2015 Next Practices Workshop

Observations in Atmospheric Research

"Next" Practices: Conducting Field Operations in a Changing World

April 21-23, 2015 

New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Key Topcs

NCAR-EOL and DLR are organizing a three-day workshop that will focus on sharing information on the best practices, lessons learned, and country-specific experiences as experienced by different groups. The following key topics will be at the heart of the workshop debates and discussions:

Topic 1 - Modes of Field Operations

Modes of field operations range from short-term deployments of a few days to weeks to long-term monitoring lasting several months or even years; from domestic operations to deployments in remote locations with little to no infrastructure; from fixed site deployments at a single ground site to mobile operations chasing tornados across state lines to global operations that take a platform and its scientific team from its home institution to Antarctica and back.  Operations are conducted during the day as well as during the night.  Most recently we have seen requests for rapid response deployments to study short duration phenomena such as severe winter storms, flooding, or wild fires. Topic 1 will focus on important aspects and best practices to successfully implement each of these types operations.

Topic 2 - Campaign Feasibilities and Risk Assessments

Facility providers are required to evaluate the feasibility and cost of each campaign once a request for deployment is received.   We will discuss what initial risk assessments and feasibilities are done for each project, how various groups formulate the key components of a feasibility analysis, and what evaluation criteria are being used.   We will explore each group's risk tolerance and thresholds, how risks of various support components are evaluated and scored, and what kind of mitigation procedures are routinely put in place. We will also assess how feasibilities and risk assessments are reviewed and communicated, and how they play into the final decision-making at the institutional and funding agency level. We will also spend some time on the need and extend of individual emergency response plans.

Topic 3 - Campaign Planning and Execution

Once a campaign is approved, facility providers are faced with a myriad of activities at the planning as well as execution level. We will delve into issues such as site diplomatic clearances, research permits and waivers, site surveys and infrastructure requirements, deployment management and project staffing, airspace and air traffic control interactions, on-site safety and security issues, interagency and university collaborations, PI communications and involvement.

Topic 4 - Country-specific Operations

While there are unique challenges when planning and conducting operations in any country, some regions are more challenging than others when it comes to successfully implementing a campaign.  Challenges can range from political sensitivities to significant differences in local customs, especially related to the conduct of business. We will focus our discussions on five distinct geographic areas - Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe and the Americas.  Using two or three countries as examples, we will discuss various challenges and hurdles that need to be overcome before a study can be initiated in those country, and what unique issues and dilemmas may arise. By tapping into various groups' experiences and lessons learned, we will be able to assist others in successfully conducting field research in unfamiliar territories. 

Topic 5 - Special Interest Discussions

The conference organizers have chosen an additional set of topics that we believe warrant focused discussion. We would like to share how different facility providers handle activities in each of the following areas

• Media and public engagement
• Student participation and training
• Aircraft payload certification and instrumentation
• Collaboration across facility providers and information sharing
• Future technologies and tools to support field operations

Agenda

Workshop participants, please make sure you visit the "To do" list to get ready for the workshop.

Guiding Questions

The organizers have developed a list of possible questions to be considered during break-out sessions that will occur with the first four major topics of the workshop. Each topic is listed below with a set of relevant questions. There is no expectation that all the questions will be addressed in the allocated meeting time. The discussion should focus on questions that are appropriate to the expertise in each break-out group and/or the highest priority issues facing all the facilities as agreed upon by the group. Other questions may be added (and answered) as desired by each group.

Topic 1 - Modes of Field Operations

Topic 2 - Campaign Feasibilities and Risk Assessments

Topic 3 - Campaign Planning and Execution

Topic 4 - Country-specific Operations

Topic 5 - Special Interest Discussions

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Linnea Avallone is an atmospheric chemist who specializes in the design, development, and deployment of instrumentation for measuring atmospheric trace gases, especially from airborne platforms.   During her 25-year research career, Dr. Avallone and her research group made measurements in more than 20 field campaigns that investigated upper tropospheric and lower stratospheric chemistry, boundary layer ozone chemistry, the impact of rocket emissions on the atmosphere, and cirrus cloud formation.   In support of this research, Dr. Avallone developed new instrumentation for measuring ozone, long-lived trace gases, and condensed water content.   She is an author on more than 60 peer-reviewed publications.   Dr. Avallone has taught courses on atmospheric chemistry, instrumentation, the relationship between science and public policy, and atmospheric science topics for non-science majors.   She is also committed to inclusivity in science and education, and has been involved with several initiatives to foster diversity among students and faculty, and within the atmospheric sciences community.   Dr. Avallone is currently manager of the National Science Foundation's Lower Atmosphere Observing Facilities and serves on several interagency groups related to research aviation and Earth observations. 

Andy Woollin was born in the United Kingdom and at a young age, emigrated to Brisbane, Australia. Andy completed his education in Australia before returning to Europe. Andy joined EUROCONTROL in 1994 after holding positions in the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority and the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force.  Andy is currently the Flight Planning and B2B Web Services Domain Manager at EUROCONTROL, responsible for the provision and evolution of the pan-European  flight planning and B2B web services.

Supervisory Special Agent Joseph Nieto serves as the Resident Agent in Charge (RAC) of the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) New Orleans Resident Office (NORO), where he oversees criminal investigations and monitors protective operations and law enforcement liaison activities in Louisiana, Southern Mississippi, and Southwest Alabama. Since joining the Foreign Service in 1999, Mr. Nieto has worked as a Special Agent in the Miami Field Office, where he investigated violations of Federal statutes related to passport and visa fraud, and conducted protective security details for the Secretary of State and visiting foreign dignitaries. As a member of a special security team, he deployed to provide emergency support to U.S. Missions in Yemen, Israel, and Nicaragua. Later, as Diplomatic Security’s senior advisor to the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), he developed and strengthened working relationships within the interagency community and in coordination with post management, participated in the planning of operational requirements for evacuations and increased security support to Embassies and U.S. citizens in Latin America and the Caribbean. While assigned to the Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassies in Panama, La Paz, and Cairo, he managed a broad spectrum of security programs designed to protect personnel and facilities from terrorist attacks, civil unrest, and criminal activities.

Mr. Nieto earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Management from Norfolk State University, a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University, and a Master of Military Operational Art & Science from the Air Command and Staff College. Prior to joining the Department of State, Mr. Nieto worked for the Department of the Navy as a weapon systems logistics manager, and served in the United States Air Force, where he continues his service as an officer in the reserves.

List of Attendees