Radar Operations Center

Systems Engineering

Systems Engineering provides technical consulting services on NEXRAD network, computer systems, and telecommunications equipment. Systems Engineering is also responsible for WSR-88D security implementations. Systems Engineering also provides the following services to WSR-88D system users:

• Development, review, and recommendations on all Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs), Time Compliance Technical Orders (TCTOs), Configuration Change Requests (CCRs), Modifications, and computer design changes.
• Support for field operations.
• Review of radar performance data and recommendations for observed problems in systems reliability.
• Requirements analysis, feasibility studies and cost analysis for problem resolution.
• Implementation of change requests involving computer, telecommunications systems and data storage.
• Management of test programs for data distribution and storage systems.
• Ensures Mission System compliance with federal Information System (IS) policies and directives, identifies and remediates Information Systems (IS) threats and vulnerabilities, and implements the NOAA-directed secure benchmark configuration.

Current Systems Engineering Topics:

• Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) Transition Program:
  • The EIS contract is the main component of the GSA telecommunications portfolio for NOAA. EIS is replacing GSAs current Networx Universal and Enterprise contracts as well as GSA Regional Local Service Agreements for government telecommunications and infrastructure solutions. The EIS contract has a 15-year period of performance (one 5 year base and two 5 year options) and encompasses all WSR-88D and TDWR SPG telecommunications services.
  • The current GSA Networx contract, for which most NEXRAD circuits and backup communications systems subscribe for service, expires 31 May 2026. Service provider changes may force hardware, software, and configuration changes within a very short period of time. RPG and RDA routers have spare ports allocated for EIS.
• Security:
  • The ROC has implemented the Risk Management Framework (RMF), as defined by NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-37 Revision 2: "Risk Management Framework for Information Systems and Organizations" for the WSR-88D and TDWR SPG systems. The framework provides a dynamic approach which leverages robust continuous monitoring to support on-going authorization and risk management as part of a more steady state, less cyclical process for each of the systems. Continuous monitoring results are reaffirmed, and risks are reassessed, documented, and accepted at least annually by each system's Authorizing Official (AO) and Co-AO, to ensure continued Authority to Operate (ATO). The reauthorization of the ATOs for the WSR-88D and TDWR SPG are documented in writing via signed Re-authorization Memos, and are entered in the DOC Cyber Security Assessment and Management System (CSAM) annually. The WSR-88D has been designated by the Department of Commerce as a high value asset (HVA). The Primary Mission Essential Function (PMEF) assigned to the WSR-88D is to provide the Nation with environmental forecasts, warnings, data, and expertise critical to public safety, disaster preparedness, all-hazards response and recovery, the national transportation system, safe navigation, and the protection of the Nation's critical infrastructure and natural resources. As per Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Binding Operational Directive (BOD) 18-02 Securing High Value Assets, the WSR-88D will have an HVA assessment performed every three years, by a DHS Security Assessment Team. HVA assessments are critical to maintain an unbiased view of the risk associated with maintaining an HVA. This HVA assessment is in addition to the annual security assessments performed by the NWS ACIO office.
• Redundancy For Commercial T1 Service Between Remote Radars and NWS WFOs:
  • Backup communications systems to remote radars have increased the remote radar data availability and have mitigated loss of radar data over existing aged terrestrial circuits, especially during and after significant weather events. Remote NEXRAD NWS, FAA and DoD radars are geographically separated from their hosting National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Forecast Offices (WFOs). The current backup communications methods are cellular 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology, and satellite Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) at sites that cannot achieve adequate 4G LTE signal strength. The NEXRAD router configurations and auto fail-over mechanisms for 4G backup systems are the same as for VSAT backup systems, such that either 4G or VSAT technology may be deployed to any given site, depending on service capabilities and cost efficiencies. Both backup technologies have been successfully installed and are currently in operation across the NEXRAD fleet. The EHB 6-540 has been updated with preventative maintenance instructions and test procedures for NEXRAD field technicians to maintain the backup communication systems. Four portable 4G backup systems and four auto-deploy VSAT systems (fly-aways) are maintained by Systems Engineering. These systems have been deployed several times to support site-specific engineering solutions for radar data recovery, and to establish temporary communications paths for radars when required. Please contact the NEXRAD Hotline for specialized engineering support and deployable backup communication hardware requests.
• NEXRAD Hub Router:
  • The NEXRAD Hub Routers enable network communications paths for radar products (National Level III and AWIPS), Master System Control Function (MSCF) radar command and control systems, and National Level II data transmission between DoD and FAA radars and their hosting NWS WFOs. Private IP / Border Gateway Protocol (PIP/BGP) terrestrial T1 circuits and VSAT/4G backup communication systems provide redundant paths from the hosting NWS WFOs hub routers to the distant-end remote radar RPG routers. NEXRAD hub routers are included in backup communication deployment cases and are engineered/configured for site-specific needs to temporarily provide or restore communications service via 4G or VSAT. Hub routers are also used at some locations to support digital distant-MSCF communications from DoD base weather stations to remote DoD WSR-88D radars.
• RPG LAN Switch Refresh:
  • The current RPG LAN switch is nearing end of life and end of support. The LAN switch is a critical device that houses connections to the console server, router, RPG processor, and power admins. This device allows all of the connected devices to talk to each other on the same Local Area Network (LAN), which is an important role in the dissemination of radar data. Sustainment efforts have allowed the ROC (Radar Operations Center) to find a replacement LAN switch that meets the current requirements. It is also estimated that the refreshed LAN switch will offer longer availability times. The refreshed RPG LAN switch is currently scheduled to deploy post Build 23.0.
• RPG Server Refresh:
  • The Radar Product Generator (RPG) is a group of equipment responsible for the generation and distribution of derived weather products. The RPG server provides the computational processing power to run the algorithms that produce these products. The current server has gone end of life, end of sale and are no longer supportable. As part of the system sustainment plan, these servers will be replaced when they are no longer supportable. The refreshed processors are scheduled to deploy in Build 23.0
• RPG KVM Refresh:
  • The Next Generation Weather Radar (WSR-88D, NEXRAD) Radar Data Acquisition (RDA) and Radar Product Generator (RPG) equipment as designed require a keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) interface to access the internal software for operational and maintained purposes. Most KVMs, including the current baseline, have a specified design life of 50,000 hours. Installed KVMs are approaching this design life, and need to be replaced. The currently installed KVM is no longer manufactured. The refreshed KVM is scheduled to deploy in Build 23.0 for RPGs.
• FAA CSS-Wx System:
  • Systems Engineering created a new communication manager and assigned four new RPG TCP ports and dedicated lines for the new FAA Common Support Services - Weather (CSS-Wx) system that will replace existing FAA Weather and Radar Processor (WARP) and Integrated Terminal Weather System (ITWS) connections fleet-wide. CSS-Wx distributes weather radar data, products, and imagery within the National Airspace System (NAS) for integration into air traffic decision support systems, improving the quality of traffic management decisions and reducing controller workload during severe weather. The current WARP & ITWS connections use a separate communication manager and TCP ports than the new CSS-Wx lines, so FAA systems can operate in parallel. FTI is currently increasing bandwidth to each radar from 128Kbps to 640Kbps as a standard. The CSS-Wx Interface Certification Testing (ICT) was completed in August 2022 to allow for the new IP subnets, user IDs and TCP ports to connect from two test systems at the William J Hughes Technical Center (WJHTC) into KCRI systems at the ROC. Advanced Volume Coverage Pattern (VCP) and FAA-specific product testing is currently being conducted between KCRI systems and WJHTC. The FAA key site acceptance testing is ongoing, and the ATL and SLC key site nodes are able to connect to most WSR-88Ds on RPG lines 7 and 8.
• MSCF Refresh:
  • The Master System Control Function is a desktop PC that is used to monitor and control various functions of a NEXRAD radar. The current MSCF was fielded in 2022 and is due for a hardware refresh. Engineering has conducted the necessary analysis to determine the state of the device and has used device usage data to measure the amount of failures and hardware obsolescence issues that have occurred since the deployment of the MSCF to NEXRAD WSR-88D field sites. The usage data confirms that a refresh is necessary in order to maintain performance of the MSCF as per its operational requirements. The MSCF has several parts that have gone End of Life (EOL) and had to be investigated by engineering. Market research has been completed and testing is ongoing. The refreshed MSCFs will be deployed post Build 23.0.
• RDA & RPG Power Administrator Refresh:
  • The RDA & RPG Power Administrator is a switched power distribution unit (PDU) that plays a critical role distributing power inside the RDA & RPG Cabinets. The current Power Administrators were fielded in 2014 and are reaching 10 years of operation making them overdue for a hardware refresh.Replacement of the RDA and RPG Power Administrators are included in the NEXRAD Eight Year Technology Refresh Plan to keep RDA and RPG functionality in compliance with all NEXRAD requirements and maintain support capability.The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), has discontinued this particular model and will no longer be manufacturing, supplying, or refurbishing this particular power administrator model or its components making this device End of Life (EoL). Market research has been completed and testing is ongoing. The refreshed Power Administration units will be deployed with Build 25.0.