Introduction to Operationalizing the Common Alerting Protocol (ITU-T X.1303) Standard
Nuwan WaidyanathaITU Consultant / Senior Research Fellow
Email: nuwan [at] lirneasia [dot] net
http://www.lirneasia.net/profiles/nuwan-waidyanathaMobile: +8613888446352 (cn) +94773710394 (lk)
4th Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) Workshop on Disaster Management/Communications
2013 July 24
SMX Convention Center, Manila, Philippines
□ Why do we need CAP
□ What is CAP?
□ How do we use it?■ CAP-Profile■ Register of Alerting
Authorities■ Multi agency situational
awareness
□ Automation
□ Pilots
□ Users
□ Conclusion□ Resources
Outline
□How do we manage the subscribers and publishers?
□How do we deliver early warnings in local language?
□How do we use available technologies?
□How do we disseminate alerts over multiple channels?
□How do we interoperate with incompatible systems?
□How do we effectively communicate the optimal content?
□How do we address the communication strategy?
□How do we accommodate upstream-downstream alerting?
Problem to solve in alerting/warning systems
ANSWER: CAP for all-hazards all-media and multi-agency alerting and situational awareness
Managed by the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS)
Recommended by the International Telecommunications Union Standardization Sector (ITU-T) – to align with ASN1 (Abstract Syntax Notation One) ISO standards notation
Complies with the US National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) six principles of alerting, designed for :
• Coordination (avoid duplication)• Consistency (believable)• Channels (Multiple)• Completeness (unabiguity)• Coverage (Geo-targetting)• Control (security)
Common Alerting Protocol - CAP
□ XML Schema and Document Object Model
□ Interoperable Emergency Communication Standard
□ Specifically geared for Communicating Complete Alerts
□ Capability for Digital encryption and signature X.509
□ It's for “all-hazards all-media” communication
□ Recommended by ITU-T X.1303
□ Incubated by W3C Emergency Information Interoperability Framework
□ Can be used as a guide for structuring alerts
□ Used by USGS, WMO, Govs of AUS, CAN, USA, EU...
eXtensible Markup Language (XML)
What is XML?Markup language like HTMLDesigned to carry and store dataSelf descriptive
W3C recommendation – (http://www.w3schools.com/w3c/w3c_xml.asp)
Why Use XML?Interoperable: xml data can be shared between incompatible systemsWell Formed: adheres to correct syntaxValidation: structure: Document Type Definition or XML SchemasAccessibility: Document Object Model defines the text & attributes
Header
Opening tag
Closing tag
Target Name Space(Association)
CAP Document Object ModelidentifiersenderSentStatusmsgTypeSourceScopeRestrictionAddressCode (handling code)NoteReferences (Ref ID)Incidents (Incident ID)
LanguageCategoryEvent*responseTypeUrgencySeverityCertaintyAudienceeventCode*Effective (datetime)Onset (datetime)Expires (datetime)senderNameHeadlineDescriptionInstructionWeb (InformationURL)Contact (contact details)Parameter*
resourceDescmimeTypeSizeURIderefURIdigest
areaDescPolygon*Circle*Geocode*AltitudeCeiling
*
<ALERT>
<INFO>
<RESOURCE>
<AREA>
*
*
□<Alert> block is the “envelop”■ Identifies the message no.,
sender, message type, scope of audience, time sent
■ Contains one or more <info> blocks
□<Info> carries details of the audience, area, or time frame:
■ who, what, where, so what?■ Multiple <info> blocks for each
language■ The <category> is for recipients to
filter messages■ <Urgency>, <Severity>, &
<certainty> define the message priority
■ <Effective. and <expiration> date■ Hazard <event> details and public
<instructions>■ <Contact> info■ Additional technical <parameters>
□<Area> specific geographic target area for particular <info> block□<Resource> additional information
■ include text, audio, or photos, maps, video files
1
1
1
Purpose of the multiple <INFO> and <AREA>
Cyclone NILAM-122012 October 31
NILAM-12LK Met Dept
02:00 UTCAlert
'si'ඉහළ
කාලගුණ
'ta'உயர்
வானிைல
'en'HIGHMET
North
வடக்கு
උතුර
<AREA>
<INFO>02:00 UTC
ඊශාන
வடகிழக்கு
Northeast
NILAM-12LK Met Dept
12:00 UTCUpdate
'si'ඉහළ
කාලගුණ
'ta'உயர்
வானிைல
'en'HIGHMET
North
வடக்கு
උතුර
<INFO>12:00 UTC
<Alert>qualifiers
CAP Country Profile, the steps
Audience
Geography
Language
Technology
(1) EventsWhat type of incidents will you address? (e.g. geological, meteorological, … )
Pub-Sub
Events
(2) Audience <Scope>Alert First Responders only (i.e. closed user group)Example: police, health workers, civil society, public servantsAlert Public (entire population)Combination of First Responders and Publicstep 1: alert First-Responders to give them time to prepare Step 2: warn public
(4) National <Languages>English only or Chinese only or Malay onlyEnglish, Hindi, Chinese, and Malay which jurisdictions?
