This is the VLab resources page for AWIPS Interactive Reference (AIR) Contributors & Focal Points.

CLC Training Links:

  • AIR Contributor Training (CLC - Internet), posted May 2017
  • Speaker notes PDF for AIR Contributor Training

Training Jobsheets: These jobsheets will not work with the new version of LifeRay. Anticipated update: Jan 2019.

* For jobsheets and refreshers on the forecaster use of AIR, refer to http s://vlab.noaa.gov/web/oclo/air.

 

IMPORTANT: How to Access Default VLab Communities for NWS Field Sites

First-time access for any user to the WFO/RFC office-specific VLab communities (newly created in April 2017 to facilitate this and other VLab training) requires logging out of VLab and using LDAP to log in once (see graphic below). LDAP login triggers auto-assignment to the appropriate community and admin roles for a SOO/DOH/ITO logging in. Once you see the appropriate community in your "My Communities" drop-down, you may return to using your normal method of authentication (Single Sign-on through Google, LDAP, etc).

First time access to default, auto-assigned VLab communities REQUIRES authentication by LDAP

 

AIR Contributor/Focal Point Overview:

The AWIPS Interactive Reference is an AWIPS utility that allows forecasters to right-click on a product, tool, or map legend text and select "Reference on Product" to launch a search tool for related quick-reference material hosted in Vlab. The AIR search consolidates references across all communities who contribute, but requires contributors to manually register content which is within the scope a quick reference before it can be discovered.  The Air contributor training explains the basic workings of AIR reference discovery, results presentation, and reference scoring, as well as the different types of references that can be hosted on VLab and how to register and optimize them.   AIR Contributor training is not a comprehensive VLab training. The jobsheets above provide a basic introduction to AIR-related content creation steps in VLab, as well as instructions for how to register a reference in AIR.

 

Enabling the CRM (Consolidated Reference Management) Utility in a Community in order to Register References:

The "Consolidated Reference Management" (CRM) utility is necessary to register references with AIR, and is not enabled by default in all VLab communities. Staff of NWS field offices should be members of a CRM-enabled community by default. If the CRM is not visible in the Content Administration menu of your community, you may request that it be enabled by sending a request to vlab.admin@noaa.gov.

 

Contact: Eric.P.Jacobsen@noaa.gov