Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Conclusion:
The committee believes that the Convergence Plan is well-motivated but also
notes that the Plan is a single project effort and is not part of a systematic, comprehensive
IT system plan and enterprise architecture, which the tsunami program needs.
Each TWC has different web design processes, resulting in dissimilar websites.
5
Although
both websites utilize a similar NWS banner, different user interfaces contribute to an impres-
sion that the TWCs are separate, unrelated entities.
Dissemination and notiication technologies could involve a variety of message dissemi-
nation pathways, including satellite-based paths, text messages, faxes, mass media, public
announcement systems (e.g., sirens, alarms), telephones, Internet, and syndicated news feeds. In
addition, development and use of Web 2.0 and 3.0 technologies (e.g., mashups, blogs, micro-
blogs, social networking sites) offer new opportunities to alert the public and interface with
peers and the scientiic community. These technologies are only in their infancy at the PTWC
and not described in any WC/ATWC planning documents.
As discussed in Chapter 4, these newer technologies proliferate, and the public will increas-
ingly use them for obtaining real-time updates and information, forcing both the TWCs to
develop strategies for communication and warning technology. Evaluation and assessment
of the utility of traditional websites and Web 2.0 and 3.0 technologies for crisis and disaster
management is under development in the information systems, hazard awareness, and crisis
and disaster management communities (Boiney et al., 2008; Buscher et al., 2008; Hughes et al.,
2008; Shankar, 2008). This literature could provide important direction to the tsunami warning
community.
Conclusion:
The centers rely on technical infrastructure and human capital, both of which
the committee assessed to be insuficiently supported. The TWCs lack suficient support
for the essentials that complex, large-scale, high-reliability systems with mission-critical
requirements demand: state-of-the-art technology; IT support, maintenance, assessment
and planning processes; IT personnel; and dedicated senior IT leadership.
Conclusion:
Despite the importance of technology to fulilling the TWC mission,
technology development, deployment, support, maintenance, back-up, recovery, and
coniguration management are collateral duties for most TWC staff members. Neither
management nor staff members at the TWCs have formal training in technology, software
engineering, design, maintenance, or IT support, yet almost all staff members have
signiicant technology responsibilities.
Recommendation:
The tsunami warning program should undertake a comprehensive,
enterprise-wide,
6
long-range technology planning effort, consistent with international
technology process and product standards, in order to develop both an enterprise-
5
http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/ and http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/.
6
Enterprise-wide refers to organization-wide or across a large system or enterprise.
