CBS TECO 2018/Doc. 3(4), DRAFT 1, p. 1

World Meteorological Organization
Commission for Basic Systems
Technical Conference
Geneva, Switzerland, 26 – 29March, 2018 / CBS TECO 2018/Doc. 3(4)
Submitted by:
G. Fleming, Q. Zeng
12.Mar.2018
DRAFT 1

COMMON INTERFACE FOR SERVICE DELIVERY

(Submitted by Gerald Fleming, Ireland, Chair OPAG/PWSD and Qin Zeng, China)

SUMMARY AND PURPOSE OF DOCUMENT
The document provides information on a draft Concept Paper for the development of Common Interfaces for Service Delivery.

ACTION PROPOSED

The Conference is invited to advise CBS Management Group on the issues identified in this document:

  1. Issue 1: A draft Concept Paper on the development of Common Interfaces for Service Delivery (CISD) is presented in Appendix 1. CBS have been tasked by Executive Council (EC69) to, in coordination with other TCs, set up a mechanism for the development of a concept paper on common interfaces for service delivery. CBS is asked to present the concept paper at EC70 for consideration for approval. The TECO is invited to consider this draft Concept Paper and advise CBS Management Group on its suitability for submission to EC.

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References:

  • Decision 40 (EC-69) Concept paper for the development of Common Interfaces for Service Delivery.
  • Joint Meeting of the Commission for Basic Systems Open Programme Area Group on Public Weather Service Delivery (CBS/OPAG-PWSD) Expert Teams (ETs) on Impact of Multi-Hazard Prediction And Communication (ET/IMPACT), and on Services and Products Innovation and Improvement (ET/SPII), Beijing, China, 2017.

Appendix:1.Concept paper for the development of Common Interfaces for Service Delivery

DISCUSSION

INTRODUCTION

ISSUES AND ADVICE ON HOW TO ADDRESS THEM

Issue #1 / Development of a concept paper on Common Interfaces for Service Delivery
References /
  • Decision 40 (EC-69) Concept paper for the development of Common Interfaces for Service Delivery.
  • Joint Meeting of the Commission for Basic Systems Open Programme Area Group on Public Weather Service Delivery (CBS/OPAG-PWSD) Expert Teams (ETs) on Impact of Multi-Hazard Prediction And Communication (ET/IMPACT), and on Services and Products Innovation and Improvement (ET/SPII), Beijing, China, 2017.

Background / EC69 has requested CBS to develop a concept paper on Common Interfaces for Service Delivery, and to present this concept paper at EC70. EC69 also noted that coordination with other TCs would be required, and that once the Concept Paper had been approved, an implementation would need to be developed. EC69 noted that the concept paper would need to address both science and information technology perspectives. A key requirement of any Common Interface for Service Delivery is that it would support the attribution of NMHSs as providers of services while also incorporating services provided from other sources.
Rationale for the proposed advice / The development of Common Interfaces for Service Delivery represent tasks of multiple complexity. The requirements of a wide variety of users will need to be ascertained, and a technical system for gathering and aggregating weather information from a wide variety of sources, at different levels of technical sophistication, will need to be developed. A means for providing aggregated “best possible” weather and climate information in a seamless manner across geographical and political boundaries is envisaged, with information contributed from both the public and private sectors. It is an underlying condition that Common Interfaces support the attribution of NMHSs as providers of services, and that the principle of “no Member left behind” be kept in view. While the development of Common Interfaces will ultimately be a technical challenge, the Concept Paper attempts to identify the many issues and challenges that will need to be addressed. The TECO is asked to reflect on this Concept Paper and provide advice as to additions, corrections and/or amendments which would strengthen the text.
Advice for CBS-MG / What / By whom / Deadline
CBS Management Group to take note of the draft Concept Paper a presented in Appendix 1, together with any amendments and additions as agreed by TECO, and submit it to EC70 for approval as a basis for further development of the concept, in coordination with other TCs, and a basis for the initial drafting of an implementation plan. / CBS-MG / Mar. 2018
Advice on recommendations to EC and Congress / What / To whom (e.g. EC-70, Cg-18, …) / Time frame
EC70 to be asked to decide as to whether the Concept Paper as presented by CBS represents an adequate basis for further development of the concept and for the initial drafting of an implementation plan. / EC-70 / June 2018

APPENDIX 1

CONCEPTPAPER FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMON INTERFACES FOR SERVICE DELIVERY

Introduction:

The Executive Council of WMO has requested that the Commission for Basic Systems develop a Concept Note on the development of Common Interfaces for Service Delivery (CISD) “driven by data from NMHSs and emerging sources to enable users to seamlessly access weather and climate information in a way that would ensure attribution to NMHSs as providers of services”.

Why Common Interfaces for Service Delivery?

In today’s world of mass travel, global news, and “always on” internet access to information, Members need users to have access to providers of high-quality weather and climate services in a unified and consistent manner, seamless in space and time, which affirms the provenance and authority of this information. Already some of the major global aggregators of information provide such a seamless service of weather information, but typically this is not based on the high-quality information available for many countries through their NMHSs.

