Symposium On

WEATHER INFORMATION FOR

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION“Preparing for the Future:

Improved Weather Information for Decision-Makers”

December 4 - 6, 2000

Technical Risks Decision Support System Requirements Capabilities

Weather Information For Surface Transportation

“Preparing for the Future: Improved Weather Information for Decision-Makers”

Samuel P. WilliamsonFederal Coordinator

Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting

Research

NEXT STEPS / ACTION PLAN

• COORDINATING INFRASTRUCTURE• SYMPOSIUM OBJECTIVES• OVERARCHING ISSUES• NEXT STEPS / ACTION PLAN• PRESENTATION AVAILABILITY• SYMPOSIUM FEEDBACK• THANK YOU

OVERVIEW

Symposium on Weather Information For Surface Transportation (WIST)

Federal Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (FCMSSR)

Interdepartmental Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research (ICMSSR)

Federal Coordinator for Meteorology

Standing Committees

Program Councils

National Space Weather Program

National Aviation Weather Program

Environmental Services, Operations, and Research

Needs

Operational Processing Centers

Environmental Information Systems and Communications

Integrated Observing Systems

Climate Monitoring and Services

Cooperative Research

COORDINATING INFRASTRUCTURE

• Provide status of needs and requirements analysis– Solicit feedback for validation

• Provide update / summarize progress and activities over the last 12 months

• Identify initiatives / programs that are currently underway or being planned

• Illuminate gaps where additional focus is required• Identify next steps / actions toward improving

weather information for decision-makers

Overarching objectives are to:

SYMPOSIUM OBJECTIVES

• Need focused effort to capture proliferating surface weather observations and incorporate into National database; need to consider:

– Equipment (fixed, mobile, remote)• Siting criteria• Include legacy systems

– Communications (incorporate ITS Architecture)• Protocol and standardization

– Data• Standards• Quality control• Availability (redistribution)• Archiving

• Need an examination of the private / public roles and responsibilities

OVERARCHING ISSUES

• Need to enhance public outreach and education– Build coalition with media– Leverage opportunities through organizational /

association conferences– Create interdisciplinary curricula

• Need to enhance technology transfer process (concepts, capabilities, practices, tools)

– Government and civil sector (e.g., DoD, National labs and other entities)

OVERARCHING ISSUES

• Need weather information that is timely, accurate, and relevant

• Must tailor weather information to client decision support needs

– Must focus on impacts to mission• Need to revolutionize dissemination systems

– Real-time information in the “cab” (RTIC)– Push / pull, Web-based, etc.

• Need dedicated / focused R&D program– Must have mechanism to identify research

priorities

OVERARCHING ISSUES

• Publish symposium proceedings by February 2001

• Complete compilation of WIST requirements and publish requirements document by June 2001

• OFCM will focus efforts on solving surface weather observation issues

• Participate in activities to enhance public outreach and education

• Use established WIST JAG to develop strategy on remaining issues

NEXT STEPS / ACTION PLAN

http://www.ofcm.gov/

Presentations and other material will be available on the OFCM web site shortly after the forum.

Click on “Special Projects” and navigate to the Weather Information for Surface Transportation Symposium section.

PRESENTATION AVAILABILITY

Send e-mail comments to:

Samuel.Williamson@noaa.gov

SYMPOSIUM FEEDBACK

ParticipantsDoubleTree Hotel, Rockville

Interdepartmental Committee for Meteorological Services and Supporting

Research (ICMSSR)Joint Action Group/Weather Information for

Surface TransportationFHWA StaffOFCM / STC

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

On behalf of the Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology and the Department of Transportation -

Federal Highway Administration...

Thank you for attending and participating in this symposium!

Have a safe trip home...

And a happy holidays season!

THANK YOU!