## Server GIS 

- Current Install
- ArcServer 9.2 Standard Enterprise
- ArcIMS 9.2
- Future Install
- ArcServer 9.2 Advanced Enterprise
- Hardware
- Two 4 CPU DELL servers

## ArcServer Pilot Project

- Regional Operations Center (ROC) Pilot project to demonstrate the utility of Server GIS to CR Management.
- Intent is to generate interest, ideas and support for GIS in CR
- Brings a number of web content to a single GIS based interface in a thin client
- Management or ROC staffers can view multiple layers and run queries as a situation assessment tool

## Jack’s Vision (modified)

## Central Region GIS Team

**Mission**
- Promote NWS GIS resources.
- Communicate application development activities and training opportunities.
- Investigate new GIS software and technologies to support NWS services.
- Make recommendations to CRH on how to capitalize on GIS technological advances to add value and enhance our products and services.

## CR GIS Team Members

_**Facilitato**__r_
- Wendy PearsonCRH
_**Team Leader**_
- Becky Griffis, OAX
_**Team Members**_
- Mike McLane, JKL
- Andy Foster, SGF
- Scott Watson, SGF
- Marian Baker, DMX
- Kris Lander, CRH
- Mike Urban, ICT
- Richard Sloan, DDC
- Daniel Nietfeld, OAX

_**Web Master **_
- Jim Husaby, NCRFC** **
_**Ancillary Members**_
- Eric Lenning, LSX -Google Earth Pro
- John Lhotak, NCRFC -Hydro Apps
- Teresa Murphy, MBRFC -Hydro Apps

## CR GIS Team NWS GIS Resource Webpage

- _[http://](http://gis.crh.noaa.gov/)__[gis.crh.noaa.gov](http://gis.crh.noaa.gov/)__[/](http://gis.crh.noaa.gov/)_
- NWS CR GIS Page grown into a NWS GIS Resource
- _[GIS Skills Matrix](file:///../My%20Documents/GIS/GIS%20Skills%20Matrix%202006/2006%20GIS%20Skills%20Matrix.xls)_
- Develop a network of experts by recording skill sets and skill levels of GIS Users
- Updated Annually
- Projects Database
- A searchable project DB to leverage existing GIS projects and knowledge across the NWS
- CR GIS Report
- Presentations, Team Charter, Map Gallery, Links, Tutorials....

## National Weather Service Central Region Geographic Information System Policy and Architecture Team Recommendations

- NIAB GIS Report
- March 2007

## Team Members

- Dan Arnold, CRH
- Mike Callahan, LMK
- Andy Rost, NOHRSC
- Rebecca Griffis, OAX
- Kris Lander, CRH
- Teresa Murphy, MBRFC
- Carrie Olheiser, NOHRSC
- Wendy Pearson, CRH
- Andy Rost, NOHRSC
- Scott Watson, EAX

## Motivation

- The use of a Geographic Information System (GIS) in the National Weather Service has been sporadic and lacked organization.
- There has been a collection of "grass roots" efforts from field and headquarters offices to develop some GIS applications.
- Examples include regional verification of NDFD grids, conversion of NWS short-fused warnings into GIS data sets, and plotting of spotter locations, to name just a few.
- The power of GIS analysis has not been tapped and the agency has fallen behind other federal agencies, both within NOAA and beyond, in taking advantage of GIS.
- NOAA NWS customers and partners continue to request data in GIS formats.

## Formulating the RequirementsNWS Strategic Plan GIS Goals

- The National Weather Service Strategic Plan 2005-2010 states:
- "We will work with the weather, water, and climate enterprise to investigate, develop, and expand the use of new technologies in data management and information systems, such as new internet-based standards and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), to accelerate development and implementation of appropriate NWS and NOAA products and services and to integrate these services in ways that are meaningful to our customers."

