AWIPS II development and integration testing continued during March, according to Chief of Systems Integration Michelle Mainelli. NCEP Central Operations (NCO), with the assistance of Raytheon Technical Services (RTS), focused on integrating decoders and EDEX updates to the latest AWIPS II baseline code. "Our updates to the baseline are expected to be released to the National Weather Service by mid-April," says Mainelli. "We are anticipating the incorporation of the National Center Perspective to be baselined in May. Once that piece is merged, follow-on releases of the NAWIPS functionality in AWIPS II will be delivered by the AWIPS Program."
"Over the past few weeks, NCO has been focused on working with NWS Office of Science and Technology and RTS in establishing an automated data flow for non-SBN data into our NCEP Test Bed," Mainelli continues. "We are planning on completing a test of data synchronization with a limited set of data, and plan the complete addition of all data types available at the World Weather Building on the NCEP AWIPS II Test Bed by April 8."
Finally, NCO has completed its first AWIPS II training module. The first training segment covers the purpose of the new system with focus on the National Center Perspective, linkage to the strategic vision, expected advantages/challenges of transitioning to this new system, and principles behind all the new changes. NCO will be hosting a live presentation of the AWIPS II overview via Go-To-Meeting for interested Unidata Community members during the later half of April. NCO will coordinate with Unidata on the most optimal day/time.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| NCEP Field testing | Summer 2011 |
| NCEP Deployment of AWIPS II systems to National Centers | Fall 2011 |
| Release of AWIPS II package to Unidata community members | Winter 2011/2012 |
| Unidata will provide active support and maintenance of GEMPAK for 18 months after the release of AWIPS II to the Unidata community. After the 18-month active support period ends, Unidata will continue to make the GEMPAK source code, help and training materials, and the GEMBUD mailing list available. | |
