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.
• 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 24.0.
• RDA Power Administrator Refresh:
  • The RDA Power Administrator is a switched power distribution unit (PDU) that plays a critical role distributing power inside the RDA 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 Power Administrators are included in the NEXRAD Eight Year Technology Refresh Plan to keep RDA 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.
• Shelter Router Refresh:
  • The Shelter Router is a network device that controls communications between the NEXRAD equipment in the shelter and the rest of the world. It handles primary and backup connections to Weather Forecast Offices, National Level 2, as well as a connection to the FAA's FTI network at select sites. The router contains the routing information and Access Control Lists that are crucial in sending data to the proper destinations while blocking unwanted, possibly malicious traffic. The currently fielded router–called the RDA Router at present–does not possess the port density to allow all of these connections. In addition, the RDA router is nearing End of Life and while security patches will be available until 2028, software maintenance patches will end on 7/31/2025. These devices will be essential to the success of the RPG in the Shelter project.
• Wireless Router Refresh:
  • The existing Wireless Routers, vital for backup communications between the Shelter Router and Weather Forecast Office Router, have reached their end-of-life and end-of-sale status. These devices are especially critical as primary T1 circuits are being disconnected, making backup communications essential until new EIS circuits are installed. During troubleshooting, Verizon has indicated that the current Wireless Routers require replacement to utilize multiple frequency channels. We are actively testing a new Wireless Router that supports channel aggregation, multiple antennas, and 5G network communication. Given the ongoing failures of the currently deployed Wireless Routers, we anticipate deploying these new units as soon as possible.
• RPG in the Shelter:
  • The RPG in the Shelter project will consolidate the processing and configurations from four separate systems (NWS Single, NWS Redundant, DoD, and FAA) into two simplified configurations (Single Channel and Redundant Channel). This change aims to decrease risk, reduce costs, eliminate unnecessary complexity, and improve service delivery quality and turnaround time. This move will allow us to eliminate the RPG's console server, lan switch, and power administrator for every radar. It will also eliminate the need for hub routers. This change is targeted for Build 25.
  • In essence, the project will move the RPG into the RDA cabinet. RPG Routers will become WFO Routers and RDA Routers will become Shelter Routers. At NWS Single sites, this will require a move of equipment from the Forecast Office to the shelter which will make them mimic DOD sites, thus reducing the number of configurations needed. At FAA sites, the UD31 will be eliminated and channel switching will be handled by the Shelter Router. NWS Redundant and FAA sites will become one configuration.
  • This project has been in heavy development over the last quarter. Evaluation units were procured for testing as Shelter and WFO Routers. Configurations for routers, switches, console servers, and power administrators are currently being tested in the lab. A mod note to stage RPGB in the RDA cabinet is being written for release before Build 25. This will allow us to make this transition with minimal downtime at each site.