# Presentation: 657315

## Integrated Surface Observing System

- Commerce and Transportation Goal Team
- Richard F. Edwing
- July 20, 2004

## Commerce and Transportation

**Outcomes:**
*Safe, secure and seamless movement of goods and people in the U.S. transportation system.*
*Environmentally sound development and use of the U.S. transportation system*
**7 Programs:**
*Marine Transportation Systems*
*Geodesy*
*Emergency Response*
*Commercial Remote Sensing Licensing*

* **Aviation Weather*
* **Marine Weather*
* **Surface Weather*

**Notes:**
Outcomes are included in the draft of the NOAA Strategic Plan currently under public review.
Focus should be on improving the localization of, and the approach to real-time of, observations.
The definition of observing systems is unclear – is QC/QA part of a observing system?
	NOS report lists 3 observation systems for NGS (NSRS, CORS and the Coastal Mapping Program), but other 	sources only consider CORS to be an observation system

## Commerce and Transportation

- Marine Transportation Systems
*Tides (NWLON)*
*Currents (NCOP)*
*PORTS*
*Shoreline*
*Hydrography*

**Notes:**
Program Manager Rich Edwing.

The National Water Level Observation Network Data Management System provides the foundation for the tidal and Great Lakes vertical water-datum control for the nation

Shoreline mapping is an example of current observation system integration

## Commerce and Transportation

- Geodesy
*Continuously Operating *
*Reference System (CORS)*

**Notes:**
Program Manager Dave Zilkoski.

GPS, and CORS, play a critical role in allowing 3-dimensional positioning accurate to 1 cm.

## Commerce and Transportation

**Commerce and Transportation**

- Emergency Response

**Notes:**
Program Manager David Kennedy.

HAZMAT 
SARSAT: Search and Rescue Satellite-aided tracking
ER uses observing systems, it does not contribute to any observing system

## Commerce and Transportation

- Commercial Remote Sensing Licensing

**Notes:**
Program Manager Tim Stryker.

No Current Observation Programs or solid links, but CRSL’s  goal is to integrate private sector contributions to the observation systems.

## Commerce and Transportation

- Aviation Weather
*ASOS*
*GRIDS*

- ASOS Present Weather Sensor

**Notes:**
Program Manager Mark Andrews.

ASOS – automated surface observing system (=FAA’s AWOS) – like most of NWS observing systems affects all weather forecasting
GRIDS – Ground based Remote icing detection system
ACARS - Aircraft Communications And Reporting System – the pilot is the observer and uses this to communicate winds aloft, etc.

The Aviation, Marine and Surface Weather programs are often referred to as the Intermodal Weather program.  They are a good example of integrating surface observation systems, since so many of the weather observation systems affect all aspects of transportation.

## Commerce and Transportation

- Marine Weather
*Fixed Buoys*
*Drifting Buoys*
*VOS*

**Notes:**
Program Manager Dave Feit (pronounced “fight”).

ARC – Automated Remote Collector
DART – Deep Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis
Voluntary Observing Ship Program
How these observations are used in the Marine Weather Program:
	Beginning of forecast production systems
	Crucial for analysis of Marine Service Weather
Critical for safe and economic operation
Observations are often the basis for issuing marine warnings (through the USCG communication system)

## Commerce and Transportation

- Surface Weather

- Fog limits visibility

**Notes:**
Program Manager Amy Holman.

No Separate Observation Systems – plans to utilize DOT and existing NOAA NWS systems
In Colorado, a study is being conducted to determine whether underground heating of highways in specific spots 

Want data from COOP program (and other mesonets) coming in on the 1-5 minute timeframe, not the15 minutes proposed 
Road Weather Information Systems don't follow the rigorous siting (etc) standards as climate data, but they are still useful... we need to make sure these systems are not excluded... 

## Commerce and Transportation

*Needs*
- Partnerships/Collaboration/Cooperative Observing Programs
*Funding*
- Socio-economic benefits
- How to prioritize common observation systems across GT/LOs
*Standards and Specifications *
- FGDC
- Flexible format
*GAPS*
- Communication
- Exploration of all NOAA Observation Platforms possibilities (planes, ships, et al.)

**Notes:**
Withee- “working with local, state, regional, national and international partners to develop global to local environmental and ecological observation and data management systems for comprehensive, continuous monitoring of Earth’s environment.”

NOAA needs to focus on developing Private Industry opportunities (cooperative observers, for example) and building outside capacity growth.

## Commerce and Transportation

- Core Questions
*Is NOAA including data from outside sources?*
*Will NOAA start with a broader view of what observations should be pursued, and develop the tools and products necessary for the public to understand and utilize the observations *

**Notes:**
Withee- “working with local, state, regional, national and international partners to develop global to local environmental and ecological observation and data management systemds for comprehensice, continuous monitoring of Earth’s environment.”