1. Watch/Warnings in CAP NWS Partners Meeting
Bob Bunge OCIO
1/21/10

2. Review: Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)
Non proprietary digital message format, based on XML, that provides for Interoperability in all-hazard warning
Compatible with current geocoding schema (e.g., NWR Specific Area Message Encoding and Emergency Alert System)
Partnership for Public Warning
Warning systems in the United States today are “a patchwork of technologies and processes.”
Need to distribute warnings consistently over all available channels.

3. CAP Drivers Public Safety Commercial Weather Sector
Interoperability enables the American people to receive alert and warning information through as many means as possible
FEMA Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) - Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS)
Commercial Weather Sector
Low cost of entry
Can make many products from same easy to parse message
Minimal issues when NWS makes changes
NWS efficiency and agility
Greater focus on content of message and less on mechanics
Minimal impact on users when NWS changes necessary
Enables/facilitates decision support and related technologies

4. Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)
In 2006, Public Alert and Warning System Executive Order required creation of a more “effective, reliable, integrated, flexible, and comprehensive system that enables the American people to receive alert and warning information through as many means as possible.”
IPAWS Projects Focus on Interoperability
EAS Modernization and Expansion Project
Digital Emergency Alert System (DEAS)
Standards and Protocols Project (CAP)
Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS)
Geo-Targeted Alerting System (GTAS)
NOAA Weather Radio Improvement Program (WRIP)
Inventory and Evaluation (I&E)
Radio Broadcast Data System (RBDS)

5. Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS)
National capability to deliver geographically targeted Presidential and imminent threat alerts (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, etc) and child abduction emergencies through mobile devices (cell phones)
Origins in Warning, Alert, and Response Network (WARN) Act of 2006
DHS/FEMA and stakeholder involvement (wireless carriers, equipment manufacturers, Government agencies, broadcast associations, emergency management, safety organizations, and other experts)
Wireless carrier participation voluntary, but all majors participating
Available to public in 2012
and

6. FEMA CMAS Architecture
NWS required to post weather alerts in CAP format to a FEMA administered Alert Aggregator
Alert Originators

7. CMAS Capabilities Cell tower broadcast (point to multi-point)
Geographic Targeting of Alerts to county level
Text limited to 90 characters (first generation)
Streaming Audio (future)
Streaming Video (future)
Downloadable Multimedia (future)
Public opt-out rather than opt-in (but vendor may offer opt-in for additional alerts/capabilities)

8. NWS CAP Update Continued progress on CAP 1.x web based feeds
Plans for 2010
Migrate to CAP 1.2
CMAS and IPAWS compatibility
In preparation to move “pull” feeds to official:
March 15 target date
Load balanced, 99.9% availability
CAP 1.0 feeds at to be redirected
Experimental Push over XMPP and to DMIS
Early discussions and very limited tests
Testing in 3rd or 4th quarter

9. Engaging the Alerting Industry
National Information Exchange Model (niem.gov) National Training      Event (Baltimore, Sept 2009)
International Association of Emergency Managers (iaem.com)      Conference,(Orlando, Nov. 2009)
Technologies for Critical Incident Preparedness (tcipexpo.com)      Conference (Philadelphia, Feb. 2010)
Discussions on the use of CAP across EM enterprise
Interoperability Demonstrations facilitated by OASIS
6-14 Vendors, software and hardware
Toxic cloud release
HazMat Warning then Tornado Warning
Demonstrated NWS CAP 1.1 compliance

10. OASIS Activities
Regular participation in EM Technical Committee meetings
Participation in sub committee meetings regarding review of FEMA IPAWS CAP Profile
Participation in sub committee meetings reviewing public comments on IPAWS CAP Profile
Participation in committee meetings regarding CAP 1.2 standard
Participation in sub-committee meetings for CAP adoption outreach and interop demos

11. Bob Bunge NWS/OCIO Internet Dissemination Officer
x140

12. IPAWS Vision Architecture
Message
Disseminators
Public
Emergency Managers
IPAWS compliant CAP Alert Origination Tools
IP access networks
Emergency Alert System
AM FM Satellite Radio;
Digital Analog Cable Satellite TV
Federal
Digital EAS
PBS
IPAWS
Cellular
Phones
State
Commercial Mobile Alert System
Cellular
Carriers Networks
Web Browsers, widgets, web sites
Internet Services
Local
NOAA
message aggregation, authentication, adaption
State / Local Unique Alerting Systems
(e.g. ETN, Siren, Signage systems)
IP distribution networks