The objective of ALPS is to help the NWS accelerate the transition to an all-linux AWIPS system architecture and also to address some of the anticipated near-term AWIPS system challenges.
The initial October 2004 target was for an integrated AWIPS system based on Operational Build 5 (OB5), with all currently remaining HP-based tasks ported to Linux. This system was demonstrated to the NWS Corporate Board during their Boulder meeting on 9 Nov. The second goal was for April 2005, to include rewriting some of the core components. These goals are outlined in the draft ALPS Requirements Document.
Initially, the project was funded by FSL and NWS for a period of two years, roughly April 2004 through March 2006. Additional funding has been secured to continue the work into FY07. The primary activities break down into three areas of development: creation of a new API to support manual graphic generation, a distributed data paradigm, and full Linux integration. GSD has purchased and installed a complete complement of the Linux hardware to support evaluation of the AWIPS system. Additional detail on the work to be performed is contained in a draft version of the ALPS plan and the ALPS Display Software Architecture description.
ALPS is managed as a matrix structure within GSD, drawing personnel from various projects in the Information Systems Branch.
| Project Management Carl Bullock Technical Management Herb Grote |
| Linux System
Integration Darien Davis |
Distributed
Data Management Darien Davis |
Advanced API Herb Grote |
Engineering
Support Joe Wakefield |
| Joanne Edwards Tom Kent MarySue Schultz |
Jim Ramer Tom Kent MarySue Schultz Joanne Edwards Mark Mathewson |
Mike Romberg Chris Golden Jim Ramer Xiangbao Jing |
Susan Williams Jim Fluke Michael Vrencur |