NOAA - NWS Office of Hydrologic Development

The National Weather Service operates some of the world’s most sophisticated weather forecasting software -- software that must perform 24/7, every day of the year. Many of the core systems were built in the 1980s, using then cutting-edge technology. They require significant maintenance and upgrading on a regular basis. Now, the Weather Service is expanding its scientific capabilities into parallel computing, distributed forecasting, and the use of a national digital forecast database. These next-generation systems require new software capabilities driven by a high-performance software architecture.

Solution: a services-oriented software architecture that enables the transition to enhanced forecasting capabilities.

Working closely with the Office of Hydrologic Development (OHD), Apex identified key requirements.
    • The rebuilding of the entire River Forecast System was out of the question
    • Forecasting must never be interrupted. There could be no down time
    • OHD had to modernize
    • OHD had to deliver faster research to operations transitions

We then designed a new architecture that meets OHD’s current operating requirements and enables a smooth transition of existing software assets to the support of new technologies and capabilities. Based on the J2EE standard, the new architecture will enable the National Weather Service Office of Hydrologic Development to provide more powerful forecasting tools and technologies to expand access to its algorithms and extensive data and to upgrade its software assets to today’s best standards.