Thematic Tabletops used to Develop NOAA Pathfinder Value Chains

The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) is the data services arm of NOAA. In 2023 NESDIS developed a user engagement policy and user engagement council charter to apply enterprise approaches that coordinate efforts aimed to enable an enhanced portfolio of Earth observation products and services that address user needs. One of NESDIS’ strategic objectives is to provide consistent, ongoing enterprise-wide user engagement to ensure timely response to user needs. In order for NESDIS to inform everyday decisions. User engagement is an evidenced based discipline supporting the NESDIS mission life cycles, products portfolio management and the NESDIS 5-year plan.

The NOAA Pathfinder Initiative is a volunteer effort, where customers/users from society help NOAA co-develop end to end value chains by bringing local decision-makers from the city, county, and state levels to understand how NOAA information informs day to day operational decisions. Pathfinders encompasses building relationships across thematic areas such as fire, air quality and coastal flooding to assess the value and impact of NOAA data in society. The user information collected is translated into technical requirements that inform the decisions and prioritization of products and services across NESDIS. As part of their commitment, NOAA Pathfinders conduct tabletop exercises assessing the potential impacts of NOAA information and services (current and future) in a thematic and regionally specific real-world situation. Tabletop exercises offer a safe environment to test and evaluate response capabilities, identify areas for improvement, and enhance preparedness. Tabletops contribute to the development of a resilient and proactive approach, ultimately leading to better outcomes in real-world situations.

The Pathfinder Initiative’s goals are to create a suite of value chains, used to demonstrate users’ decision-making environments, and develop traceability matrices that point to the tangible impacts of NOAA observations, products, and services. NESDIS develops these value chains years ahead of new mission launches so the information collected from Pathfinders helps inform decisions related to instrument selection, product development, and service delivery.

The societal benefits from NESDIS missions, products and services are expected to be large and widespread, impacting decisions and operations across society environmentally, socially and economically. Since its inception in 2021, the NOAA Pathfinder Initiative has worked as a boundary organization effort to help develop 3 distinct value chains across fire, air quality and flooding. These value chains help communicate the inner collaborations and complex messaging that make up the unique societal benefits in each value chain. This presentation will discuss the co-development of tabletop exercises with 3 distinct thematic NOAA Pathfinders, explain how the table tops are used to inform the societal benefits portion of an end-to-end value chain and share how NESDIS uses these value chains to inform the development of product and services.