United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office Accounting and Information Management Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1995-02-21 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:T-AIMD-95-87 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-AIMD-95-87 P0b002ee1803a053b f:tai95087 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-T-AIMD-95-87 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-AIMD-95-87 T-AIMD-95-87 Radar equipment Weather forecasting Climate statistics Research and development Mechanization Computerized information systems Systems design Systems architecture Earth resources satellites NWS Next Generation Weather Radar NWS Automated Surface Observing System NWS Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Testimony AIMD The National Weather Service's (NWS) modernization program, at a cost of about $4.5 billion, is one of the larger systems modernization efforts in the federal government. GAO believes that the modernization, if properly executed, should improve the quality of the agency's products and services, while also streamlining and downsizing operations. Moreover, despite some setbacks along the way, the modernization can boast of some successes. The Next Generation Weather Radars, for example, represent a "quantum leap" in capability over the radars they are replacing. The modernization, however, is far from over and the challenges that remain are formidable. If the modernization is to achieve its full potential, known systems problems, such as those plaguing the Automated Surface Observing System, must be overcome, and future system development risks, such as those facing the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System, must be effectively managed. Further, the modernization's many interrelated and interdependent systems must be developed and evolved according to a detailed blueprint, such as that offered by a systems architecture. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-AIMD-95-87/html/GAOREPORTS-T-AIMD-95-87.htm GAO/T-AIMD-95-87 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-AIMD-95-87 Testimony GAO/T-AIMD-95-87; Weather Service Modernization: Despite Progress, Significant Problems and Risks Remain; Radar equipment Weather forecasting Climate statistics Research and development Mechanization Computerized information systems Systems design Systems architecture Earth resources satellites NWS Next Generation Weather Radar NWS Automated Surface Observing System NWS Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite