An Update and Lessons Learned Thus Far on the WSR-88D Operational Support Facility Implementation of Open Systems Architecture into the WSR-88D System

The Weather Surveillance Radar-1988 Doppler (WSR-88D) Operational Support Facility (OSF) is a key player in the development of the Next Generation Weather Radar (NEXRAD) Program's transition to an open systems architecture. The OSF is now in the process of preparing for the final testing and deployment of the first major open systems component of the overall open systems architecture. Since the last AMS Annual Meeting, the OSF has developed full-scale production units in a test bed environment and is in the process of performing formal testing of hardware and software for the WSR-88D Open Radar Product Generator (ORPG). Development of ORPG operations manuals, training materials and maintenance documentation and installation of initial ORPGs at training and depot support facilities is ongoing. Work is continuing on a prototype Open Principle User Processor (OPUP) and an initial proof of concept Open Radar Acquisition (ORDA).

This paper and presentation will inform preprint readers and the meeting audience of OSF progress and future plans for implementing the ORPG, OPUP and ORPG and will describe some of the experiences and lessons learned in applying Commercial-off-the-Shelf (COTS) technology to the open system architecture.

*Corresponding Author Address: J. Rex Reed, NWS/OSF, 3200 Marshall Ave., Norman, OK 73072 Ph: 405-366-6560 ext 4226, Fax: 405-366-6557, EMail: jreed@osf.noaa.gov