NOAA HPCC IT Innovation Program
Advancing NOAA's products and services one wild idea after another.
Underwater mapping has long lacked access to technologies easily applied on land. Divers' surveying marine habitat or assessing reef damage would tow buoys or swim with measuring tapes to measure and map sites. The AquaMap project demonstrated a new system that links sonar-based hand-sets to surface-based GPS measurements, allowing divers to map underwater with the ease and accuracy of a GPS unit.
The NOAA HPCC IT Innovation Program is a competitive, internally focused program designed to accelerate the adoption of advanced computing, communications and information technology throughout NOAA. The program provides seed funding for information technology applied research projects that increase the value and utility of NOAA data and information through the use of advanced technologies. Proposals are requested and welcomed from all NOAA Line and Staff Offices.
The program is an element of NOAA's Environmental Modeling Program (EMP), residing in the NOAA Office of the Chief Information Officer. The Technology Innovation Working Group (TIWG), which is comprised of NOAA personnel advises the Deputy CIO, and provides objective evaluations of proposals.
The Annual Proposal Process
- The program solicitation and proposal guidance are announced through NOAA-wide mail. The proposal guidance contains a description of the themes that the program is seeking to fund.
- Proposals are solicited, reviewed and evaluated by the Technology Innovation Working Group.
- Top rated proposals are considered for funding by HPCC management and awards are made to successful investigators.
- Projects must present their current progress and issues at the mid-year status review.
- Final project reports are submitted to the TIWG.
Information for Applicants
Proposals are solicited annually from the NOAA community. See the Information for Applicants page for current guidance, program contact information and a list of previously successful proposals.
Program Achievements
The program has a long history of sponsoring innovative, high-risk technologies that have lead the way toward improved access, understanding and application of high performance resources in NOAA. A few of the HPCC IT Innovation Program achievements are highlighted in this overview.