Posted on May 6, 2019
GlobalNOC to continue as contractor for N-Wave, which transports weather forecasting, severe storm modeling, climate and ocean data
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University has signed a new 10-year, $40 million contract with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to support its science and operations network, N-Wave.
This high-speed network connects thousands of scientists and engineers to the data and resources they need to advance environmental science — to the tune of up to 20 petabytes of data per month — in a variety of fields such as oceanography, chemistry, biology and meteorology.
The new agreement further solidifies a growing relationship over the past decade. Since 2010, IU’s Global Research Network Operations Center, or GlobalNOC, has provided advanced networking services for more than $47 million in contracts from NOAA.
From reliable weather forecasts to severe storm prediction models that save lives, NOAA’s N-Wave network securely and efficiently shares the data needed to make sense of the changing environment. From the bottom of the ocean to the surface of the sun, NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans and coasts; to share that knowledge and information with others; and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.
Video: Learn more about IU’s contract with NOAA
“This expanded relationship between IU and NOAA illustrates again the value of great technology expertise, excellent partnering and great value in the Hoosier State,” said Brad Wheeler, IU vice president for information technology and chief information officer. “In the 20 years since IU President Michael A. McRobbie founded the GlobalNOC, it has grown to providing state, national and international services to critical entities like NOAA, Internet2, Indiana’s I-Light Network and many others.
We are thrilled to renew and expand this long-term relationship to support the critical work of researchers at NOAA.”
From the moment the N-Wave network was switched on, the GlobalNOC’s network engineers, software developers and service desk technicians have provided expert, round-the-clock support. IU’s initial NOAA contract was a $1.6 million, three-year award funded in part under the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the stimulus package. The partnership was expanded in 2013 with a new $6 million contract.
“The GlobalNOC staff and I are honored that NOAA has again asked our team to support its important mission as a predictor of weather and climate in the United States,” said Dave Jent, IU associate vice president of networks. “This new funding will not only allow us to continue to connect the world’s climate researchers to the data they need; it also serves as an economic boon to the state, allowing us to hire 17 highly skilled engineers.”
“NOAA’s mission depends on the advanced, high-speed, high-availability and secure networking capabilities of N-Wave,” said Rob Sears, director of N-Wave. “Our partners in the science, research and education networking community — including GlobalNOC — play an essential role in delivering the innovative underpinnings of the N-Wave network.”
About the Global Research Network Operations Center
The GlobalNOC was formed in 1998 to provide 24-hour network operations and engineering services for Internet2’s first national network. Today, GlobalNOC’s Service Desk, Network Engineering, and Software and Systems teams ensure reliability, performance and advanced capabilities for Internet2 and more than 20 advanced network projects.
About N-Wave, NOAA’s Enterprise Network
N-Wave enables NOAA’s mission of science, service and stewardship through highly available, secure, high-speed network transport and services. The N-Wave network is built in partnership with the national science, research and education network community. Since 2010, N-Wave has operated a national fiber optic network backbone that has been the foundation for continuous growth and new services to meet the needs of NOAA critical operations and science.
Source: coastalnewstoday.com
