NOAA Testbeds and Proving Grounds: Enhancing EffectiveTransition of Research to NOAA Applications/Operations

NOAA’s testbeds and proving grounds (www.testbeds.noaa.gov) conduct transition testing to demonstrate readiness of new and advanced research capabilities for operations/ applications. Over the past two years, more than 200 capability tests have been completed, demonstrating readiness for NOAA operational use for more than 70 candidate capabilities.  More than half have already been deployed.  Beyond the simple transition statistics, the use of these transition facilities has generated a wealth of progress in developing science capabilities for use by NOAA and its partners through more engaged partnerships among researchers, developers, operational scientist and end-user communities. Incorporating appropriate operational systems/practices in development and testing is a key factor in speeding the integration of new capabilities into service and operations.  

With the recent launch of the Arctic Testbed in Alaska, there are now twelve NOAA testbeds and proving grounds, recognized as consistent with NOAA guidelines for function, execution and governance, which support competitively selected, collaborative transition testing projects to meet NOAA mission needs.  Projects are supported through dedicated or in-kind facility support, and programmatic resources both internal and external to NOAA. Charters and additional information on these facilities, along with summaries of coordination activities, including recent workshops, and links to relevant federal funding opportunities are posted at the web portal.

NOAA scientists, in collaboration with public and private-sector partners, conduct rigorous testing of prototype capabilities at the NOAA’s testbeds and proving grounds to evaluate performance and potential readiness for use in addressing all NOAA mission goals. Readiness criteria include capability-specific metrics for objective and subjective performance, utility, and engineering/production readiness. Along with other partners, NOAA programs including the Next Generation Global Prediction System (NGGPS), Collaborative Science and Technology Applied Research Program, Climate Program Office, the US Weather Research Program, and the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program provide increasingly important programmatic sponsorship for transition testing. NGGPS-funded projects led by scientists from academia and NOAA’s testbeds and proving grounds are testing various potential service impacts that will result from this next-generation capability, with special emphasis on improved forecasts of high-impact and severe/extreme weather in the 0-3 day time frame, in the 6-10 day time frame, and for weeks 3-4. 

The community of NOAA scientists and public and private-sector partners engaged in transition testing at NOAA testbeds and proving grounds (NOAA TBPG) is working together to adapt and transition high-value capabilities into operations.  Highlights from testbeds and proving grounds transition testing in 2016 will be featured.