Instant Messaging Enhanced Communications Darone Jones NWS Birmingham

Courtesy of David Neal FOX 6Evolution

It has been instrumental in detailing storm/event evolution to broadcasters which is in turn relayed to the public. It has been instrumental in detailing storm/event evolution to broadcasters which is in turn relayed to the public. Give the general public an increase in knowledge and saves lives. Give the general public an increase in knowledge and saves lives. Instantaneous exchange of warning information and storm reports in real-time “during” events. Instantaneous exchange of warning information and storm reports in real-time “during” events. Emergency Managers and TV crews are reporting damage and relaying pictures minutes after happening. Emergency Managers and TV crews are reporting damage and relaying pictures minutes after happening. With instant messaging...the professional communities work TOGETHER...talking in “real-time”...from radar scan-to-radar scan. With instant messaging...the professional communities work TOGETHER...talking in “real-time”...from radar scan-to-radar scan. Advantages of IM

Chatroom was very unreliable with some users having difficulty entering and others getting removed randomly. Chatroom was very unreliable with some users having difficulty entering and others getting removed randomly. There was information duplication in the room, where a NWS forecaster would mention the products they were about to issue as well as state the issuance time of the product. There was information duplication in the room, where a NWS forecaster would mention the products they were about to issue as well as state the issuance time of the product. Some outlets did not allow the commercial chat clients within their network because some messaging software is adware. Some outlets did not allow the commercial chat clients within their network because some messaging software is adware. Chatrooms did not support the participation in multiple rooms. The effect was to have everyone pile into the same room where the amount of information was overwhelming. Chatrooms did not support the participation in multiple rooms. The effect was to have everyone pile into the same room where the amount of information was overwhelming. This was very ineffective for other media markets that covered a portion of the CWA. This was very ineffective for other media markets that covered a portion of the CWA. If you were in a television market covered by more than one forecast area…you were just plain hosed. If you were in a television market covered by more than one forecast area…you were just plain hosed. Limitations of Previous IM

Each NWS Office has dedicated chat room and ability to support multiple chat rooms. Each NWS Office has dedicated chat room and ability to support multiple chat rooms. The chat room has a history function which allows you to see the last 40 lines of conversations when you join the room. The chat room has a history function which allows you to see the last 40 lines of conversations when you join the room. If you were to leave the chat room you don’t have to be re-invited to join again, you can just log on. If you were to leave the chat room you don’t have to be re-invited to join again, you can just log on. A server keeps an archive of all chats that allows you to refer back to any event at any time. A server keeps an archive of all chats that allows you to refer back to any event at any time. Another attractive feature of this solution is that the chat protocol (XMPP), server (Openfire 3.3.2) and client (Pidgin) are all cross platform, Open Source, and very secure. Another attractive feature of this solution is that the chat protocol (XMPP), server (Openfire 3.3.2) and client (Pidgin) are all cross platform, Open Source, and very secure. The chat room is frequented by an automated process (named iembot) that relays NWS issued products to the chat room automatically. The iembot is fully VTEC aware and alerts users to non-VTEC products like MCDs from SPC, hurricane statements from NHC, and even alerts when ASOS sites report severe wind gusts. This process average delivery time to the room is about 12 seconds from issuance. The chat room is frequented by an automated process (named iembot) that relays NWS issued products to the chat room automatically. The iembot is fully VTEC aware and alerts users to non-VTEC products like MCDs from SPC, hurricane statements from NHC, and even alerts when ASOS sites report severe wind gusts. This process average delivery time to the room is about 12 seconds from issuance. IEM Chat - A Solution for All

Actual log from May 5, 2006 Tabbed enviornment allows you to monitor upstream and downstream offices.

