TDF Development Priorities

During the past several years, development priorities in the Earth Observing Laboratory (EOL) have been established using a multifaceted approach. Initial development ideas have originated from multiple sources, including: NSF  program managers; the NSF User and Facilities Assessment Workshops; the external advisory committee to EOL; EOL facility managers; the development advisory committee (DAC), a committee comprised of representatives from each EOL facility; and from EOL, NCAR, and external colleagues. Once formulated, the development ideas have been vetted using a multistep process based upon the following selection criteria: scientific/engineering need and merit; benefits to the community; engineering risks; constraints (budgetary, personal, and scheduling); and fit with EOL and NCAR’s strategic plans. The process for small emerging seed projects with budgets less than ~ 10k are less involved, but still require a review process. After consideration of budgets and the various selection criteria, TDF in consultation with the EOL Management Advisory Committee (MAC) make final decisions on which development projects to support. For the next round when new development proposals are considered (perhaps in FY 2009), a greater emphasis up front will be placed on development proposals falling within central themes identified by EOL management.