1. Actions for an Alerting Authority
CAP Introducing CAP
Actions for an Alerting Authority
1. Learning Some Basics About CAP
2. Using CAP Sources
3. Considering Tools to Convert Inputs into CAP
4. Acquiring CAP Mapping Tools
5. Implementing a CAP Alert Source
6. Publishing a CAP Alert News Feed
7. Registering an Alerting Authority
8. Choosing an Internet Host for CAP
9. Considering Other Interfaces for CAP Dissemination
10. Developing Public Outreach and Education
The fourth recommended action concerns Acquiring CAP Mapping Tools
CAP Introducing CAP

2. Acquiring CAP Mapping Tools
CAP Introducing CAP
Acquiring CAP Mapping Tools
If the alerting authority already has a mapping tool, have the mapping tool support CAP if it does not yet
Compatibility with existing GIS may be the deciding factor
ESRI, Google Maps, other commercial and freeware tools available across the full range of platforms
If an alerting authority already uses a particular mapping tool, it is very likely the mapping tool already supports CAP or the tool provider could add CAP support without much effort. This is because CAP was deliberately designed to leverage the mapping standards already is broad use worldwide.
So, given that you can probably use CAP with any mapping tool, the choice of mapping tools depends on needs other than CAP itself.
The major factor in the choice of mapping tools is likely to be compatibility with GIS (geographic information systems) already in use within the alerting authority and related offices.
In many government offices, the ESRI GIS tools are heavily used, with large investments in training and perhaps in license fees as well as the data. Google Maps is also widely used. And, there are various freeware tools available across the range of platforms in common use: PC's, smart phones, tablets, etc.
CAP Introducing CAP

3. Mapping to Define the Alerting Area
CAP Introducing CAP
Google Map Tool to draw a circular alerting area near Mount Saint Helens volcano
Here is a simple example of the use of a mapping tool with CAP. This one allows the person preparing the alert to draw polygons and circles on a wide range of base maps.
Here we see the Google Map tool being used to draw a circular alerting area near Mount Saint Helens volcano.
This tool is built into a CAP editor application, so the tool automatically inserts the circle center point and its radius into the appropriate element of the CAP alert.
CAP Introducing CAP

4. Mapping Display of CAP Alerts
CAP Introducing CAP
Mapping Display of CAP Alerts
Direct Relief International: Common Operating Picture Events / Patients / Health Infrastructure / Medical Supply
Displaying threat and event information on maps is a basic need in the context of emergency management.
Here is an example map image being used as part of the “Common Operating Picture” in an application supported by “Direct Relief International”. This application uses a Google Map platform.
The idea is to give emergency managers a common display of Events, Patients, Health Infrastructure, and Medical Supply. Event data is received in CAP format and mapped onto common base layers.
CAP Introducing CAP

5. Display on Multiple Mapping Tools
CAP Introducing CAP
Display on Multiple Mapping Tools
A Common Operating Picture is also a key feature of the “Multi Agency Situational Awareness System” (MASAS) in Canada. MASAS offered this same map image over the ESRI eMAP application, Google Maps, Google Earth, and specialized systems such as the “Essential Incident Management System”, Sentinel’s Incident Management System, and others.
CAP Introducing CAP 5

6. Actions for an Alerting Authority
CAP Introducing CAP
Actions for an Alerting Authority
1. Learning Some Basics About CAP
2. Using CAP Sources
3. Considering Tools to Convert Inputs into CAP
4. Acquiring CAP Mapping Tools
5. Implementing a CAP Alert Source
6. Publishing a CAP Alert News Feed
7. Registering an Alerting Authority
8. Choosing an Internet Host for CAP
9. Considering Other Interfaces for CAP Dissemination
10. Developing Public Outreach and Education
Now let’s turn to:
Considering Other Interfaces for CAP Dissemination
9. Considering Other Interfaces for CAP Dissemination
CAP Introducing CAP

7. Interfaces for CAP Dissemination
CAP Introducing CAP
Interfaces for CAP Dissemination
broadcast on television
CAP
broadcast on radio
trigger sirens
text to speech
translate language
Tools are already available for interfacing CAP messages to quite a lot of dissemination facilities: tools for broadcasting on radio and television, for triggering sirens, calling telephones, sending faxes, sending , sending SMS messages, converting text to speech, translating to additional languages, re-directing traffic, shaking beds, and so on.
call telephones
send Faxes
send
send SMS messages
re-direct traffic
CAP Introducing CAP

