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Key Lessons in Alerting Systems & Messaging Strategies

Learn about implementing CAP alerting systems for effective communication with emergency managers and last-mile distributors. Discover best practices and lessons learned in defining alerts and messages to enhance audience experience.

shaquille-charles
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Key Lessons in Alerting Systems & Messaging Strategies

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  1. Lessons LearnedEnd to End CAP Alerting Systems WMO CAP Implementers Workshop Geneva, Switzerland Norm Paulsen Environment Canada April 24, 2013

  2. Introduction • Environment Canada, as an issuer of weather warnings, distributed over 100,000 CAP messages last year • These went to numerous end clients (Emergency Managers & Last Mile Distributors) • The feedback has been significant and can be categorized into the following… • the working relationships with partners in “getting the warning out” • effective messaging for the target audience • supplemental event information for emergency managers • This presentation discusses… • some lessons learned • some example practices we employ • Profiles and Layers (mostly layers).

  3. Lesson 1) Defining “Alert” • There is confusion over what an ALERT is • Example: a typical series of Env. Can. warning messages (not yet in CAP form) • How many ALERTS in this scenario? • Answer: It depends on whose point of view. Issued 2 - active 1pm Continued 1 - active, 1 - ended 2pm 3pm Ended 1 - ended

  4. Lesson 2) Defining “Message” • There is confusion over what a MESSAGE is (still not thinking CAP yet) • How many MESSAGES in this scenario? • Answer: It depends on whose point of view Issued 1pm 2 - active 1 - active, 1- ended 2pm Continued 1 - ended Ended 3pm

  5. When we start thinking CAP • If I create one CAP file for each time listed, then by CAP’s definition there are 3 messages… • But CAP is a protocol for exchanging messages between alerting technologies – not exchanging directly with the human element • Recall that the human element still has 2,3, or 4 messages to consider in this example (let’s call these audience messages) 2 - active 1pm <msgType>alert 1 - active, 1- ended <msgType>update 2pm 1 - ended <msgType>cancel 3pm

  6. The Audience Experience The 3pm CAP message has 1 audience message The 2pm CAP message has 2 audience messages The 1pm CAP message has 1 audience message • The audience messages are distinguishable in space • The audience (public) certainly wants the right audience message for the right place (think web, cell phones, sirens, broadcasts, etc…) • I used active/ended but what if the difference was Severity = Extreme vs. Severity = Severe Audience Message 1: “Run for Cover” Audience Message 1: “Run for Cover” Audience Message 1: “It’s over” 1pm 2pm 3pm Audience Message 1: “Run for Cover” Audience Message 2: “It’s over” <msgType>update <msgType>alert <msgType>cancel 1 - ended 2 - active 1 - active, 1 - ended

  7. Audience Messages Appear in Separate <info> Blocks - <alert> <msgType>Alert</msgType> <sent>1pm</sent> -<info> <responseType>Monitor</responseType> <event>Tornado</event> <urgency>Immediate</urgency> <severity>Severe</severity> <certainty>Observed</certainty> <expires>3pm</expires> <headline>Tornado warning in effect</headline> - <area> <areaDesc>Penticton</areaDesc> </area>   </info> - <info> <responseType>Monitor</responseType> <event>Tornado</event> <urgency>Immediate</urgency> <severity>Severe</severity> <certainty>Observed</certainty> <expires>3pm</expires> <headline>Tornado warning in effect</headline> - <area> <areaDesc>Kelowna</areaDesc> </area> </info> </alert> - <alert> <msgType>Update</msgType> <sent>2pm</sent> -<info> <responseType>Monitor</responseType> <event>Tornado</event> <urgency>Immediate</urgency> <severity>Severe</severity> <certainty>Observed</certainty> <expires>4pm</expires> <headline>Tornado warning in effect</headline> - <area> <areaDesc>Penticton</areaDesc> </area>   </info> - <info> <responseType>AllClear</responseType> <event>Tornado</event> <urgency>Past</urgency> <severity>Minor</severity> <certainty>Observed</certainty> <expires>3pm</expires> <headline>Tornado warning ended</headline> - <area> <areaDesc>Kelowna</areaDesc> </area> </info> </alert> - <alert> <msgType>Cancel</msgType> <sent>3pm</sent> - <info> <responseType>AllClear</responseType> <event>Tornado</event> <urgency>Past</urgency> <severity>Minor</severity> <certainty>Observed</certainty> <expires>4pm</expires> <headline>Tornado warning ended</headline> - <area> <areaDesc>Penticton</areaDesc> </area> </info> </alert>

  8. Lesson 3) Customizing Supplementary Information in CAP • Last mile distributors in public alerting tend to want customized alert message presentation information • Emergency managers in peer to peer alerting tend to want customized subject event information -<alert> <info> <headline>tsunami warning in effect for southwest Vancouver coastline</headline>* </info> </alert> *Such as headline being constrained to say 140 characters. -<alert> <info> <parameter> <valueName>Wave_Arrival_Time</valueName>* <value>1:02pm</value> </parameter> </info> </alert> *Parameter value for wave arrival time could be a community defined standard

  9. Customized Information The info block with Vancouver could have: Tsunami warning in effect 15 meters Audience Message 1: “Tsunami warning in effect” Tsunami warning 1:02pm WARNING: Tsunami approaching From 280 degrees N The info block with Victoria could have: Audience Message 2: “Tsunami warning in effect” Tsunami warning in effect 15 meters Tsunami Warning 1:05pm WARNING: Tsunami approaching From 350 degrees N

