U.S. National Weather Service – Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Services (AHPS) Program

Riverside Technology, inc. (RTi) began work in 1997 on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) contract to support the National Weather Service (NWS) Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Services (AHPS) Program for water resource forecasts and information. NOAA is dedicated to enhancing the nation’s economic security and safety through weather and climate-related research, providing river and flood forecast information to the public and helping decision makers effectively manage our nation’s water resources. There is a growing need for improved water resource forecasts and information on the magnitude, timing, and certainty of hydrologic events. The AHPS Program improves NOAA’s response capabilities through the development of new scientific advancements in river, flood, and drought forecasting. Using sophisticated meteorological and hydrological computer modeling combined with remote sensing data, AHPS research and activities produce state-of-the-art river and stream forecasts. Benefits of a national implementation of AHPS have been estimated to be worth more than $750 million per year.

RTi is helping NOAA accomplish its goals through the infusion of new science and technology in advanced hydrometeorologic, hydrologic, and hydraulic services for integrated water resources management. Under two contracts , the first from 1997 to 2003, and the second beginning in 2003 for continued work on the program, RTi’s services on AHPS Tasks have included the formulation, planning, and execution of specialized hydrometeorologic, hydrologic, and hydraulic modeling to generate advanced hydrologic forecasting products. Much of the work has involved using, enhancing, or implementing the National Weather Service River Forecast System (NWSRFS) throughout the United States. Under the first AHPS contract, RTi successfully completed data analysis and calibration of hydrologic and hydraulic models for NWS River Forecast Centers; development of a multi-reservoir simulation model, a graphical user interface for FLDWAV model inputs, and a streamflow forecast verification system; and implementation of GIS-based flood inundation mapping procedures.

As prime contractor on the current AHPS task order-based contract, RTi is supported by an exceptional AHPS team, with members who have been contributing for more than two decades to the development of new scientific methods to advance the NWS’ forecasting capabilities. Activities under this contract provide continued support to the NWS for NWSRFS model calibrations, time series processing, input data needs development, and forecast process recommendations. RTi’s continued development of state-of-the-art scientific and technological advancements includes procedural enhancements to produce long-range probabilistic streamflow forecasts, systems integration for a new software architecture design for a distributed computing operational forecasting system, and facilitation of collaboration between the scientific/academic community and the NWS Hydrology Laboratory.

The AHPS contract is a Government-wide acquisitions contract vehicle for science and engineering tasks for NOAA’s AHPS Program and other government agencies.

RTi also has implemented the NWSRFS and provided transfer of NWS technology and technical training for river forecasting and reservoir operations around the world. The international projects are funded by USAID, The World Bank, and other donor organizations.

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