Hazard Services Workshops Page

AWIPS 19.3.1 & Hazard Services Workshops Schedule (Workshops Now Complete!)

  • WFO Beta Test Hazard Services Configuration Workshop Sep 4-5, 2019 
  • WFO Beta Test  Completed Dec 9, 2019
  • Official workshop announcement to Regional AWIPS Focal Points to forward to WFOs Oct 2, 2019
  • Scheduling and planning Youtube video (Internet only) 
  • 19.3.1 operational deployment Dec 9, 2019 through March 2020
    • 19.3.3 (Feb 25, 2020 deployment) and 19.3.4 (May 14, 2020) have Hazard Services DRs that are important to recognize when making the decision of when to target using Hazard Service operationally
  • Workshop Dates - changed from 2 days to 3 days based off field input and CP funding 
    • Operational Deployment Workshop 1 (Dec 4-6, 2019) *full 3 days with travel on Dec 3 and 7
    • Operational Deployment Workshop 2 (Jan 22-24, 2020) *full 3 days with travel on Jan 21 and 25
    • Operational Deployment Workshop 3 (Feb 11-13, 2020) *full 3 days with travel on Feb 10 and 14
    • Operational Deployment Workshop 4 (Feb 19-21, 2020) *full 3 days with travel on Feb 18 and 22
  • No more Hazard Services workshops are planned for the remaining Hazard Services deployments for the remaining watch warning and advisory service areas

 

(Hazard Services focal points from 11 WFOs participating in the 19.3.1 Beta Test joined other key stakeholders in early Sep 2019 to successfully complete initial Hazard Services configuration required for 19.3.1 and developed game plans for preparing their offices to transition to using Hazard Services for hydro operations in 19.3.1)

Operational WFO Hazard Services Configuration Workshops

What: WDTD will be hosting 4 Hazard Services focal point configuration workshops coincident with deployment of Hazard Services in 19.3.1. The Hazard Services debuting in 19.3.1 provides hydrology watch, warning, and advisory generation capability, and each office will be required to configure Hazard Services with their local hydrology configurations prior to using Hazard Services in 19.3.1. At the workshop a standalone installation of AWIPS and Hazard Services is provided with a copy of the local hydro database and AWIPS localization, so the Hazard Services focal point can make significant progress on configuring Hazard Services at the workshop. WDTD will copy the Hazard Services configuration files back to the live AWIPS after the workshop, so the focal point can effectively continue configuration.

When: Here are the four workshops for 19.3.1 deployment:

  • Operational Deployment Workshop 1 (Dec 4-6, 2019) *full 3 days with travel on Dec 3 and 7
  • Operational Deployment Workshop 2 (Jan 22-24, 2020) *full 3 days with travel on Jan 21 and 25
  • Operational Deployment Workshop 3 (Feb 11-13, 2020) *full 3 days with travel on Feb 10 and 14
  • Operational Deployment Workshop 4 (Feb 19-21, 2020) *full 3 days with travel on Feb 18 and 22

Where: WDTD lab in room 4820 at the National Weather Center in Norman, OK

Who: Each office who has not attended previous Hazard Services focal point workshops will send one person to attend the workshop and make significant progress on Python configuration of Hazard Services for hydro operations. The initial Hazard Services focal point will be required to take ~6hrs of online Hazard Services user and focal point training prior to attending the workshop, and after 19.3.1 is installed there is another 3-4hrs of user job sheets to practice using Hazard Services. For the workshop, Python programming skills are not required (materials provided in course), and offices may choose to send the office hydrologist, ITO, or other forecaster who will be contributing to configuring Hazard Services for hydro operations at the local office. To get an idea of the nature of the focal point training, sites can peruse the web versions of the training (note: courses must be taken from CLC to receive completion credit):

Focal Point Training (3hrs online modules) 

  • Hazard Services Focal Point: Unified Configuration Workflow (30min; Web, PDF)
  • Hazard Services Focal Point: Python (35min; Web, PDF)
  • Hazard Services Focal Point: Overrides (30min; Web, PDF)
  • Hazard Services Focal Point: Metadata and Megawidgets (25min; Web, PDF)
  • Hazard Services Focal Point: Tools and Recommenders (25min; Web, PDF)
  • Hazard Services Focal Point: Settings and Alerts (20min; Web, PDF)
  • Hazard Services Focal Point Jobsheets (VLab jobsheets) - initial completion done at workshop (~12hrs)
  • Prerequisites for focal point training: 2.5 hrs of Hazard Services distance learning user training
    • Note: 3-4hrs of user jobsheets will need to be take after the WFO receives Hazard Services 

Why: Hazard Services has undergone extensive field testing and configuration by field offices, and the strong field consensus was that the workshop was essential for the initial deployment of Hazard Services. Some of the main benefits include:

  • a sufficient amount of dedicated time to develop fundamental proficiency in Hazard Services python configuration
  • immediate technical support with implementing configuration of local AWIPS customizations
  • key stakeholders from development organizations and the Hazard Services Tiger Team are available for enhanced support
  • sharing of lessons learned from field offices who participated in the WFO Site Test and 19.3.1 Beta Test

How: WFOs should consider choosing their workshop and 19.3.1 installation dates somewhat close together, while also factoring in holiday leave. Each workshop has to have 25 participants, and the Regional AWIPS Focal Points have coordinated the workshop attendance. Ideally the installation date is less than 1 month after the workshop, so the focal point does not have a large gap between beginning configuration and continuing configuring following the 19.3.1 deployment. The general steps should be:

  1. Sign up for workshop and request 19.3.1 installation date (mid Oct 2019)
    1. For WFOs who have not attended a Hazard Services configuration workshop yet, the WFO AWIPS Focal Point will work with the Regional AWIPS Focal Point to sign up one person to attend the configuration workshop. The WFO will also request a build installation date close to the workshop.
  2. Focal point takes training (two weeks prior to the workshop)
    1. The workshop participant takes the 6hrs of online user and focal point training
    2. If the WFO installs 19.3.1 before the workshop, then the focal point should also take the additional 3-4hrs of user jobsheets before the workshop
  3. Focal point attends workshop
    1. Focal point completes focal point jobsheets at the workshop and WDTD copies files back to the WFO for use after installing 19.3.1
  4. Other focal points take training (two weeks prior to the 19.3.1 installation) 
    1. Other focal points complete online user and focal point training near the 19.3.1 installation date
  5. WFO installs 19.3.1
  6. Focal points complete Hazard Services configuration (shortly after 19.3.1 is installed)
    1. Focal points need to prepare Hazard Services for forecasters to take user jobsheets after 19.3.1 is installed
  7. Users take user training and job sheets (shortly after 19.3.1 is installed and after focal point has Hazard Services ready for testing)
    1. The 6-7 hrs of user training consists of ~2.5hrs of online modules and 3-4hrs of user jobsheets
    2. To get an idea of the nature of the user course, see the Hazard Services Reference Page (note: Beta Test version of training will be updated shortly before operational deployment in Dec 2019)
  8. Backup offices coordinate transition to Hazard Services operations (after offices have completed training and are ready for operations)
    1. The staff at primary and backup WFOs need to coordinate preparations prior to using Hazard Services operationally due to inability for RiverPro to back up Hazard Services river flood products

Contact: For information on the workshops or Hazard Services training, contact Michael.A.Magsig@noaa.gov.