2nd Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)
Regional Coordination Workshop

Session #1a Conceptual Designs (Power Point, 1.70MB)

Session #1b Conceptual Designs (Power Point, 1.70MB)

Session #1c Conceptual Designs (Power Point, 1.70MB)

Moderators: Harvey Seim, Mark Luther, Mary Culver

Purpose of session: To develop comments on the purpose and content of the white paper on conceptual designs.

1. Does the white paper provide a good framework for developing RCOOS conceptual designs?
2. Are there any essential elements of a conceptual design that are missing or any major gaps (keeping in mind that DMAC will be modified based on results of the DMAC working group)?
3. Does a well-developed conceptual design provide the foundation for building regional systems and the relationships between the main components of a system (observations, modeling and analysis, DMAC) and for the integration of the systems into a national network?  If not, specify the missing pieces.
4. Is the process laid out for developing conceptual designs doable at this stage? Should the paper clarify phases for development as described in section 2.2.3 of the white paper?
5. What are the next steps?

Session #1d DMAC Plans (Power Point 1.73MB)
Moderator: Matt Howard

Purpose of session:  To develop comments on the  DMAC white paper based on RA experience.

1. Introductions
2. Review DMAC white paper and comment on process
1. Existing data and capabilities
2. Metadata
3. Archive
4. Data discovery
5. Uniform on-line browse
3. Integration within conceptual designs.
4. What are the next steps to finalizing this document?

Molly McCammon and Geno Olmi, Moderators

Recap from session #1 breakouts (Power Point 363KB)
Discussion -- common themes, next steps
Charge for session #2 (Power Point 357KB)

Session 2a. User Needs, Technical Requirements and Establishment of Priorities

Moderator: Jan Newton
Purpose: To develop general understanding of effective methods for meeting user needs from the initial identification step to the actual delivery of data or products.

What methods have been found to be particularly effective in working with user groups? How do RAs determine priorities among the range of user needs? How to move from prototypes to operational models? Have RAs developed specific policies for working with the private sector in the delivery of products?

Session 2b. Role of Modeling at the Regional Level

Moderator: Scott Glenn
Purpose: To develop a general agreement of the role RAs will play in modeling

Should all regions have operational circulation models? Other kinds of models -- wind, wave, etc.? How have RAs brought together the different modeling expertise together within a region? Is a modeling center a viable concept? What should the relationship be between the research community and the IOOS operational modeling community? What are the next steps to address this large topic?

Session 2c. Optimizing Designs (Power Point 1.70MB)

Moderator: Harvey Seim
Purpose: To develop general agreement on the processes for determining the optimal design for RCOOS observing subsystems.

What methods are RAs currently using? What role for OSSE, systems engineers or other techniques used? Are these techniques suitable at this early stage of development or should the focus be on demonstrating the system first and use these techniques as the system matures? Is there a logical sequence to the development of the RCOOS? Should there be phases for building the systems incrementally?

Session 2d. Regional Data Interoperability (Power Point 1.79MB)

Moderator: Matt Howard
Purpose: To develop general understanding of the interface between DMAC plans and the RCOOS designs, the baseline capacity for regional interoperability, etc.

Should there be common baseline capacity in each region for integrating regional (state, university, federal, non-profit, private) data? What are effective methods for making the various data sets interoperable? Is the idea of a data partnership developing in two of the regions transferable? What other approaches are there for integrating regional data?

Molly McCammon and Geno Olmi, Moderators

Recap of discussion focusing on outcomes and next steps
Questions and answers

Session #3a Federal – Regional Relations

Session #3b Federal – Regional Relations (Power Point 1.73MB)

Session #3c Federal – Regional Relations (Power Point 1.70MB)

Moderators: Charlie Alexander, Mary Culver, Geno Olmi
Purpose: To develop recommendations for how RA and federal agencies build an integrated system.

Within topics of Session 2:
How should regional associations and federal agencies work together to achieve:

3a. User needs, requirements, and priorities are established to meet regional and national needs;
3b. Models are operated in a way to achieve improved forecast products and candidate models are transitioned to an operational capacity;
3c. Regional designs are developed and refined in a way that is optimized with respect to regional and national requirements (and vice-versa);

Questions to help lead discussion above:

• What are examples where the relationship has worked well?
• What are examples where the relationship has not worked well?
• What are critical steps in the process that must take place for outcome to be effective?
• What steps could be taken to improve the interaction?
• How much guidance should come from top down versus bottom up?

Thinking beyond this particular aspect of a regional design, what are other key issues/considerations that must be addressed to ensure successful integration across regions and regional and national observing system designs and products?

• What are the strategic advantages to developing common elements in all RA designs?
• How do regional plans fit into national plans?

Session #3d Federal – Regional Relations: DMAC Specific Issues (Power Point 108KB)

Moderator: Carroll Hood
Purpose: To develop recommendations for how regional and federal DMAC efforts should be coordinated.

National-level DMAC has provided a "top-down" forcing function for regional DMAC development, while the regions are working, by in large, from  bottoms-up perspective.
When the two paradigms meet in the middle, what will be the result?

From the regional perspective:

1. What have been the most useful/effective items of national-level "top-down" DMAC guidance that have helped shape the regional DMAC approach? Why has it been so useful or effective?
2. What are the perceived gaps in national-level "top-down" DMAC guidance.
3. Are there any "enterprise level" services or infrastructure that your region expects will be provided at the national level? What are the criteria for making such a determination?
4. What is the expected Concept of Operations for regional utilization of the national standards review and approval process (in the review and adjudication phase and in the post-approval phase)?

For the national perspective:

1. Once the DMAC-ST is re-energized, do we need to improve the method of communicating with the regions? What would be the guiding principles used to formulate such a strategy?
2. Base on any positive responses from Q2 and/or Q3 above, how can/should  the national DMAC/ Ocean.US respond?

Summary of Workshop - major themes and issues from Steering Committee (Power Point 380KB)

DMAC Track Summary (10-25Plenary_DMAC_Summary) (Power Point 1.59MB)