The Pathfinder Air Quality Technical Tabletop Exercise (TTX): Findings and Outcomes from NOAA and Community Stakeholders

The Pathfinder Initiative is dedicated to quantifying the value of NOAA information in user environments from an observing-platform agnostic perspective. Pathfinders are a community of sophisticated users and the early adopters of next generation NOAA mission satellite information that volunteer to help NOAA understand the value of data as it travels from the point of data acquisition to end uses in the community. End-to-end value chains encompass all the stages and functions across multiple organizations that contribute to creating, delivering, and capturing value. 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.

On June 14 – 15, 2023, the NOAA Pathfinder Initiative and Arizona State University held the first platform-agnostic two-day air quality table top exercise bringing together 52 decision-makers (19 participants and 33 observers) from city, county, and state levels and scientists specializing in air quality and remote sensing to discuss data needs, decision pathways, and the public health challenges associated with air quality in and around the Phoenix area. ASU coordinated the key stakeholders and local relationships best suited for this hands-on exercise. Participants included meteorologists from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), who described the Phoenix metropolitan area’s weather patterns, forecasts, and atmospheric conditions; public health specialists from the City of Phoenix, who spoke about policies and programs related to air quality; climate managers from Maricopa County of Governments who offered their insights on how to review quality public messaging and education; and organizers from shelter service groups who contributed an experienced perspective on how to best assess air pollution impacts for those experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges.

This talk will share the findings from the NOAA air quality Pathfinder tabletop and the end to end value chains that develop from the Pathfinder effort.