8. Alerts via Online Advertising
CAP Introducing CAP
Alerts via Online Advertising
As mentioned at the beginning of this presentation, Conversant and its partners now interrupt online commercial advertising to show tornado warnings to Internet users in the alerting area. How is that accomplished?
CAP alerts are harvested continuously by Conversant from online CAP alert feeds. This process works from the list of official sources given in the international Register of Alerting Authorities.
Each CAP alert should have geographic information for the targeted alerting area. And, the advertising technology used with Conversant already has information about the user’s location. So, to determine whether to override an advertisement with a particular CAP alert, the system matches the user’s location to the CAP alert area. In practice today, only critical warnings are displayed to users—CAP alerts that require immediate action, such as a specific tornado warning.
Online advertising companies interrupt commercial advertising to show critical warnings from official alerting authorities
CAP Introducing CAP

9. Eye-catching Graphics, Text in User's Language
CAP Introducing CAP
Eye-catching Graphics, Text in User's Language
Notice that these kind of warnings are shown with eye-catching graphics, and in the user's own language. To make that happen, Conversant designers make specific graphics for each type of alert.
These graphics (known in advertising circles as “creatives”) must be tailored to the many sizes and orientations in use when users view Internet pages with smart phones, tablets, laptops, desktop PC’s, and so on. Any text on the warning must also be in the user’s preferred language.
Of course, there are also many design choices required as to what symbols, fonts, and colors should be used in these warnings. Here we hope that international experts will develop a consensus document with guidance about such design choices.
Now, I’d like to elaborate on the free public alerting capabilities now offered with Google’s various products.
Specific graphics for each type of CAP alert (Note: consensus design guidance would be nice!)
CAP Introducing CAP

10. CAP Introducing CAP
Google Public Alerts
Platform designed to bring users relevant emergency alerts when and where they are using Google tools
Whether user sees an alert depends on search query, which alerts are active, and the event importance
To see all active alerts, go to homepage 
Google Public Alerts is a platform designed to bring users relevant emergency alerts when and where they are searching. For instance, if a severe weather event is incoming, a user might go online to search for information such as: What is the weather service saying about it? Where and when might it happen? How severe will it be? What resources are available to help?
Whether a user sees an alert depends on the user's search query, which alerts are active at the given location and the severity of the alerted event. Users can see all of the active alerts in one place, at the Google's public alerts homepage
This homepage also links to more information on the public alerts platform and gives instructions to interested organizations who want to make emergency information available through this tool.
CAP Introducing CAP

11. Google Public Alerts on Smartphones
CAP Introducing CAP
Google Public Alerts on Smartphones
Alerts in “Google Now” on Android
Alerts in Google Maps on mobile browser
Google Public Alerts shows up in “Google Now” on Android when there is an important emergency alert nearby, as published by authoritative sources. The title and publisher of the alert are immediately displayed, with a brief snippet of text. A “More Info” link provides more details, including the location.
Google Now will show you only the most severe alerts, similar to a national emergency alert system trigger. Also, the service will only attempt to display alerts that are published in the selected language of the device.
When triggered by your search using a browser (including mobile browser), Google Public Alerts show up in Google Maps. Relevant weather, public safety and earthquake alerts show at the top of the screen when viewing the business listings for your search. To learn more about an alert, the “more details” link goes to a page with greater detail.
CAP Introducing CAP

12. Example Interface Tool for CAP Dissemination
CAP Introducing CAP
Example Interface Tool for CAP Dissemination
MeteoFactory from MFI (MeteoFrance International) includes interfaces to produce: information for large-screen public displays, ready-to-print formats for press media, Fax messages, mobile phone messages (text and graphics)...
Here is another example of a CAP-enabled tool supporting diverse dissemination methods.
The MeteoFactory set of tools from MFI (MeteoFrance International) includes interfaces to produce: information for large-screen public displays, ready-to-print formats for press media, Fax messages, and mobile phone messages (text and graphics).
CAP Introducing CAP

13. Interface for Public Address
CAP Introducing CAP
Interface for Public Address
AtHoc Integration Module (PC appliance) acts as interface between CAP-based network and mass notification systems, such as public address
Here’s an example from a company known as “AtHoc”. This company provides an interface tool between its CAP-based network and traditional mass notification systems, such as the “Giant Voice” public address systems, campus cable TV, and local radio.
The interface is a PC-based appliance, usually connected to the alerting devices using a serial port (e.g. RS-232), “dry contacts”, or “audio-out connectors”.
CAP Introducing CAP

14. Google.Org and Crisis Response
CAP Introducing CAP
Google.Org and Crisis Response
more info
Google.Org is the philanthropic arm of Google. Within Google.Org, the Crisis Response Team builds tools to collect and share emergency information. A primary example is the Google.Org Public Alerts platform.
Here we see that a user is viewing a Flood Warning in Northern Indiana. When the user hits “more info” on this alert, up comes a page showing more details about the alert plus other useful information. It also includes a link to the full CAP alert content as posted by the official publisher. In this case, that is the U.S. National Weather Service.
CAP Introducing CAP