(3) Geographical Descriptions <Area>Country wideProvince or StateDistrictOther – Geocodes or GPS polygons
(5) Communications Technology?Mobile phones – SMS, CB, Email, AppletTV – Text, Audio, VisualAM/FM Radio - Text, AudioVHF/UHF Radio - AudioInternet – HTTP, Email, Webserviceshich jurisdictions?
(6) Publisher Subscriber Rules (OIDs and EDXL-DE)Who can publish what alerts in which jurisdictions?Who can subscribe to what alerts in which jurisdictions?
Who?What?Where?When?
Managing your publishers (alerting authorities)
Use the Joint International Telecommunications Union and International Standards Organization established Object Identifier Codes
http://www.statoids.com/ulk.html
Sri Lanka(144)
Met(144.0.0)
DMC(144.0)
GMB(144.0.1)
Health(144.0.2)
Irrigation(144.0.3)
Fisheries(144.0.4)
CO-RE(144.0.2.1)
RN-RE(144.0.2.0)
KG-RE(144.0.2.2)
WAR-MOH(144.0.2.2.1)
KUL-MOH(144.0.2.2.2)
Message(144.1)
Inter and Intra jurisdictional Alerting1) Transportation authority subscribe to
hydrological, meteorological, and geological event category alerts.
2) Irrigation department issues a flash flood warning for Kirinda area, with regular updates of the flood inundation trajectories
3) Transportation authority monitors the alert updates and forewarns the depots in the inundation area.
4) Each bus depot and train station activates their emergency response plans to secure their assets
5) Wildlife authority may advise rangers to be observant of wildlife movements on to railways, roads, and farmlands, and residential areas
WMO Register of Alerting Authorities□ It is a way to uniquely identify national and
international alerting authorities
□ Messages originating from those authorities can be uniquely identified
□ Typically used in the CAP <identifier>
□ OID Repository Tree: http://www.oid-info.com/cgi-bin/display?oid=2.49.0
□ List of organizations already registered with WMO: http://www-db.wmo.int/alerting/authorities.html
□ For example:
□Administrative procedure for registering an alerting authority: http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/amp/pwsp/documents/AIR_PWS-20.pdf
Prioritizing Messages in CAP
Priority <urgency> <severity> <certainty>
Urgent Immediate Extreme Observed
High Expected Severe Observed
Low Expected Moderate Observed
Rainstorm Warning Rainstorm Warning Signals Signals
(colour-coded)(colour-coded)
Tropical Cyclone Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals Warning Signals (number-coded)(number-coded)
STEP 1: select template and create message (or reuse message)
STEP 2: select recipients, delivery channels, and view outputs
CAP (XML) → uses XSL to transform→ delivery method
Automated Standard Message
“A <event> alert has been issued for <areaDesc> by <senderName>. Persons in this area are encouraged to <responseType>, and <instruction>. This event is rated as <severity>, and is <certainty>. Responsive action should be taken <urgency> . For more information about this event, visit <URI> or call <contact>.”
