AMS25 Radar Next Town Hall.pdf
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- Broad Agency Announcement: Weather Radar Technology Exploration for the National Weather Service
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- BAA_NWSRADARNEXT2024
About this file
This is a presentation deck for a National Weather Service (NWS) town hall discussion on January 15, 2025 regarding the future of weather radar and the Radar Next program. The presentation outlines plans to replace the aging NEXRAD weather radar network, which consists of 158 S-band Doppler radars operated jointly by NWS, USAF, and FAA.
The presentation details a four-phase timeline for Radar Next: Initiation and Planning (2023-2028), Design and Development (2027-2032), Production (2032-2040), and Operations and Maintenance (2035-beyond). Key program drivers include maintaining data continuity, improving performance (data quality, update rates, spectrum management), and expanding coverage for underserved communities. The program is currently collecting user needs through various engagement methods including surveys, interviews, workshops and forums with stakeholders from government agencies, emergency managers, academia, tribal communities, and the weather enterprise. A Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) process is being used to solicit innovative technical solutions and research proposals from industry, with funding subject to FAR 52.232-18 Availability of Funds.
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National Weather Service
Identifying User Needs for the Future of Weather Radar:
A Town Hall Discussion on
Radar Next
15 January 2025
Office of Observations
Agenda 1215-1230
• Overview of Radar Next Program and Activities
1230-1245
• User Panel Introduction and Remarks
1245-1315
• Panel Discussion and Audience Q&A – Discussion of User Needs for Radar Next
Identifying User Needs for the Future of Weather Radar:
A Town Hall Discussion on
Radar Next Frank W. Gallagher III, Jessica Schultz, Mat Grow, Ajay Mehta, and Terrance Clark
NOAA/NWS/OBS
15 January 2025
• Network of 158 S-band Doppler weather radars jointly operated by NWS, USAF, FAA
• Provides mosaic coverage of most of the Continental United States
• Most impactful NOAA observational asset supporting severe weather, flash floods, and air traffic management
• Installed in the 1990s with a 20-year expected design life
• Completed Dual Polarization upgrade 2007 - 2013 and Service Life Extension Program 2015 - 2024
NEXRAD Program: Current Operational Weather Radar
KGLD - Goodland, KS
WSR-88D KLIX 8/29/2021WSR-88D KGLD
Warnings Supported by Radars
Why It Matters
Threats to NEXRAD Availability
Metal Fatigue
TITLE
Obsolete Parts
Environmental & Wiring Issues
Damaged Components
Threats to NEXRAD Availability
NEXRAD has exceeded its original design life
• Aging infrastructure leading to reduced reliability, availability, and maintainability
• Obsolescence / Unavailability of commercial parts
• Third-party supply chain disruptions
• Inflationary pressures (e.g., NEXRAD optical position encoders increased in price from ~$4K to $44K)
Availability will fall below requirement by mid 2030s
B. Foltz, A Study on the Future Availability of NEXRAD - Study Approach [abstract] In: American Meteorological Society 105th Annual Meeting; 13 Jan 2025, New Orleans, LA, Abstract 1.1.
The New NWS: Partner Focused Operating Model
○ Prevent lapse in Availability
○ Maintain high quality dual-polarization radar data here.
Data Continuity
○ Integrate new science
○ Data quality
○ Improve update rate
○ Spectrum congestion
○ Sidelobes / Ground Clutter /
Wind Farms
Improve Data Performance
○ Improve low-level coverage
○ Greater geographic coverage
○ Inclusion of traditionally underserved communities
Improve Coverage
Radar Next - Program Drivers
Improved geographical coverage
Improved Data Accessibility
Assimilation from hybrid radar networks into numerical forecast models
Improved coverage at lower altitudes
Radar Next - Paradigm Shift
Improved User Experience
Improved spatial and temporal resolution
Integration of data from multiple sources into a single grid and display
Radar Next Program’s Timeline
Note: These dates are notional and subject to change as Program evolves.
Initiation and Planning
Define user needs and identify capability gaps, focus on fulfilling needs by refining requirements;
identify and analyze alternative solutions
2023 - 2028
Design and Development
Finalize requirements and begin procurement
2027 - 2032
Production
Begin production and achieve initial operational capability
2032 - 2040
Operations and Maintenance
Achieve full operational capability and operate and maintain the Radar
Next System
2035 - Beyond
Ongoing Radar Next Engagements
Subject to FAR 52.232-18 Availability of Funds
Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs)
DescriptionExpected Outcome
By soliciting ideas from a wide audience, BAAs introduce novel technologies and methodologies and diverse and innovative solutions that might not be considered otherwise.
Broaden Scope of Solutions
BAAs often attract proposals that incorporate the latest research and technological advancements, enriching the AoA process.
Cutting-edge Research
BAAs foster collaboration between agencies and the research community, leading to a rich exchange of ideas and expertise.
Foster Collaboration
The open-ended nature of BAAs allows for flexibility in exploring unconventional solutions.Flexibility and Adaptability
BAA
BAA
BAA
Collection of User Needs and Assessments Radar Next will conduct many user engagement activities over the next several years.
Usability Testing Sessions and Workshops
Interviews
Surveys and Questionnaires
Website and Online Forums
Seminars and Webinars
Conferences
NEXRAD
Tri-Agency Partners
Government Agencies
Tribal and Indigenous Community
Industry and Weather
Enterprise
Emergency Managers
Federal, State, and Local Gov.
PublicAcademia
Stakeholders
How are you currently using weather radar?
What radar capabilities and products are most used and how?
What operational problems does NEXRAD support and not support?
How do you envision using radar in the future?
What would an “optimal” future radar network look like?
What improvements to current radar network capabilities would help you do your job better?
Prioritized User Needs
Start with User Needs: Collection Approach Radar Next is collecting the full scope of validated, technically realizable, Doppler weather radar user needs that are implementation agnostic and without regard to budget Current Needs Future Needs
Informs Requirements, Analysis of Alternatives, CONOPS
Investigate New Concepts of Operations
• Change the paradigm of radar data collection to be more flexible and agile
• Explore new command/control and maintenance philosophies
Build Upon and Improve Weather Radar Capabilities
• Incorporate feedback from stakeholders and end users
• Once in a generational opportunity to influence the next generation of weather radar capabilities
Radar Next: What to Expect Next
Develop Program Requirements and Alternative Solutions
• Collect the full scope of validated, technically realizable, Doppler weather radar user needs
• Establish the framework for developing and evaluating the cost-benefit of possible solutions
Contact Us: radar.next@noaa.gov
Agenda 1215-1230
• Overview of Radar Next Program and Activities
1230-1245
• User Panel Introduction and Remarks
1245-1315
• Panel Discussion and Audience Q&A – Discussion of User Needs for RadarNext
Introductions
• Mike Fowle, Science and Operations Officer, NWS Des Moines, Iowa
• Randall Bass, Owner and President of Bass Weather Services
• Ashley Morris, Certified Emergency Manager, Maryland
• Dr. Frank W. Gallagher III, Meteorologist and Systems Engineer, Radar Next
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