Summary of the 3 visualization/analysis packages in question: strengths and weaknesses.

1.) GEMPAK

Includes a GUI known as GARP, that is widely used, also NMAP2 is used quite a lot.  Also includes a nifty sounding analysis package NSHARP.  Collectively, these packages are known as NAWIPS:

Strengths:  

Weaknesses:  

Community view:  

2.)  Integrated Data Viewer (IDV)

Strengths:  

Weaknesses:  

Community view:  

3.) AWIPS-II

From what we know about this so far, it will combine the functionality of GEMPAK, the current NWS AWIPS, NMAP, and more. It will unify the NWS field offices (currently using AWIPS) with the National Centers (currently using N-AWIPS, which is not compatible with AWIPS) It would be great if the university community could use this because:

Unknowns at this stage