  10. A Single Supplementary Information Solution <parameter> <valueName>layer:EC-MSC-SMC:1.0:Alert_Type</valueName> <value>warning</value> </parameter> <area> <geocode> <valueName>layer:EC-MSC-SMC:1.0:CLC</valueName> <value>062300</value> </geocode> </area> • An Alert issuer in Canada accommodates both client groups by using a concept known as a “layer”. • We consider a collection of supplementary information elements a layer • We use existing CAP elements (mechanisms) to realize these layers in CAP • We are basically extending the suite of information to the end client <parameter> <valueName>layer:SOREM:1.0:Broadcast_Immediately</valueName> <value>No</value> </parameter> <eventCode> <valueName>profile:CAP-CP:Event:0.4</valueName> <value>snowfall</value> </eventCode>

  11. Example: Province of Alberta -<alert> <identifier>x1475b</identifier> <msgType>Update</msgType> <sent>2pm</sent> <code>layer:AEMA:1.0</code> </info> <senderName>Alberta</senderName> <headline>Tornado warning updated by Environment Canada</headline> <parameter> <valueName>layer:AEMA:1.0:TvCrawler</valueName> <value>Tornado warning for Edmonton and surrounding area. Warning in effect until 2pm</value> </parameter> <parameter> <valueName>layer:AEMA:1.0:SMSText</valueName> <value>Tornado Warning</value> </parameter> <parameter> <valueName>layer:AEMA:1.0:WebPageBanner</valueName> <value>Tornado Warning in effect</value> </parameter> </info> </alert> • Alberta coordinates a CAP system with their downstream broadcast partners • Alberta aggregates Env. Can. CAP; inserts their own layer, and re-originates the CAP message to their LMD partners

  12. CAP, EDXL and OASIS • OASIS is working through a formalization of the mechanisms of Constraints (Profiles) and Extensions (Layers) on a broader scale (EDXL) • CAP already has informal these mechanisms in place to handle the concepts of profiles and layers (some examples below) • Retaining Interoperability is key

  13. Lesson 4) File Customization • Depending on the end client, there are different pieces of information that are of interest • This suggests a different CAP message for each end client…or… • using layers, the all inclusive CAP message can be constructed and the end client can retrieve for themselves the information of interest to them • In Env. Can., the “all info” message is easier to do – we just put everything we have into the CAP message, but the LMD may still have issues with… • languages • number of info blocks • community standards • relevant audience message • multiple information providers • etc… • However, because of profiles and layers, and using basic XML principles, we can easily customize CAP XML at this stage and solve these issues…

  14. XML File Customization - <alert> <identifier>2.49.0.1.124.4a8ca858.2013</identifier> <msgType>Update</msgType> <sent>2pm</sent> • Use one operation to create the all inclusive CAP message and then customize that CAP message • Take the CAP message file and copy it and customize it to a specific end client’s needs - <info> <senderName>Environment Canada</senderName> <responseType>AllClear</responseType> <event>Tornado</event> <urgency>Past</urgency> <severity>Minor</severity> <certainty>Observed</certainty> <expires>3pm</expires> <headline>Tornado warning ended</headline> - <area> <areaDesc>Kelowna</areaDesc> </area> </info> -<info> <senderName>Environment Canada</senderName> <responseType>Monitor</responseType> <event>Tornado</event> <urgency>Immediate</urgency> <severity>Severe</severity> <certainty>Observed</certainty> <expires>4pm</expires> <headline>Tornado warning in effect</headline> - <area> <areaDesc>Penticton</areaDesc> </area>   </info> </alert>

  15. XML File Customization (2) - <alert> <identifier>2.49.0.1.124.4a8ca858.2013</identifier> <msgType>Update</msgType> <sent>2pm</sent> • Use one operation to create the all inclusive CAP message and then customize that CAP message • Take the CAP message file and copy it and customize it to a specific end client’s needs <info> <senderName>Environment Canada</senderName> <language>English</language> <event>tornado</event> <expires>4pm</expires> <headline>tornado warning in effect</headline> - <area> <areaDesc>Penticton</areaDesc> </area>   </info> -<info> <senderName>Environnement Canada</senderName> <language>French</language> <event>tornade</event> <expires>4pm</expires> <headline>alerte de tornade en vigueur</headline> - <area> <areaDesc>Penticton</areaDesc> </area>   </info> </alert>

  16. XML File Customization (3) -<alert> <msgType>Update</msgType> <sent>2pm</sent> <code>layer:SOREM:1.0</code> <identifier>x1475b</identifier> <identifier>2.49.0.1.124.4a8ca858.2013</identifier> • Use one operation to create the all inclusive CAP message and then customize that CAP message • Take the CAP message file and copy it and customize it to a specific end client’s needs <code>layer:EC-MSC-SMC:1.0</code> <code>layer:AEMA:1.0</code> <info> <senderName>Environment Canada</senderName> <senderName>Alberta</senderName> <info> <parameter> <valueName>layer:EC-MSC-SMC:1.0:Alert_Type</valueName> <value>warning</value> </parameter> <parameter> <valueName>layer:AEMA:1.0:TvCrawler</valueName> <value>Tornado warning for Edmonton and surrounding area. Warning in effect until 2pm</value> </parameter> <parameter> <valueName>layer:SOREM:1.0:Broadcast_Immediately</valueName> <value>No</value> </parameter> <headline>Tornado warning in effect</headline> <instruction>Run for the hills</headline> </info> </alert>

  17. Conclusions • Define your terms, starting with Alerts, CAP Messages, Audience Messages and Subject Events • Use Controlled constraints and extension mechanisms if necessary to accommodate your supplemental needs • Customize your CAP Message after the file has been created using general XML practices • Customization can occur anywhere in the message trail

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