NOAA Artificial Intelligence Strategy: Analytics for Next-Generation Earth ScienceThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy will dramatically expand the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in every NOAA mission area by improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and coordination of AI development and usage across the agency. As data exploitation capabilities continue to increase exponentially with improved satellite systems and architecture, unmanned systems and commercial data sources, AI methods will provide transformative advancements in the quality and timeliness of NOAA science, products, and services. The term “AI” is used here to encompass the capabilities identified in the “AI Capabilities” graphic on page 4. The reason for developing this strategy is because AI capabilities are already demonstrating significant improvements in performance and skill at vastly reduced costs and compute time. This strategy aligns with the President’s Executive Order on Maintaining American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence1 and the 2019 Update to the National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan.2 It also supports provisions in the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 20173 and its 2019 reauthorization,4 as well as the Commercial Engagement Through Ocean Technology (CENOTE) Act of 2018.5 This strategy also supports the November 19, 2019, presidential memorandum “Memorandum on Ocean Mapping of the United States Exclusive Economic Zone and the Shoreline and Nearshore of Alaska.” Lastly, the NOAA AI Strategy supports the DOC Strategic Plan for 2018-2022,6 and will accelerate NOAA’s top two priorities to (1) regain world leadership in global weather modeling through establishment of the Earth Prediction Innovation Center (EPIC), and (2) sustainably grow the economic contributions of our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes (American Blue Economy).7National Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationNOAA_9d4497bd-ae0a-428e-8cc1-44d705aeeef2Neil A. Jacobs, Ph.D.Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Environmental Observation and Prediction, Performing the Duties of Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and AtmosphereTim Gallaudet, Ph.D.Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.), Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere / Deputy NOAA Administrator -- STRATEGY SPONSORStephen Volz, Ph.D.Assistant Administrator, National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information ServiceLouis W. Uccellini, Ph.DAssistant Administrator, National Weather ServiceNicole LeBoeufActing Assistant Administrator, National Ocean ServiceChris OliverAssistant Administrator for FisheriesCraig McLeanAssistant Administrator, Oceanic and Atmospheric ResearchRear Admiral Michael J. SilahDirector, Office of Marine and Aviation Operations and NOAA CorpsThrough the NOAA AI Strategy, expansion of Artificial Intelligence is accelerated across the entire agency to make transformative improvements in NOAA mission performance and cost effectiveness. _e95f9aa8-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea00To directly improve the understanding, coordination, awareness, and application of AI across all of NOAA._e95f9c56-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea00Artificial IntelligenceArtificial Intelligence (AI) refers to computational systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, but with increased efficiency, precision, and objectivity. A subset of AI called machine learning (ML) refers to mathematical models able to perform a specific task without using explicit instructions, instead relying on patterns and inference. Deep learning (DL) is a subset of ML that utilizes artificial neural networks capable of learning from unstructured or newly added data. The use of labeled training data can further improve the AI predictive capability through supervised ML.Structures & ProcessesEstablish Efficient Organizational Structures and Processes to Advance AI across NOAA._e95f9d82-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea001When achieved, this goal will enhance cross-line office coordination that has been so far limited in AI development, awareness, and application. This, along with prioritization of AI in budget formulation, strategic communications, and cloud computing applications will exponentially increase the use and utility across all of NOAA. AI CenterExplore the establishment of a NOAA AI Center or similar entity to enable coordination of AI research, algorithm development, data acquisition, applications, information exchange, and awareness._e95f9eae-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea001.1Other functions would be to maintain a portal with open source and government applications, host training events and workshops, and facilitate new partnerships.Working GroupsDevelop technical working groups comprised of NOAA line office experts to support the NOAA AI Executive Committee’s efforts as needed to establish AI standards and execute the NOAA AI Strategic and Implementation Plans, such as prioritization of AI research and transitional requirements, technical workshops, specific subject-matter tasks as assigned, and metrics to achieve the goals and objectives of the plan._e95f9fc6-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea001.2PrioritiesPrioritize AI-based approaches where applicable in NOAA budget formulation guidance, emphasizing the purpose to improve performance skill, computational efficiency, and cost effectiveness._e95fa0d4-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea001.3Engagement & CommunicationsInclude discussion of NOAA AI activity in NOAA executive-level engagement and communications with key stakeholders, particularly focusing on OMB, Congressional members and staff, and counterparts from other federal agencies._e95fa26e-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea001.4OMBCongressFederal AgenciesPrinciples, Processes & PartnershipsLeverage and adopt the principles, processes, and partnerships articulated in the NOAA Cloud Strategy and Roadmap, and Big Data Project to improve data accessibility, labeled training data, workflow processes using open source tools, and cloud computing for AI applications in support of the NOAA mission._e95fa39a-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea001.5Research & InnovationAdvance AI Research and Innovation in Support of NOAA’s Mission._e95fa57a-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea002NOAA will advance AI-based environmental research and innovation across every mission area by adopting and institutionalizing AI throughout NOAA’s research processes. The NOAA Research and Development Database (NRDD) will be a critical asset to help track NOAA research involving AI, with the intent to see the application of AI research projects continuously increase.RequirementsEstablish a requirement-based process to ensure AI research leverages the best available assets and expertise in support of the NOAA mission and to continually evaluate ongoing AI R&D to capitalize on rapidly evolving AI technology._e95fa6c4-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea002.1FFOs & RFPsPrioritize AI-based approaches and support in NOAA research federal funding opportunities (FFO), requests for proposals (RFPs), and research grants to promote collaborative AI research and maintain an awareness of the rapidly evolving AI technology in areas relevant for NOAA mission._e95fa7f0-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea002.2PrizesEstablish an annual research and development prize competition series for AI applications in environmental science, to include separate categories for data processing efficiencies, automated detection and classification