Divisions
OSAAP has two divisions: the Policies, Procedures, and Systems Assurance Division (PPSAD) and the System Architecture and Requirements Division (SARD).
Policies, Procedures, and Systems Assurance Division
The PPSAD facilitates enterprise-wide, consistent approaches to work across the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS). PPSAD does this by writing and publishing NESDIS-level policies and procedures, from handbooks for project managers, project teams, and system engineers to plans for NESDIS on how to perform configuration management. PPSAD also guides enterprise-wide decision-making by ensuring compliance with top-level requirements, leading enterprise risk management, and communicating technical aspects of the enterprise architecture to outside entities.
Technical Planning and Integration for Observations
In support of NOAA’s vision to sustain an observing system portfolio that is mission-effective, integrated, adaptable, and affordable, Technical Planning and Integration for Observations (TPIO) provides analytical and technical expertise and decision support for the management of NOAA’s observing system portfolio. TPIO collects and maintains data on observing system capabilities and NOAA-wide user observation needs, and provides analysis on how observing systems can meet those user needs and the impact of observing systems on NOAA’s overall mission. TPIO serves as analytical support to and executive secretariat for the NOAA Observing System Council (NOSC), the principal advisory body to the Administrator and focal point for the agency's observing system activities and interests
System Architecture and Requirements Division
The SARD works in three environments: in space, on the ground, and in the cloud. Because these environments don’t exist in a vacuum or independently, the SARD knows how these systems and requirements intertwine to guarantee their success as a whole in fulfilling NOAA’s mission.
In Space--Developing a Satellite Architecture for the Future
Between 2014 and 2017, NOAA completed the NOAA Satellite Observing System Architecture (NSOSA) study, which looked at options for satellite systems that NOAA can use for the next decade and beyond. OSAAP completed a cost-benefit analysis with other government and academic organizations, and concept studies with industry to gather data and report on what the best architectural route may be beyond the current programs of record, the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) and Geostationary Operational Satellite-R Series (GOES-R). The SARD continues to work with our partners to determine additional details of our future architecture. NOAA aims to expand beyond the traditional focus on individual satellite programs towards an agile enterprise approach to data gathering from a variety of sources.
On the Ground--Systems to Keep Pace with Advancing Technology
Just as with the NSOSA study on the flight side, the NESDIS Ground Enterprise Study (NGES) looks at capabilities for enabling an enterprise approach to the NESDIS ground architecture, primarily the capturing and processing of data, the distribution of that data to users, and the archiving of data for future use. The NGES will guide NESDIS’ transition away from unique ground systems for each satellite system and toward an enterprise ground capability that can incorporate an ever-evolving set of data sources. In 2020, the NGES continues to give us important information on the optimal approach to designing the NESDIS ground services of the future
In the Cloud--Transitioning NESDIS to the Cloud
Cloud capabilities are a major piece of the transition to enterprise ground services in NESDIS. We’re getting established in the cloud with business readiness to evolve the products we distribute, enable better access to critical information, and expand how NESDIS interacts with the environmental data enterprise. Learn more about NESDIS' Cloud Strategy.