## Requirements for a GIS

- In order to meet the NWS Strategic Plan goal the following NWS GIS capabilities are required:
- NWS data and forecasts in GIS-compatible formats
- GIS software and hardware infrastructure for preparing and analyzing GIS data sets
- Training in the use of GIS software
- Web technologies which allow interactive viewing of NWS GIS data
- Dedicated NWS staff to manage GIS in the NWS

## Charter

- NWS and CRH lacks a formal mechanism by which to accomplish GIS tasks and lacks a consistent set of tools by which to complete those tasks
- GIS challenges
- Software packages are expensive
- Open Source solutions are challenging
- GIS web applications can quickly become taxing on current NWS servers and infrastructure

## Team Objective

- Provide recommendations for the use of GIS in delivering NWS information:
- Content
- Platform
- Hardware

## GIS Implementation Strategy

## Schedule and Costs

## Four Phase Implementation Strategy

*Phase I - GIS Management** *
- Determine GIS Management, Staffing, and Budget
*Phase II – GIS Data Organization*
- NWS Geo-database Design, Development, and Implementation
- Desktop GIS Software and Hardware Enhancements
*Phase III – GIS Data Dissemination**	*
- Web GIS Software and Hardware
- GIS Client Viewers
- Mobile GIS
*Phase IV – Custom GIS Application Development*
- Develop a GIS application requirements process for future development

## Phase I Management, Staffing, Budget & Training 

**Management**
_**ITEM 1.**_ Obtain a contract GIS Manager/GIS System Administrator
- Ensure successful implementation and maintenance of a GIS in CR.
- Collect and prioritize GIS application requirements on an annual basis,
- Ensure All GIS projects should follow the CRH Project Planning Procedures for thorough project planning, concept and design research, testing and implementation
- Oversee GIS planning, design, testing, implementation, & maintenance
- Ensure 24 hour, 7 day a week support for GIS hardware, software, GIS license manager, and GIS database management
- Propose GIS policies related to GIS data access, GIS data quality control, GIS training, datums, and metadata.

## Phase I (continued)

**Budget**
_**ITEM 2.**_ Provide an annual GIS funding allocation
_**ITEM 3.**_** **CRH should consider a contract with NOHRSC
**Training**
_**ITEM 4.**_** **Provide funding for GIS training

## Phase II GIS Data Organization

**GIS Database**
_**ITEM 5.**_ CRH should design and implement a spatially referenced Geo-database using ESRI ArcServer
**GIS Desktop Software**
_**ITEM 6.**_** **Continue to fund ESRI ArcGIS annual license maintenance
_**ITEM 7.**_ Support sharing ESRI ArcGIS ArcView licenses across NWS Regional boundaries.
**Desktop Hardware**
_**ITEM 8.**_** **CRH should invest in New GIS PCs for field offices*.*

## Phase III GIS Data Distribution

**Web GIS**
_**ITEM 9.**_** **Conduct a one year pilot scale evaluation of two Web software solution alternatives: *ArcServer*, and *Mapserver*.
_**ITEM 10.**_ CRH should share/take over ESRI ArcIMS/ArcServer/ArcInfo annual license maintenance fees ($12K/yr) from OHD AHPS funding to allow for the expansion of the usage of this software and hardware.
_**ITEM**_** **_**11.**_** **CRH should begin a *Pilot Scale Front End Web GIS Hardware Implementation.*
_**ITEM 12.**_** **CRH should work with SRH to provide NWS data in GIS standard format (.kml and .kmz) for customer viewing and download via the web.

## Phase III GIS Data Distribution (continued)

**GIS Client Viewer**
_**ITEM 13.**_** **Google Earth Pro is the recommended solution.
**NWS and NOAA CIO**
_**ITEM**__ __**14.**_ CR Senior Staff should write a memo to the NWS and NOAA CIO, supporting NOAA procurement of ESRI Enterprise licensing and Google Earth Professional and Google Maps Enterprise licensing.
**Mobile GIS**
_**ITEM 15.**_** **Support continued research on the Magellan Mobile Mapper CE GPS unit
_**ITEM 16.**_** **Support purchase and implementation (including on-site training) of handheld GPS/PDA units

## Phase IVGIS Custom Applications 

**Requirements Process**
_**ITEM 17.**_** **CRH should develop a GIS customized application requirements process for future development**.**

## Slide 28

## Back End Hardware

## Questions?

- _[kris.lander@noaa.gov](mailto:kris.lander@noaa.gov)_
- (816)-268-3124