toolkits, improvements in data assimilation and predictive modeling, and other organizational efficiencies using AI._e95fa926-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea002.3Testbeds & Proving GroundsEvaluate and execute various testbed and proving grounds approaches across NOAA to expand AI research, develop best practices and training data, improve algorithms, and evaluate model performance in support of advancing the NOAA mission._e95faa66-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea002.4NOAA ScientistsUniversity ScientistsNOAA testbeds and proving grounds play an important role in pre-operational evaluation of new developments performed by NOAA and university scientists.MetricsEncourage every prospectus for NOAA Cooperative Institutes (CIs) and Cooperative Science Centers (CSC’s) to develop metrics that track yearly increases in AI research and applications._e95faba6-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea002.5ApplicationsAccelerate the Transition of AI Research to Applications._e95facdc-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea003NOAA will rapidly accelerate the transition of AI-based environmental research to NOAA operations (R2O) and private-sector commercialization (R2C - together R2X). Because many requirements for NOAA’s AI applications are available in private-sector and academic research environments, the majority of our AI research involves applying these applications to our mission where applicable. Coordination of AI initiatives and activities mentioned in Goal 1, and examples from the Earth Prediction Innovation Center (EPIC), will play leading roles in transitioning R2O. For successful transitions, we will support the growth of a nascent commercial environmental AI sector that will increasingly serve as a source for solutions to our operational requirements. OAR’s TPO will lead the transition of NOAA tailored R2C.BudgetingEstablish budget efforts to support the transition to operations AI-based environmental research which shows improved skill, performance, and computational and cost efficiency._e95faeee-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea003.1ReadinessTransition to operations, commercialization, and academia that AI based environmental applications with appropriate Technical Readiness Levels._e95fb042-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea003.2GuidelinesDevelop NOAA technical guidelines that are updated annually on the best practices and standards for the training data, training practices, and evaluation of model performance to ensure the integrity, reliability, and credibility of scientific products generated with AI applications._e95fb182-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea003.3AwarenessBuild AI awareness across NOAA line offices through NOAA science seminars and webinars, internal workshops, and routine internal communications venues such as newsletters and weekly updates._e95fb3d0-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea003.4ReportsComplete an annual report of NOAA AI research transitions, disseminated broadly across the agency and with external partners to be used as a basis for investigator performance reviews and incentive awards._e95fb560-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea003.5PartnershipsStrengthen and Expand AI Partnerships._e95fb6a0-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea004Cooperative partnerships serve as force multipliers to optimize resources and effort, and the scientific and technological exchange keeps NOAA current in the rapidly evolving field of AI. Partnerships in AI-based environmental applications are already creating a community of practice that is sparking innovation and has the opportunity to accelerate tremendous advances in NOAA’s capabilities.ProgramPrioritize AI-based environmental research in National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) project proposals and selection._e95fb7fe-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea004.1ExpansionExpand partnerships in AI-based environmental research with the academic and research community, including CIs and institutions that host NOAA EPP/MSI, Nancy Foster, Hollings, John Knauss, Pathways, and Margaret Davidson scholars, fellows, and interns._e95fb93e-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea004.2Academic CommunityResearch CommunityInstitutesWork with the NSF’s National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes to collaborate with appropriate institutes on AI R&D. _e95fba92-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea004.3NSFNational Artificial Intelligence Research InstitutesCooperative AgreementsIncrease the number of formal cooperative agreements on AI-based environmental research and applications with interagency and international partners, including DOD, DOI, DOE, and DHS._e95fbbf0-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea004.4DODDOIDOEDHSPublic-Private PartnershipsFormalize new public-private partnerships through established mechanisms such as Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) and Small Businesses Innovative Research (SBIR) grants._e95fbd44-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea004.5Policy & Advisory CommitteesProvide innovative and substantive contributions to the policy and advisory committees such as the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Select Committee on AI, and engage its experts in scientific exchange during national and international conferences, workshops, and other opportunities._e95fbe98-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea004.6National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Select Committee on AIWorkforcePromote AI Proficiency in the Workforce._e95fc01e-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea005Where appropriate, NOAA will provide resources to equip our workforce to fully leverage the rapid evolving field of AI. This can only be achieved by providing continuous, current, creative, and tailored training and learning opportunities. NOAA’s existing development programs are well suited to be adapted for these, and we will look to partners for new options to develop skill, understanding, and expertise.TrainingProvide increased online and on-scene AI training through line office training centers._e95fc17c-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea005.1Cross-PollinationFocus the assignments in the NOAA Rotational Assignment Program (NRAP) to target offices where a cross-pollination of AI expertise would raise the overall AI proficiency of the workforce._e95fc2da-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea005.2Professional DevelopmentSupport AI-related graduate degree, professional development, and technical training courses that are available to the NOAA workforce._e95fc456-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea005.3NOAA WorkforceEventsSupport and lead collaborative events such as conferences, workshops, and external rotational assignments targeted to stay current in the state of AI technology._e95fc5be-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea005.4Recruitment, Retention & HiringActively encourage graduate programs, internships and cooperative student training programs in AI applications relevant to the NOAA mission to improve recruitment, retention, and the hiring pool for AI proficient NOAA workforce. _e95fc730-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea005.5ProficiencyUpdate individual development plans (IDP), position descriptions, performance plans, and career paths as a practical approach to build and retain NOAA’s workforce proficiency in AI._e95fc924-58b1-11ea-afd1-f4c10b83ea005.62020-02-26https://nrc.noaa.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=0I2p2-Gu3rA%3d&tabid=91&portalid=0OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net