Example of Automated Standard Message
“A Flood alert has been issued for North Western Province by Department of Irrigation and Water Resources. Persons in this area are encouraged to prepare, and stay away from demarcated flood zones. This event is rated as moderate, and is likely. Responsive action should be taken in future. For more information about this event, visit http://www.ndmc.gov.lk/ or call 2395521.”
SAMBRO Screen – SMS & Email
SABRO Screen Shots
SAMBRO Screen Shots
SHOW VIDEO
The Feedback Control using Social Media
Warning/AlertingBroker
SMS
Self correcting feedback control
A few field tested pilots
CAP and Wireless technologies to bridge the last-mile
CAP over the HF spectrum data platform
CAP in Biosurveillance for alerting public health officials
CAP-enabled Interactive Voice Alerting
Next Goal – CAP-enabled Pictograph Alerts
CAP-CAN (CANADA)
Alert Message Supplemental Info
Headline Wave Height
SMS Text Wave Arrival \time
TVCrawler Arrival direction
Alert Message Supplemental Info
Headline Wave Height
SMS text Wave Arrival Time
TVcrawler Arrival Direction
1:02pm
From 280 degrees N
15 meters
The info block with Vancouver could have:
Audience Message 1: “Tsunami
warning in effect”
Audience Message 2: “Tsunami
warning in effect”
Tsunami warning in effect
WARNING: Tsunami approaching
Tsunami warning
The info block with Victoria could have:
1:05pm
From 350 degrees N
15 metersTsunami warning in effect
WARNING: Tsunami approaching
Tsunami Warning
China CAP-enabled Early Warning
27
Railway FinancialCivil
affairs … …… …
State
31Province
342Prefecture
2379County
Land Earthquake Water Heath
Firefighting Meteorological TrafficDiploma
tic“Horizontal”Inf. Sharing
“Vertical”
A variety of means to outdoors
1122
33
Management platformManagement platform
Collection
Collection
WebsiteWebsiteFeedback evaluation
systemFeedback evaluation
system
SMS release system
SMS release systemProcessProcess Transm
issionTransmission
StoreStore ControlControl
National Emergency Early Warning Alerting System
中国气象局 中国气象局 China Meteorological Administration
US Public Alerting and Warning System
28
Pinkerton
Pinkerton’s Global Risk Group (GRG) is a specialty division with an international charter to provide security intelligence services directly to select Pinkerton clients and support regional offices by augmenting traditional lines.
ValueClick – Alerting through Advertising
u
Google Public Alerts (google.org/publicalerts)
http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/ISS/Meetings/WIS-CAP_Geneva2011/Google.pdf
Conclusion
CAP is a consistent, complete, multi lingual, and interoperable global emergency communication protocol
CAP offers standard guidelines for developing an inventory of emergency information templates and messages
CAP should be adopted by states and organizations for their public and closed-user-group exchange of emergency information
States or organization must first develop a CAP Profile in consultation with all involved stakeholders; as a first step – register alerting authorities
Profile should consider the target – audience (<scope>), jurisdictions <area>, <Language>, Technologies, and Country specific Publisher/Subscriber rules
Alerting agencies should adopt a “CAP Broker” for constructing and issuing CAP messages via “tested” technologies
Recommendation to Disaster Communications Technology Manufacturers – Make your equipment CAP compliant
Resources
1) Video “Introduction to CAP”, Eliot Christian (WMO): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0iKp60jjtY
2) Instructions for translating the video to local language: http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/ISS/Meetings/WIS-CAP_Geneva2011/video.zip
3) Video on the use of CAP in real-time biosurveillance pilot, Nuwan Waidyanatha (LIRNEasia): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7WOq5giddI
4) CAP implementers workshop, WMO, Geneva, April 2011: http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/ISS/Meetings/WIS-CAP_Geneva2011/DocPlan.html
5) CAP Cookbook (wiki): http://www.incident.com/cookbook/index.php/Welcome_to_the_CAP_Cookbook
6) ITU-T recommendation X.1303: http://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-X.1303/en
7) TD No. 1556, Administrative Procedure for Registering WMO Alerting Identifiers (PWS-20): http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/amp/pwsp/documents/AIR_PWS-20.pdf
8) OASIS EDXL suite of standards (including CAP): http://www.oasis-open.org/standards#edxl