Deployment - Hazard Services
Hazard Services Deployment

Hazard Services Hydro IOC in AWIPS Build 19.3.1
Hazard Services Initial Operating Capability (IOC) will introduce hydro watch, warning, and advisory generation capability to AWIPS Build 19.3.1. The next capability to be added to Hazard Services will be winter and hydrological hazard simplification in AWIPS Build 20.2.1. All hazard generation capability is scheduled to be replaced over a two-year period coincident with new AWIPS releases. A substantial training investment has been made at the start of IOC, and future training is anticipated to build off the initial rollout because the unified workflows and python configuration will naturally extend to other hazards.
The hydro IOC training consists of:
- User training online (~2.5hrs)
- User VLab jobsheets for practice mode (~3-4hrs)
- Focal point training online (~3hrs)
- Hazard Services Focal Point Configuration Workshop (3 days)
- Focal point VLab jobsheets (~12hrs)
For access to the training in the Commerce Learning Center (CLC) see the "Hazard Services IOC Focal Point Training" curriculum and the "FY20 AWIPS Warning-Related System Readiness - Full" curriculum (for all AWIPS System Readiness Training) or "FY20 AWIPS Warning-Related System Readiness - New" curriculum (for just the FY19 and FY20 training).
With 19.3.1 deployment planned for Dec 2, 2019 to Mar 31, 2020, WDTD will be hosting four Hazard Services focal point configuration workshops for one focal point from each WFO that has not been to a Hazard Services configuration workshop in the previous years' testing periods:

For more on the workshop coordination see the Hazard Services Workshops Page. The Hazard Services Focal Point will take the user and focal point training prior to attending the workshop and spending three days configuring the Hazard Services python files for hydro operations using the focal point jobsheets. The focal point will bring the configuration files back to the office and complete configuration with the installation of 19.3.1. Forecasters will then take the training and prepare for using Hazard Services for hydro watch, warning, and advisory generation operationally when primary and backup sites have completed the training and coordinated a starting date. While Hazard Services provides for interoperability for one site to potentially fall back on WarnGen, GHG, and RiverPro hydro hazard generation, RiverPro in service backup cannot back up flood products issued by Hazard Services. Intra- and inter-office communications is going to be critical in IOC. To see how all this could play out, see this hypothetical schedule:

For more guidance on preparing for Hazard Services IOC, see the scheduling and planning Youtube video (Web), and for a glimpse of the unified workflow of Hazard Services, see this demo Youtube video (Web). The legacy hydro hazard generation capability will be decommissioned soon after Hazard Services is deployed (see schedule at top of page).
For Hazard Services Hydro IOC program management questions, contact Mark.Armstrong@noaa.gov and for hydro IOC training questions contact Michael.A.Magsig@noaa.gov.
Hazard Services Post IOC FY20-FY22 AWIPS Builds

After 19.3.1 Hazard Services Hydro IOC deployment, the next capability to be transitioned to Hazard Services will be winter weather and hydrological hazard simplification (what/where/when for river products) in AWIPS build 20.2.1 scheduled for spring-fall (note 20.1.1 Python 3 deployment may push 20.2.1 later in 2020). Subsequent training will be shorter (no workshops planned), and will build off the initial training because the unified workflow and python configuration will naturally extend to other hazards.
Global Systems Division is developing the remaining Hazard Services hazard generation capabilities prior to the integration into the baseline, and there are routine System and Functional Forecaster Assessment Testing exercises prior to integration into the baseline.
For Hazard Services Post IOC questions, contact:
- program management - Ashley.Kells@noaa.gov
- GSD development - Darrel.Kingfield@noaa.gov
- training Shannon.White@noaa.gov and Micheal.A.Magsig@noaa.gov.
Hazard Services Extended Future (No AWIPS Build Planned Yet)
Hazard Services was designed as an open Python-based system with extensive configuration control to support field innovation and baseline enhancements. Future planned enhancements to hazard generation will focus exclusively on Hazard Services as the legacy hazard generation will be discontinued. One candidate preparing for implementation is partial county alerting:

Another Hazard Services-related project worth mentioning is Forecasting A Continuum of Environmental Threats (FACETS; Web link). FACETS aims to revolutionize hazardous weather communication with a potential paradigm shift in the communication of uncertainty and probabilistic information. While NSSL's Hazardous Weather Testbed routinely invites forecasters to participate in refining this approach and significant progress has been made, there currently is no planned AWIPS integration at this time.


For more information on FACETS, see NSSL's FACETS page (Web).
