The Global Systems Division (GSD) is in the Weather business, specifically dealing with the transfer of technology from the research community to operational field sites. The Modernization Branch (MB) (formerly the Modernization Division of the Forecast Systems Laboratory) has guided the development of much of the software now in use at over 100 National Weather Service (NWS) field sites across the country, and works with the NWS on a continuing basis to channel new technology into operational systems. For a look at what we have recently accomplished, take a look at our portion of FSL in Review 2002-2003.

MB works jointly with the Systems Development Branch (SDB) to help the NWS support and enhance the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS). AWIPS is the primary computing system in modernized weather offices. It distributes data to and among NWS forecasting offices via satellite and terrestrial communications networks. It maintains local data repositories, provides data retrieval and display services, and supports both warning and forecast generation. Forecasters use this systen to rapidly respond to weather events, using integrated data display to quickly analyze weather patterns and forecasting tools to disseminate relevant information to the public.

• AWIPS
  Find out about the system that supports modernized weather office operations for the NWS: deployed capabilities, new enhancements, and the current development status of new software for AWIPS.
  
  
• GFESuite Graphical Forecast Editor
  Get the latest information on the development of the Graphical Forecast Editor and enhanced forecasting tools.
  

• Risk Reduction
  This Section is responsible for risk reduction activities, which usually involve the testing and evaluation of prototype software and other technology upgrades prior to submission to the NWS. Of late, these responsibilities have also included the support and enhancement of the AWIPS system software, much of which was developed jointly by this group and groups within SDD.
  
  GSD is collocated with the Boulder NWS forecast office, and has a special relationship with the site. New technology is often demonstrated there prior to general deployment. Evaluation is an integral part of risk reduction, providing the feedback necessary to keep technology directed towards the most operationally effective solutions. The Evaluation Team is involved in nearly all MB projects.
  
  
• Enhanced Forecaster Tools
  Forecasters are eager to develop new and more efficient ways of generating forecasts, given the wealth of data available from AWIPS. This Section is in the thick of this exciting area of development, working with a number of rapid-prototype field sites to develop a new generation of graphical forecasting tools and advanced forecast products. This group is working with the Meteorological Development Laboratory of the NWS to integrate an Interactive Forecast Preparation (IFP) system into AWIPS.

• localdev
  AWIPS-related development teams use a flexible, production-oriented development environment that was developed by the Advanced Development group. It is implemented as a set of generic Perl scripts usable within a multiple-platform UNIX environment (or anywhere that Perl, GNU utilities, and symbolic links are supported). It interfaces to a remote configuration management system in use by AWIPS.
  
  
• HazCollect
  AWIPS all-hazards public warning system development for non-weather related emergencies.