The bot delivers mesoscale and watch links to the room

Actual log from May 5, 2006

BMX issues Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Montgomery [AL] till 6:30 PM CDTSevere Thunderstorm Warning Followup statements (SVS) BMX cancels Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Elmore [AL]Severe Thunderstorm Warning Special Marine Warnings MFL issues Marine Warning for Biscayne Bay, Coastal waters from Deerfield Beach to Ocean Reef FL out 20 nm [AM] till 8:45 AM EDTMarine Warning Non-precipitating warnings (requires VTEC) OUN issues Fire Weather Warning valid at Aug 18, 12:00 PM CDT for Comanche, Stephens, Garvin, Murray, Pontotoc, Coal, Cotton, Jefferson, Carter, Johnston, Atoka, Love, Marshall, Bryan [OK] and Archer, Clay, Wichita [TX] till Aug 18, 8:00 PM CDTFire Weather Warning SPC Mesoscale Convective Discussions (MCD) Storm Prediction Center issues Mesoscale Discussion #1836Mesoscale Discussion #1836 SPC Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm watches Storm Prediction Center issues SEVERE TSTM watch till 17:00 UTCSEVERE TSTM watch National Hurricane Center products National Hurricane Center issues ADVISORY #32 for HURRICANE GORDONADVISORY #32 ASOS extreme wind gusts WINNER,SD (KSFD) ASOS reports gust of 55 knots from 0344Z KSFD Z AUTO 16035G55KT 7SM FEW110 28/12 A2957 RMK AO2 PK WND 15055/0344 SLP991 T TSNO $ Local Storm Reports (LSR) Monroe [Turner Co, SD] emergency mngr reports TSTM WND DMG at 12:18 PM CDT -- 4 to 8 inch diameter tree limbs knocked downTSTM WND DMG WFO optional links to NOW casts, RER statements, Flood warnings/statements, Hurricane Statements, others can be added. SJU issues Flood Advisory (FLS)Flood Advisory (FLS) NESDIS Satellite Precipitation Estimates (SPE) NESDIS issues Satellite Precipitation EstimatesSatellite Precipitation Estimates IEM provided SchoolNet wind gust alerts UNITED COMMUNITY _ BOONE [Boone County] SNET reports 55 MPH from the 05:55 AM West Texas Mesonet wind gust alerts GRAHAM,TX (XGHS) ASOS reports gust of 52 knots from 2110Z XGHS Z 15033G52KT -RA 23/19 A3006 RMK AO1 T P0001 RH 080% Special Weather Statements (SPS) EPZ ISSUES THIS IS A REISSUE OF THE RIVER FLOOD WARNING FOR THE RIO GRANDE IN EL PASO for El Paso [TX] till 7:00 AM MDTTHIS IS A REISSUE OF THE RIVER FLOOD WARNING FOR THE RIO GRANDE IN EL PASO IEMBot Examples

IEM Chat is Catching on The use of instant messaging has evolved and increased over the years. The use of instant messaging has evolved and increased over the years. Started in 2000 at one office (Birmingham, AL) Started in 2000 at one office (Birmingham, AL) 65 WFOs are currently using or experimenting with IEM Chat (November 2007) 65 WFOs are currently using or experimenting with IEM Chat (November 2007) 34 offices in Central Region 34 offices in Central Region 25 offices in Southern Region 25 offices in Southern Region 4 offices in Eastern Region to began testing mid July offices in Eastern Region to began testing mid July offices in Western Region experimenting. 2 offices in Western Region experimenting.

Census data with the polygon warnings Census data with the polygon warnings CAP alerting (Common Alert Protocol) – XML formatted messages CAP alerting (Common Alert Protocol) – XML formatted messages CAP alert messages can quickly launch Internet messages, news feeds, television text captions, highway sign messages, and synthesized voice over automated telephone calls or radio broadcasts. CAP alert messages can quickly launch Internet messages, news feeds, television text captions, highway sign messages, and synthesized voice over automated telephone calls or radio broadcasts. Smarter Bot – county and zone aware. This allows the user to program their area of interest. Smarter Bot – county and zone aware. This allows the user to program their area of interest. Whiteboard capabilities - Visually express ideas and comments in a online/teleconference meeting. Whiteboard capabilities - Visually express ideas and comments in a online/teleconference meeting. Stuff In the Works

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