Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System
Encyclopedia
The Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) is a technologically-advanced processing, display
, and telecommunications system that is the cornerstone of the United States
National Weather Service
's (NWS) operations.
AWIPS is a complex network of systems that ingest and integrate meteorological, hydrological, satellite
, and radar
data, and also processes and distributes the data to 135 Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) and River Forecast Centers (RFCs) nationwide. Weather forecasters utilize the capabilities of AWIPS to make increasingly accurate weather, water, and climate predictions, and to dispense rapid, highly reliable warnings and advisories.
The AWIPS system architectural design is driven by expandability, flexibility, availability, and portability. The system is easily expandable to allow for the introduction of new functionality and the augmentation of network and processing capabilities. AWIPS is designed so that software and data can be migrated to new platforms as technology evolves.
Information Technology) with installation completed in 1998.
Since 2005, Raytheon
has been NWS’ partner for the operations, maintenance and evolution of AWIPS, providing the integrated mission services required to sustain and enhance system performance. It is a five year contract with five one-year award terms for a potential maximum 10 year contract.
Teaming with Raytheon are Keane Federal Systems, Globecomm Systems Inc., GTSI, ENSCO, Reston Consulting Group, Fairfield Technologies, and Earth Resources Technology. Together they provide software operations and maintenance, software development, hardware maintenance and logistics, commercial off-the-shelf software maintenance, satellite communications, and network monitoring and control.
designed, developed, and is currently testing the system’s next-generation software known as AWIPS II. AWIPS II, which will feature a new service oriented architecture (SOA) will begin roll-out in late 2011. This new system will simplify code and consequently strengthen system performance while reducing the maintenance burden. All of this will be achieved while retaining a system look and feel that will make the AWIPS evolution appear similar to the user.
The AWIPS program office is working in conjunction with the National Centers for Environmental Prediction
(NCEP) to incorporate the NAWIPS baseline software used by the NCEP centers, National Hurricane Center
(NHC) / Aviation Weather Center (AWC) / Storm Prediction Center (SPC) as well as the Hydrometeorlogical Prediction and Ocean Prediction Centers (HPC and OPC) into the AWIPSII baseline. The commissioning of a new AWIPS site, the first since the Huntsville Weather Forecast Office in 2002, will also be part of this effort at the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Boulder, CO.
Information visualization
Information visualization is the interdisciplinary study of "the visual representation of large-scale collections of non-numerical information, such as files and lines of code in software systems, library and bibliographic databases, networks of relations on the internet, and so forth".- Overview...
, and telecommunications system that is the cornerstone of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Weather Service
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
's (NWS) operations.
AWIPS is a complex network of systems that ingest and integrate meteorological, hydrological, satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
, and radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
data, and also processes and distributes the data to 135 Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs) and River Forecast Centers (RFCs) nationwide. Weather forecasters utilize the capabilities of AWIPS to make increasingly accurate weather, water, and climate predictions, and to dispense rapid, highly reliable warnings and advisories.
The AWIPS system architectural design is driven by expandability, flexibility, availability, and portability. The system is easily expandable to allow for the introduction of new functionality and the augmentation of network and processing capabilities. AWIPS is designed so that software and data can be migrated to new platforms as technology evolves.
History
AWIPS replaced the Automation of Field Operations and Services (AFOS) system which had become obsolete and was very difficult to maintain. It was originally developed and maintained by PRC, Inc (later acquired by Northrop GrummanNorthrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American global aerospace and defense technology company formed by the 1994 purchase of Grumman by Northrop. The company was the fourth-largest defense contractor in the world as of 2010, and the largest builder of naval vessels. Northrop Grumman employs over...
Information Technology) with installation completed in 1998.
Since 2005, Raytheon
Raytheon
Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
has been NWS’ partner for the operations, maintenance and evolution of AWIPS, providing the integrated mission services required to sustain and enhance system performance. It is a five year contract with five one-year award terms for a potential maximum 10 year contract.
Teaming with Raytheon are Keane Federal Systems, Globecomm Systems Inc., GTSI, ENSCO, Reston Consulting Group, Fairfield Technologies, and Earth Resources Technology. Together they provide software operations and maintenance, software development, hardware maintenance and logistics, commercial off-the-shelf software maintenance, satellite communications, and network monitoring and control.
Evolution
As the architect of the AWIPS evolution, RaytheonRaytheon
Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
designed, developed, and is currently testing the system’s next-generation software known as AWIPS II. AWIPS II, which will feature a new service oriented architecture (SOA) will begin roll-out in late 2011. This new system will simplify code and consequently strengthen system performance while reducing the maintenance burden. All of this will be achieved while retaining a system look and feel that will make the AWIPS evolution appear similar to the user.
The AWIPS program office is working in conjunction with the National Centers for Environmental Prediction
National Centers for Environmental Prediction
The United States National Centers for Environmental Prediction delivers national and global weather, water, climate and space weather guidance, forecasts, warnings and analyses to its Partners and External User Communities...
(NCEP) to incorporate the NAWIPS baseline software used by the NCEP centers, National Hurricane Center
National Hurricane Center
The National Hurricane Center , located at Florida International University in Miami, Florida, is the division of the National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting weather systems within the tropics between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th...
(NHC) / Aviation Weather Center (AWC) / Storm Prediction Center (SPC) as well as the Hydrometeorlogical Prediction and Ocean Prediction Centers (HPC and OPC) into the AWIPSII baseline. The commissioning of a new AWIPS site, the first since the Huntsville Weather Forecast Office in 2002, will also be part of this effort at the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) in Boulder, CO.