WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION
Weather – Climate - Water
WMO Information System (WIS)
Managing & Moving
Weather, Water and Climate Information
in the 21st Century
World Meteorological Organization
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Overview
• What is the WMO Information System (WIS)?
– Why is it being developed?
– What services will it provide?
• What will the NMHS gain from WIS?
• What is the overall WIS plan?
• How far has its implementation progressed?
• What are the major challenges still to be met?
• How to ensure ownership and involvement of RA I?
World Meteorological Organization
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WMO Information System (WIS)
Direction from WMO Congress (2003)
• Develop:
–
–
Over-arching approach for solving data management
problems for all WMO and related international
programmes
A single, coordinated global infrastructure, the
WMO Information System (WIS) for the
collection and sharing of information
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Reasons for WIS
• Various WMO Programmes developing
information systems independently
– Incompatibilities, inefficiencies, duplication of
effort and higher overall costs
• Continued systems development in an
uncoordinated manner would:
– Exacerbate these problems
– Increase difficulty in sharing information
between programmes
– Further isolate WMO Programmes from each
other and from wider environmental community
World Meteorological Organization
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Current situation: GTS
WWW GTS
Regional/Specialized
Meteorological Centres
Meteorological and R&D
Satellite Operator Centres
interconnects
National
Meteorological
Centres
World
Meteorological
Centres
World Meteorological Organization
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Current situation: GTS
For WWW
GTS provides:
• Information collection and distribution
o Real-time push for WWW data & products
(and some other programmes data)
• Information management
o Standard data formats
o Implicit metadata & catalogs
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Current situation:
GTS and Other WMO Programmes systems
• Information exchange
o Multiplicity of procedures
o Real-time and non-real-time
o Very limited pull
• Information management
o Multiplicity of data formats
o Uncoordinated/lack of metadata & catalogs
o No discovery
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WIS Vision
Integrated approach for all WMO Programmes
• Routine collection and dissemination of time-critical
and operation-critical data and products:
o Real-time “push” through dedicated telecommunication
• Data Discovery, Access and Retrieval service:
o “Pull” through the Internet (HTTP, FTP,…)
• Timely delivery of data and products:
o Delayed mode “push” through dedicated telecommunication
means and public data networks, especially the Internet
• Unified procedures
o More efficient data exchange
• Coordinated and standardized metadata
o Interoperability between programmes
o Improved data management
o ISO 191xxx series for geographic information
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WIS
World Radiation Centre
International Organizations
(IAEA, CTBTO, UNEP, FAO.. )
Regional Instrument
Centres
IRI, Hadley Centre, and
other climate research
centres; Universities;
Regional Climate Centres
(CIIFEN, etc.)
GAW World Data Centres
GCOS Data Centres
Global Run-off Data Centre
DCPC
NC
NC
Global Precip. Climatology
Centre
NC/
DCPC
NC/
DCPC
Commercial
Service Providers
NC
NC
GISC
NC
GISC
GISC
International
Projects
(e.g. GMES
HALO)
NC
DCPC
NC
DCPC
GISC
GISC
Satellite
Two-Way Systems
Satellite
Dissemination
(IGDDS, RETIM,
etc)
NC
World Meteorological Organization
WMO World
Data Centres
NC
NC
Real-time “push”
On-demand “pull”
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WIS brings new features and opportunities
• Common information exchange standards,
functions
and services for all WMO
programmes
• Inter-disciplinary discovery, retrieval and
exchange of information in real-time and
non-real time
• Inter-operability through on-line catalogues
using metadata based on ISO 19100
(geographic information standard)
• Industry standards and off-the-shelf
hardware and software systems to ensure
cost-effectiveness and compatibility
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What will a NMHS gain from the WIS?
1.
Improved forecasting/warning services
•
2.
Faster and more cost-effective exchange of operationcritical information;
Improved and expanded range of services
•
Discovery and access to new data and products:
o
3.
Satellite data and products, ensemble prediction products,
climate predictions, oceanographic data and products,
operational, and research data and products, reports,
publications
Strengthened role as national service provider
•
Ability to “push” to national users critical information:
o
4.
