The Tsunami IT Modernization Project

Tsunamis are among the most destructive of natural phenomena, both in terms of human lives and property damage. They are most frequently caused by seismic events within the basin of an ocean or large sea. Two centers within NOAA/NWS – the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) in Palmer, Alaska, and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center at Fort Island, Hawaii – use sophisticated algorithms to quickly locate earthquakes, determine their potential for generating tsunamis, and issue warnings as appropriate to coastal populations. However, each center has developed their capabilities independently over decades, with the result that their IT systems share no common platform either with each other, or with other NWS systems.

The Tsunami IT Modernization (TIM) project is currently implementing the Tsunami Operational System (TOPS). Built upon the AWIPS hardware and software framework, which is widely used throughout NWS, TOPS combines the forecasting models and Watch/Warning/Advisory messages on a common platform making it easier for the centers to support one another, share personnel, and incorporate hardware and software updates through the existing AWIPS processes. The implementation is currently being performed by a partnership of ERT, Raytheon, and IST (seismic software experts), and is currently proceeding through the System Test phase preparatory to operational capability in early 2016.

This presentation summarizes the TIM project scope, architecture, and status.