City Climate Data Decision Calendar (C2D2): Framework and Initial Results for Austin, Texas

Various operations and activities in the city municipal departments are weather and climate data sensitive. However, there is limited understanding and documentation of how and what datasets and products are required or will be useful for the various operations on the daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal, annual, and longer timescales. As part of the UT-City Climate CoLab in Austin, Texas, there has been a concerted effort to tie in city decisions and weather and climate data needs. This is becoming important as communities are experiencing more weather-extremes and understand the need for reliable, tailored climate information for their specific departmental needs. A signature project undertaken by the CoLab relates to creation of a Climate Data Decision Calendar (C2D2) that is creating a formal framework for the climate data and decision pairing. This presentation will share the background and activities underway related to the decision calendar. An example of work underway with the Austin Fire Department Wildfire Division in developing one such Climate Decision Calendar across the city of Austin, central Texas region will be presented. The operations are intense during the fire season, but are also actively underway year round and require a wide range of data at different temporal interval. The process undertaken and the example of the calendar under development will be presented.  Additional interactions with other departments such as Austin Parks, Austin Public Works, Austin Water, and Austin Energy are also underway and will be discussed. Idea is that for each of these departments and activities a unique Climate Decision Calendar will be developed based off their specific needs and operations, and this information collectively will assist in helping broaden the understanding of climate data needs, customizing data products, and helping local decision making and planning.