Getting critical weather and flood information to end-users: a comparison of the Integrated Weather Effects Decision Aid (IWEDA) and the Local Data Acquisition and Dissemination (LDAD) systems

How can meteorologists provide critical real-time weather information to end-users? How can critical weather information be displayed in an effective manner to assist key decision making in weather sensitive organizations? We present a comparison of two separate but similar technological approaches to address these questions.

Both the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (USARL) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Forecast Systems Laboratory (FSL) are working on weather information display systems. The USARL has developed the IWEDA to assist the military in tactical decision-making based on weather impacts. IWEDA focuses on displaying weather effects on weapons systems as a key decision-making tool for military commanders in the field. FSL has developed the LDAD functionality of the National Weather Service's Advanced Weather Information Processing System (AWIPS) in part to provide critical weather information to local communities and state government, among others. LDAD's strength lies in providing real time information on weather and flood hazards that threaten life and property. Both systems provide high-resolution, graphically displayed, weather impacts information.

We compare and contrast IWEDA and LDAD across several characteristics to highlight commonality and differences. Among the characteristics are: the processes of identifying user requirements, weather information requirements of end-users, training of end-users in the use of the systems, information display formats, weather-related decision-making processes in organizations, and the technology of the decision-support systems. Our goal is to provide insights on how the systems have complimentary characteristics and components.

The Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere (CIRA) at Colorado State University is working closely with USARL and FSL to facilitate knowledge and technology transfer between federal military and civilian agencies, and the private sector. This can serve as a model for providing enhanced information and services from meteorologists to weather sensitive organizations and communities.