Warnings, advisories, selected measurements, etc.; (eg:
national agencies dealing in disaster mitigation, agriculture,
energy and water management,)
Better appreciation by partner agencies
•
Supports their “pulling” relevant information from WMO
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Structure of WIS
•
•
•
•
Functional centres:
National Centres (NC)
Global Information System Centres (GISC)
Data Collection and Production Centres (DCPC)
and
Data communication networks
WIS concerns only information exchange and data
management functions
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National Centre (NC)
• Provides information collected/generated in the country to a
GISC or DCPC
• Serves as portal for national users and/or administrates their
access to WIS
• Several NCs in a country are possible (not just the NMC)
Data Collection or Production Centre (DCPC)
• Provides the programme-related
international exchange
data
&
products
for
• Supports information “Push” and ”Pull” mechanisms
• Generates, maintains, makes accessible and provides to GISCs
metadata catalogues of its data & products
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Global Information System Centre (GISC)
• Receives information from NCs and DCPCs
• Exchanges information (data and metadata) with other
GISCs
• Disseminates, within its area of responsibility, the entire
set of WMO data and products for routine global
exchange
• Supports information ”Pull” mechanisms
• Generates, maintains and makes accessible metadata
catalogues of all data and products for global echange
• Ensures around-the-clock,
operations
reliable
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and
secure
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WIS, a key issue: interoperability
Interoperability enables the discovery,
the retrieval and the usage of the data
It needs the development and the
implementation of Metadata standards
Development of a WMO Metadata Profile of
the ISO 191xx series for geographic
information
• Step 1 done: development of the WMO
Metadata Core Profile of ISO 19115 for data
discovery
•Step 2: Use of the ISO 191xx series for the
access and use of the data
World Meteorological Organization
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WIS SERVICES
WIS provide various types of services to meet the
different requirements:
(1)
Routine collection and dissemination service
for time-critical and operation-critical data and
products:
Based on real-time “push” mechanism (incl. Multicast);
implemented essentially through dedicated telecommunication means
with guaranteed quality of service, e.g. leased circuits, dedicated
data communication network services and satellite-based datadistribution systems;
(2) Data Discovery, Access and Retrieval service:
Based on request/reply “pull” mechanism with relevant data
management functions; implemented essentially through the Internet
(HTTP, FTP,…);
(3) Timely delivery service for data and products:
Based on delayed mode “push” mechanism; implemented through a
combination of dedicated telecommunication means and of public data
networks, especially the Internet.
World Meteorological Organization
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WIS DATA-COMMUNICATIONS FUNCTIONS AND SERVICES
• EC “emphasized that with the sustained
progress benefiting from Information &
Communication Technology (ICT) development
made in its implementation, operation and
upgrade, the GTS, including satellite-based
data-distribution systems and the Improved
MTN, would effectively contribute to the WIS
implementation as the core communication
component for exchange and delivery of time
and operation-critical data and products.”
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64
Toulouse
2.4
Madrid
9.6
AFT
N
28.8
9.6
AFT
N
NI
Nouakchott
1.2
NO
NO
Tripoli
19.2
Bamako
Banjul 1.2
Bissau
Sal
64
N'djamena
1.2
2.4
64
1.2
1.2
19.2
Accra
Int.
Cotonou
Lome
Douala
Malabo
19.2
Libreville
1.2
1.2
NI
Washington
NO
via Exeter
NI
Interregional circuit
Windhoek
64
St. Helena
MTN circuit, circuit RPT
19.2
9.6
NI
Int.
33.6
Gaberon
e
Pretoria
Maseru
64
64
Maput
o
Manzini
Int.
Int.
NI
Antananarivo
Kerguelen
Via Internet
NI Not
implemented
NO Not
Regional Meteorological Telecommunication Network for Region I (Africa)
point-to-point circuits implementation (transmission speed in kbit/s)
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NI
Mauritius
Moroni
9.6
64
64
Int.
E-mail
Int.
64
64
Seychelles
Lilongwe
Harare
Ascension
Centre in other region
NI
Lusaka
Luanda
0.05
AFT
N
via Toulouse
(64)
Dar Es Salaam
64
0.05
AFTN
Kinshasa
Sao Tome
0.05
AFT
N
Bujumbur
a
1.2
Mogadiscio
Nairobi
Kigal
i
0.05
AFTN
Brazzaville
Regional circuit
33.6
Entebbe
Lagos
NI
DCP
Addis
Ababa
0.05
Abidjan
NMC, CMN
via Toulouse
Bangui
19.2
Djibouti
NI
0.05
1.2
19.2
Monrovia
RTH, CRT
Asmara
NI
via Toulouse
19.2
Ouagadougou
Freetown 2.4
Offenbach
Niamey
2.4
Conakry
Jeddah
9.6
Khartoum
9.6
0.050
0.1
Cairo
0.075
Int.
19.2
New Delhi
0.1
64
19.2
0.1
64
NI
2.4
Int.
Moscow
Toulouse
Dakar
0.05
Rome
64
Tunis
Western
Sahara
Canary
0.05
Casablanca
0.05
128
0.1
0.05
Algiers
St Denis
9.6
Int.
Int.
New
Amsterda
m
IX.2006
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Coverage of RETIM-Africa, EUMETCast
38 RETIM receiving stations
in 18 RA I Countries
All RA I Countries equipped
with EUMETCast receiving stations
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WIS DATA-COMMUNICATIONS FUNCTIONS AND
SERVICES
(for weather, water, climate and related data and
products)
DAR
Data pull
WIS
GTS
IGDDS
Data push
WIS/GTS: for time and operation-critical data & products
WIS/IGDDS: for space-based data & products
WIS/DAR: data discovery, access and retrieval
Data push: routine distribution of data & products
Data pull: access to and retrieval of data &World
products
Meteorological Organization
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WIS DATA-COMMUNICATIONS IMPLEMENTATION
(for weather, water, climate and related data and products)
DAR
Essentially through
the Internet
(HTTP, FTP, VPN…)
WIS
Essentially through
telecom. with
guaranteed quality of
GTS service, e.g. leased
circuits, dedicated data
com network services,
sat.-based systems, ..
