The EPIC Program: Advancing Earth System Modeling and Community Collaboration
In the ever-evolving landscape of Earth system modeling and climate predictions, there is an urgent need for innovative solutions that improve forecasting accuracy and disaster preparedness. As billion-dollar climate disasters surge, it is crucial for Earth system models to evolve and incorporate cutting-edge tools and methodologies. This challenge is being met head-on by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through its Earth Prediction Innovation Center (EPIC). This initiative, backed by Raytheon’s advanced engineering methods, has been transformative not only for NOAA but for the entire Earth system modeling and forecasting community.
The need for more accurate and reliable forecasting systems has grown exponentially, driven by the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather and climate events. In response, EPIC leverages open-science principles to create a collaborative, community-driven approach to developing the next generation of Earth system models.
Raytheon’s involvement in EPIC has been pivotal. Utilizing the company’s engineering process methodologies, Raytheon has established the first community-accessible continuous integration and deployment pipeline for operational Earth system models. This innovative infrastructure helps facilitate a faster, more efficient approach to Earth system modeling when transitioning research into operations. Additionally, Raytheon’s efforts have led to a 700% increase in model releases, a 1,900% growth in research members, and a remarkable 1,700% reduction in peer-review times. These achievements have positioned NOAA as a global leader in open-source Earth system modeling.
The Program’s success is further magnified by enhancing cloud infrastructure and high-performance computing (HPC) access. EPIC’s cloud-based solutions, in partnership with Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, have reduced the time required to access HPC resources from 30 days to just 30 minutes, significantly improving the Unified Forecasting System Community‘s ability to innovate, test, and deploy new Earth system models quickly.
Benefits to the Unified Forecasting Community
By open-sourcing operational Earth system models on platforms like GitHub, the EPIC Program has fostered a global collaboration between government agencies, private industry, and academia. This community-driven approach not only enhances the reliability of the Earth system models but also ensures that new innovations can be rapidly integrated into operational models, accelerating the pace of meteorological advancement.
In addition to major industry partners such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, EPIC is comprised of a diverse set of subcontractors, such as Element 84, I2X Technologies, Information Technology Systems (ITS), RedLine Performance Solutions, MAXAR, Science and Technology Corp. (STC), Tomorrow.io, AXIOM, Shyft Solutions, and JADA Systems. These companies have provided specialized support across different areas, from data mapping frameworks to cloud infrastructure management, all contributing to EPIC’s broader impact on the Unified Forecasting System. The success of the Program would not be possible without EPIC’s many other frequent collaborators and partners.
The Program’s impact has been amplified through strong community engagement efforts. Monthly code sprints, hackathons, workshops, and online tutorials have increased engagement and fostered collaboration across a diverse range of stakeholders. Social media outreach has further expanded the Program’s reach, with posts regularly receiving over 15,000 impressions and 5,000 website visitors annually. EPIC’s approach has positioned NOAA and Raytheon as leaders in the open-source Earth system modeling community.
The groundbreaking work of EPIC has not only garnered recognition from the government contracting community but five EPIC staff members received formal letters of commendation, internally with Raytheon.
The John Cassidy Award
Raytheon’s engineering team has been recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Earth system modeling and forecasting community through the prestigious John Cassidy Award. This award honors individuals or teams for their exceptional work in advancing engineering methods, processes, and tools that benefit society at large. The contributions made by the EPIC team have been pivotal in transforming NOAA’s capabilities and positioning Raytheon for continued success in Earth system model-related markets.
The EPIC team, including notable members such as Keven Blackman, Aaron Jones, Anna Kimball, Edward Snyder, and Zachary Shrader, has exemplified leadership, innovation, and collaboration in the field of Earth system modeling. Their work has not only benefited NOAA but has also positioned the Unified Forecasting System Community for future success, with long-lasting impacts on global Earth system modeling capabilities.
Looking Ahead
The efforts made by the EPIC Program team to innovate and collaborate with global partners have set a new standard in the Earth system modeling community. By addressing key pain points, such as model performance, HPC access, and community engagement, the EPIC initiative has created a pathway for the next generation of Earth system modeling. The John Cassidy Award recognizes the team’s dedication and technical excellence, which have propelled NOAA and the Unified Forecasting System Community into a new era of Earth system modeling and disaster preparedness.
