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Case Study: NWS Weather System Modernization
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| Customer: |
National Weather Service (NWS), National oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC)
(Raytheon Company, prime contractor) |
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| Goal: |
Deliver full lifecycle information technology support (including software development, integration, testing, network management and control, and mission assurance services) for the National Weather Service Advanced Weather Information Processing System (AWIPS) Operations and Maintenance contract
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| Application: |
AWIPS is central to the ability of NOAA�s National Weather Service to predict weather, water, and climate conditions, a task affecting all U.S. residents. It is actually a complex network of systems that integrates meteorological, hydrological, satellite, and radar data into a single computer workstation. AWIPS draws data from an array of weather sensors and satellites, processes and distributes the data to and among some 150 weather forecast offices and environmental centers nationwide, and dispenses rapid, highly reliable warnings of weather events that affect the United States, its territories, or adjacent waters.
Fairfield Technologies Inc (FTI), a CMMI-Dev Level 3 member of the Raytheon AWIPS Team, is part of this 10 year contract to provide software integration, testing, network management and control, and mission assurance services to the National Weather Service AWIPS Operations and Maintenance.
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| Challenges: |
- Nationwide CONUS system reach, and corresponding high-visibility of project work
- Complete Life Cycle Systems Architecture, Design, Development, Technology Evaluation, Evolution, Testing, Deployment, Operations, Maintenance, and Support for Nationwide Weather Forecasting Systems and Networks
- Working Effectively Within a Lean Six Sigma, CMMI, EVMS-Based and Industry "Best Practices" Environment
- Customer-Focused, Real-Time, Mission-Critical Applications, 24/7/365 Operations
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| FTI's Approach: |
Software Integration and Testing
FTI performed the following software integration and testing tasks:
- Performed verification and validation tasks for software applications in a heterogeneous code base according to documented procedures, ensuring code worked properly and met specified requirements;
- Updated baseline test portfolio as needed;
- Worked closely with application developers and end users to validate proper operation of complex software against goals within the end-user environment;
- Conducted peer reviews of software testing artifacts to ensure high, uniform quality levels;
- Used strict configuration management processes to control phase entry and exit
FTI reported detailed CMMI Level 5-based productivity metrics on a weekly basis, provided technical support to analyze metrics, and developed regular status reports used by program-level managers to provide project-wide visibility to the customer.
24/7/365 Network Control Facility Management
In providing Mission Assurance services, FTI provided 24/7/65 Level 2/Level 3 Help Desk engineering assistance to CONUS - wide user sites, as well as to central development staff. FTI ensured WAN/LAN connectivity between all of the field offices and the network hub, and managed hardware, software, network and site security issues remotely via the WAN or via telephone.
System Administration
In managing the System Environment Team, FTI�s responsibilities include:
- Provide general system administrator support for NWS AWIPS development and test platforms, initially running HP UNIX software, then transitioning to Linux Enterprise operating systems. There are over 160 test, development and operational AWIPS platforms over the entire CONUS, including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Each platform consists of over 20 workstations and servers.
- Install, configure and test security patches quarterly and maintain all devices hardened to strict CIS standards; troubleshoot and fix system and network issues
- Perform new hardware installations on test and development platforms; package, test and deploy AWIPS software installations to all sites nationwide
- Provide Tier 3 specialized engineering support for install and systems level trouble tickets from operational sites
Configuration Management
FTI personnel provide lifecycle configuration management services, including baseline identification, configuration updates and audit services using PVCS Dimensions. FTI personnel have also developed web-based CM support applications that provide current status of AWIPS change management, including Change Document status reports, CM audit reports, CM build and release activities and schedules, CM Procedural and CM tool training documents, and the Duplicate Change Document Reduction Reconciliation Reports.
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| Products Used: |
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.x, UNIX, J2EE Java, C, C++, Fortran, perl, shell scripting, Postgres SQL, AWIPS meteorology and hydrology applications, PVCS Dimensions, Remedy, IBM, HP
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| Benefits: |
- Supported transition of 24/7/365 real-time network operations and software testing, integration and delivery services from another major system integrator to Raytheon with no problems
- Demonstrated five year track record of testing, verification, validation, and integration performance, delivering work on or ahead of schedule, at or below budget, within a rigorous "best practices" (i.e. Raytheon Six Sigma, EVMS-based, and CMMI Level 5) project environment
- Successfully deliver multiple formal project releases for distribution to 130+ CONUS sites each year
- Successfully modernize existing systems "in place", with no loss of performance
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| Delivery: |
On time, within budget since project inception in 2005. Raytheon Six Sigma, CMMI Level 5, ISO 20000 project, EVMS-compliant project. System security compliant NWS OCIO security guidelines
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| Project Keywords: |
Red hat Enterprise Linux, UNIX, Java, J2EE, SOA, Service Oriented Architecture, GUI, Graphical User Interface, Meteorology, Hydrology, Forecasting, high-speed data ingest, network management, network control facility, information assurance (IA), security, firewalls
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