Data pull
Essentially through
satellite based data IGDDS
distribution
systems, e.g. DVB-S
Data push
WIS/GTS: for time and operation-critical data & products
WIS/IGDDS: for space-based data & products
WIS/DAR: data discovery, access and retrieval
Data push: routine distribution of data & products
Data pull: access to and retrieval of data &World
products
Meteorological Organization
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WIS Data Policies
• Complies with WMO data policies
– Res. 40 (Cg-XII) and Res. 25 (Cg-XIII)
• Will follow evolution of WMO data policy
– Procedures for managing of access rights, control of
data retrieval, registration and identification of users,
etc can be defined, as and when required
– Anonymous downloading is technically possible, but
depends on whether a NC permits that feature
– Has no system-inherent features that would violate
international legal frameworks
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WIS contribution to GEO
WMO
Weather
Domain
Climate
Domain
Water
Domain
WIS
Internet
GEONetCast
GTS
IGDDS
GEO
Health
Energy
Disasters
Weather
Climate
Ecosystems
Water
Agriculture
Biodiversity
World Meteorological Organization
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WIS implementation
• Phase A: GTS Evolution into WIS
– Provides consolidation/improvement for timecritical and operation-critical data
– Includes extension to meet operational
requirements of WMO programmes in addition to
World Weather Watch (including improved
management of services);
• Phase B: Extension to WIS
– Provides for an extension of the information
services through flexible data discovery, access
and retrieval services to all users, as well as
flexible timely delivery services;
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WIS Implementation – accomplishments
 Continued GTS upgrades (IMTN, satellite-based datacast,..)
 WMO Core metadata
 Internet portal
 Basic data acquisition, discovery and push-pull
services
 GISC prototype: RA VI VGISC project
 DCPCs prototypes:
 ECMWF & EUMETSAT associated with VGISC project
 NCAR (Boulder)
 NODC (Obninsk) for JCOMM related data
 IGGDS (Space-based data)
Asia-Pacific VPN pilot project
Technical Conference on WIS (Korea, 6-8
November 2006); VGISC & DCPC prototype demo
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European Virtual GISC Project
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Key Future Milestones
• Consolidate plans on development, governance
and implementation of WIS: 2006-2008
• Develop WIS regulatory documentation and
guidance material for implementation, including
specifications for the GISC interfaces and a
unified user interface: 2006-2008
• Develop scheme and practices for security,
authentication and authorization procedures for
WIS services : 2007-2008
• Implementation of first operational GISC: 2008
• Implementation of other operational GISCs: 2009
- 2011
• Implementation of DCPCs, i.e. WIS interfaces at
WMO programmes’ centres: 2008-2011
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Challenges
• Good progress made in concept, technological solutions
and prototypes for WIS, but much work to be done for an
operational WIS
• Understanding of WIS – both internal and external to
WMO:
– What it is, why it is important, what it does for NMHSs, what needs
to be done, …
• Active participation of WMO Technical Commissions and
other bodies -- stating requirements, developing
metadata and implementing WIS interface at their data
centres, etc
• Involvement of all NMHSs in the WIS development,
including awareness of users communities
• Adequate financial and human resources for WIS
development into operations
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WIS and RA I
Goal: Integrate RA I into more active
ownership and involvement in planning,
development and implementation of
WIS …
to meet the data and information
distribution needs of its NMHSs
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What is needed for an active RA I
ownership and involvement?
•
Statement of needs and priorities for RA I
related to all WMO programmes
•
Defining/developing workable solutions
(design & implementation) that match ability
and needs of RA I Members
•
Involvement in developing implementation
strategies and plans for the Region,
including:
 Pilots projects
 Capacity building options
World Meteorological Organization
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How can the XIV-RA I session help
increase ownership and involvement?
Objectives:
•
Develop RA I-endorsed WIS goals
•
Establish RA I WIS Task Team for pro-active
participation and collaboration with CBS teams and
ICG-WIS in planning the development and
implementation of WIS

Works in close cooperation with or integration into
RA I/WG-PIW (consistent with leading role of
CBS in WIS development and implementation)
World Meteorological Organization
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Initial Ideas
1-Identify WIS pilot projects suitable for RA I Members that will
test WIS concepts in developing countries & LDCs.
 Involve potential African DCPCs (RSMCs, RTHs, Drought
monitoring centres)
 Enhanced use of effective GTS components (links, VSAT,
RETIM-Africa) for operation-critical data exchange for other
WMO Programmes
 Develop plans/projects for enhanced application of costeffective ICTs to further improve the WIS/GTS component
for operation-critical data exchange for all WMO Programmes
 Exploit ICTs (Internet, VPNs) to access data from
prototype/pre-operational GISCs and test their suitability for
developing countries requirements
2-Develop planning and implementation phases for the introduction of
WIS services and components in RA I, including capacity building
World Meteorological Organization
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Thank you
World Meteorological Organization
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