While NMHSs, by their nature, have a national remit the need is for a single international one-stop service for authoritative weather and climate information; one that will combine the high quality typically available via the separate websites of each NMHSs together with the convenience of a seamless service of aggregated global information provided to PC, tablets and mobile phones.

While focusing on the authoritative nature of weather and climate information available from NMHSs, there also needs to be a recognition of the high quality of information available through many private sector providers which can amplify and augment the information presented by NMHSs, and in particular provide additional depth of detail relevant to specific user groups. Thus the CISD should make provision for the merging of meteorological information provided from a range of reputable sources, and presented in many different data formats and protocols, and synthesise these into a unified stream of weather and climate information that can be readily expressed and visualized on internet-connected devices.

The task of developing a CISD is analogous, in some respects, to those tasks already carried out in developing the WMO Integrated Global Observing System, WIGOS, and the WMO Information System, WIS. The CISD will attempt to achieve the same global coordination, but in the area of Service Delivery. The CISD must be built upon agreed technical protocols and standards, but these will need to be developed in close consultation with the users if they are to gain widespread acceptance.

In embarking on the challenge of developing the CISD, WMO must be aware of the need to support and enhance the authoritative voice of Members in providing warnings and other information about severe weather and its impacts, and must also keep in view the principle that no Member be left behind. It will be a significant challenge to develop an interface that can accept information from the wide range of technical capabilities of WMO Members and provide a unified output which is compatible with some of the most advanced information and communications technology on earth.

It should be clearly established also what the CISD will not attempt to do. Many NMHSs have, in close cooperation with their users, developed technical interfaces for the delivery of products and services to their own client base. The CISD will not attempt to replicate or improve on these. Rather it will offer meteorological service providers a new route to provide their products and services, in common with products and services from other providers, to an international user-base.

The interface, which is envisaged as the CISD, must meet the needforinteroperabilityin thedigitalworld.Meteorologicalservicesprovided via imageandtextfrom nationally-based websitesnolongermeettherequirementsofsmoothand seamless operationofaworldwhich has entered thedigitalage.Standardprotocols will be required to provide thisinteroperabilitybetweenmeteorologicalservicesand other information communication systems in thedigitalworld.

This introduces the concept of a Common Interface for Service Delivery (CISD); a technical underpinning for the establishment and growth of the Global Weather Enterprise (GWE), providing a mechanism for the delivery of products and services from different elements within the GWE in a unified and streamlined manner.

PurposeofCISD

  • Open Service Delivery system designed for seamless availability of and accessibility to data and products for users, particularly in partnership with the private sector.
  • Establishment of awidelyacceptedstandardinterface(protocol)foraccesstodata and products for public service delivery, including impact-based information;
  • Establishment ofamechanismtolinkuserrequirementstothemeteorologicalserviceproviders who are registeredwith theCISD.
  • Establishment ofaone-stop-shopserviceofPWSproductsfromWMOmembersandpartners,includingprivatesectors.

Fig 1. Morethan100NWPmodels/modelmembers are available foreachlocation in earth. How can these be rationalized into one service?

Definitions

Protocol:First,the CISDwillactasaWMO-definedunifiedprotocol,whichwill aim to bewidely acceptedbyindustryand by UNaffiliatedorganizations,and which willincludeexistingstandardssuchasCommon Alerting Protocol (CAP),to facilitate the provision ofmeteorologicalinformationservices.

Proxy:The CISD willactasaWMOproxytoaggregateandreleaseworld-wideweatherinformationfromeitherofficialNMHS(alert and warnings,highimpactweatherforecastsandregularforecasts)orprivatesectors (highimpactweatherandregularforecasts) withsourcelabelling.ProxyherealsomeanspartnershipbetweenWMOmembersandothersectors.

Provider:The CISDwillactas a WMOserviceprovider, ideallydeliveringthe“best”or“optimum”forecastbasedontheverificationandassessmentofproductsfromdiversesources,exceptforweatheralerts and warnings whichwillsolelycomefromNMHSs.

UsersofCISD

  • WMOMemberswhoreceiveglobalmet-servicesandcontributetoCISD;
  • Othermeteorological service providers whowillreceiveauthoritativeproductsfromCISDandcontributetheirownbyservicelinkagefollowingCISDstandards;
  • UN-affiliatedorganisationswhichneed aggregated, authoritative weather and climate information;
  • Governmental, inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations active in international humanitarian relief and disaster risk reduction;
  • Certified/registeredsectorsordataaggregatorslikeGoogle/Facebook;
  • Other organization or individuals; CISD should be a facility for many levels of user, with different levels of access possible according to need and to considerations of data policy, among others.

RelationshipsbetweenCISDandotherCBSProjects

The CISDwill notitselfgenerateproductsbut will act as a channel through which services can be delivered, or alternatively, directuserrequeststoappropriate productservices.So, existing on-line resources such as GDACS / GMAS / WWIS / SWICcan becomeimportantinputsforCISD.

WIS2.0isacloud-basedinformationinfrastructureanddata-exchangeplatform,whichcansupportthefutureWMObasedfunctionalityofCISD.TherelationshipbetweenWISandCISDwill be analogous tothatbetween anOS(operatingsystem)andapplications.Besides,WIS2.0cannothosteverything, especially content fromprivatesector providers.Theconceptsandstandards underlying the CISD couldalsobeimplementedin otherpubliccloud-based systems such as theAmazoncloud,Googlecloud,AlibabaCloud etc.

Principlesinthe Implementationof a CommonInterface for Service Delivery

NMHS-firstandmutualbenefits:The CISD willsupporttheauthoritativevoiceofNMHSsandleavenomemberbehind. The CISDwill alsomonitorandmeasuretheproductsbeingused,andproductproviders/ownerscandecidewhetherornottocharge for theusageoftheproducts originating with them.ThismeansthatCISD is first and foremost astandardofplatform,whichcanbeimplementeduponWMO/WIS2.0,orbyothersectors.

Cloudbased:The CISDwilloperate asanonlineservice whichwillbebasedonWMOInformationSystem(WIS2.0)–acloudinfrastructuretohandlemassiveconcurrentdataaccess.

De-centralized:The CISDwill beconnectedto nodes on the WIS (WMC,RSMC,NMHS)and toprivatesectorsvia the internet.But the CISDwillnot aim for long-termstorageofproductsfromdiversesources,but will cachethemforrealtime access,andforthe greater efficiencyof the data service.

Integrated:Alerts and warningsfromNMHSs will godirectly via the CISDtoenhancetheauthoritativevoiceof the NMHSs of WMOMember.Othermeteorologicalservice provider informationwill be carried on theCISDwiththesource-label provided foruserchoice.WiththehelpofSeamlessGDPFScommonplatform,products (other than alerts and warnings) canbeevaluatedandintegratedas“best”or“optimum”products,before being distributed via theCISD.

Useroriented:Athoroughinvestigationofuserneeds,userapplicationanduserscenarioswill be essential if theCISD is tobewidelyaccepted. The CISDshouldhaveauser-friendlyWebapplicationUItofacilitatelocation-basedandon-demandmeteorological services. The CISDshouldalsoincludeasetofAPIsto assist with the collection ofuserfeedback.ThismeansthatCISDregistereduserswillhavemoreprivilegesingettingaccesstomorevaluabledata, products and feedbackthanordinaryvisitors.

Components

ImplementationofCISDwillbe through anallianceofinternetnodesthatfollowtheprotocolsandstandardsofCISD; the WMOnodewillbeastarting pointbasedon the architecture and cloud infrastructureofWIS2.0.(fig.3)

(1)WMOCISDNode:

CommonInterfaceService:linkedtotheservicesofNMHS(Webservice),GDPFScentres(GDPFScommonplatform),WMOprojects(e.g.MHEWS),andothersectors,supplyingdataandproductsthroughonline interfacetousers.OtheronlineproductscouldalsoberegisteredasoneserviceofWMOCommonInterface.

WEBGISUI:Basedonbackendservice,aWEBGISsystem established to facilitate exploration and online analysis (temporal and spatialanalysis) of WMO-organisedPWSDproducts such as Impact-Based Forecasts,GMASwarningetc. WEBGISUIcouldbeasupporttoolfordecisionmakersinUnitedNation affiliated organisations.

Fig 2. WEBGIS for exploration of PWSD products

Cachedata:WMOnodedoesn’tkeepalong-termstorage,butcachesproductsforefficiency of delivery.

Registration:Productsfromothersectors who wanttojointhealliance will need to register and provide the relevant metadatarelating to their services andproducts.

(2)OtherCISDNodes

EncourageothersectorstojointheCISDalliance.

CommonInterfaces for Service Delivery:strictlyfollowthestandardofWMOcommoninterfaceprotocol;

Entitydatacentre(optional)

WEBGISUI(optional)

Challengesof a CommonInterface

The first challenge is to solve the authoritative voice issue. Not to jeopardize but enhance the authority of NMHSs while facilitating private sector service provision through the CISD. The formalising of the concept of the “Authoritative Voice” and its wide acceptance will be an essential pre-requisite to the operational establishment of the CISD.

NotallMembers will have the technical capacitytoprovideproductsfollowingtheCISDstandards.Therefore, improving the technical capacity in providing products and services through digital means, anddeveloping anagreementamongNMHSsonthe use ofstandardprotocols,willbeanotherchallenge.

Itwill be importanttowork closely withinternationalindustryassociationsandsmartphone(wear)manufacturersto ensure their acceptance ofCISDstandards and protocols, and promotion of weather and climate information provided via theCISD.

Workshops and Pilot/demonstrationprojectwill certainlybeneededto fully testtheCISDconcept at various stages in its development.

Fig. 3 Conceptual Diagram for Common Interface

Roles of WMO members, data aggregators and private sectors in CISD could be both users and contributors of the CISD.

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