When considering options for mass notification, emergency managers are generally accustomed to sending alerts through telephones, mobile devices and email. Yet, an interesting (perhaps controversial) option growing in public reach is the digital sign or digital outdoor billboard.
Digital sign deployments on campuses, in facilities and within complexes continues to expand. And, these signs are not confined to closed networks within buildings. As advertisers vie for attention, and consumers require greater sophistication in visual content, municipalities are witnessing an increase in the number of digital billboards on highways and highly-trafficked areas according to the Outdoor Advertising Association of America.
Whether for or against this trend, the movement is noteworthy for emergency managers as these devices appear to have implications for public alerting. For example, last month outdoor advertiser Clear Channel Outdoor and the FBI unveiled a digital billboard in Times Square designed to "highlight wanted fugitives, missing persons and high-priority security messages."
The billboard is apparently part of a nationwide partnering initiative which enables the FBI to highlight: violent criminals, kidnap victims, missing children, bank robbers, and more. The FBI currently has access to more than 1,500 billboards in more than 40 states through this initiative.
It's no stretch to imagine mass notification systems linked to local billboards, perhaps targeting very specific geographic areas of a city. Further, one can imagine private networks within malls, hospitals, office buildings, etc. open to receiving authenticated emergency alerts through a standard messaging protocol such as CAP (Common Alerting Protocol).
Such devices may even be useful for collecting situational data from citizens at the scene of a crisis. According to Sanjay Manandhar, CEO of Aerva, a company that develops software to drive digital displays, signs can be programmed in real-time through a web-based interface to collect feedback using SMS polling (such systems are being used currently for events such as concerts and trade shows). Perhaps this feature can be used in creative ways to solicit incident-related information.
It will certainly be interesting to see how new methods of notification will emerge over the next decade. Digital signage technology may become a widely-accepted channel for delivering critical information as its penetration continues to deepen.
All the best,
Lorin
To receive a comprehensive Galain Solutions white paper: "Notifications Alerts & Warnings, The Next Generation," email us your request at resources@galainsolutions.com.
Galain Solutions, Inc.
www.galainsolutions.com
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Another State Attempts Statewide Notification Program
Legislation has been introduced in Tennessee that would create a pilot for a statewide notification program. In bills introduced by Senator Eric Stewart and Representative Charles Curtiss, the state emergency communications board will select local communications boards in regions throughout the state to conduct pilots.
The program would notify persons of severe weather warnings and emergency information via recorded voice messages. Text message delivery is a possibility.
There's obviously a price tag associated with the pilot. Funds would come from the E911 coffers. Considering the state of the economy, resistance to new programs with costs, and the fact that 911 officials are very protective of their funds, the legislation could easily not pass this year. But, at least it puts the issue on the table.
States with statewide notification systems include: New York, Montana, Connecticut, California, and Louisiana. (If you know of others, please let us know.)
All the best,
Rick
The program would notify persons of severe weather warnings and emergency information via recorded voice messages. Text message delivery is a possibility.
There's obviously a price tag associated with the pilot. Funds would come from the E911 coffers. Considering the state of the economy, resistance to new programs with costs, and the fact that 911 officials are very protective of their funds, the legislation could easily not pass this year. But, at least it puts the issue on the table.
States with statewide notification systems include: New York, Montana, Connecticut, California, and Louisiana. (If you know of others, please let us know.)
All the best,
Rick
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
End of an Era in ENS
Today marked the end of an era of sorts in emergency notification. PlantCML® announced it will no longer be using the Dialogic Communications Corporation or DCC brands, but will instead consolidate the division into a newly created "PlantCML Notification Solutions and Services (NSS)" business unit. DCC was previously a wholly owned subsidiary, using the name since its original inception in the early '80s.
It appears as if the company will continue utilizing the various application brand names such as The Communicator!® NXT™, GeoCast® Web™, NetNotify™ and REVERSE 911®. Further, product development, technical support, field services and sales will continue to be managed from the Franklin, TN offices.
On a related note, long-time ENS veteran Bob Peter has moved on from DCC. Bob led the sales teams and was a part of the REVERSE 911® organization prior to its acquisition by PlantCML. Bob is a class act and we wish him great success in his new endeavors.
All the best,
Lorin
It appears as if the company will continue utilizing the various application brand names such as The Communicator!® NXT™, GeoCast® Web™, NetNotify™ and REVERSE 911®. Further, product development, technical support, field services and sales will continue to be managed from the Franklin, TN offices.
On a related note, long-time ENS veteran Bob Peter has moved on from DCC. Bob led the sales teams and was a part of the REVERSE 911® organization prior to its acquisition by PlantCML. Bob is a class act and we wish him great success in his new endeavors.
All the best,
Lorin
Thursday, February 11, 2010
FEMA Shows Off its Geo-Targeted Alert System Project
Yesterday, FEMA illustrated its Geo-Targeted Alerting System (GTAS) project, a prototype application of plume modeling and high resolution weather models that may eventually be used for alerting the public.
The application is essentially a map-based notification interface, however, it is connected to some very useful data. First, it receives high-resolution weather data and modeling feeds from the National Weather Service. These feeds allow emergency managers to visualize areas in the path of dangerous weather (currently or forecasted) and to select these areas for the issuance of highly targeted public emergency notifications. Further, the app provides built-in collaboration tools so emergency managers can can work with outside experts to clarify the information being presented.
Second, it offers toxic plume modeling capabilities that, when combined with atmospheric information, provides detailed information on the dispersion patterns of toxic substances. This information can also be used to guide the issuance of public alerts. The application can apparently model more than 500 toxic substances (based on the CAMEO chemicals database).
The application is designed to utilize the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) for communicating with local emergency notification systems and National Weather Service transmitters. It will also interface with FEMA's upcoming Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) through CAP.
The system was piloted in four FEMA regions last year, and several more pilots are scheduled for this year. FEMA says it expects the application to be generally available to emergency managers by 2013.
All the best,
Lorin
To receive a comprehensive Galain Solutions white paper: "Notifications Alerts & Warnings, The Next Generation," email us your request at resources@galainsolutions.com.
Galain Solutions, Inc.
www.galainsolutions.com
The application is essentially a map-based notification interface, however, it is connected to some very useful data. First, it receives high-resolution weather data and modeling feeds from the National Weather Service. These feeds allow emergency managers to visualize areas in the path of dangerous weather (currently or forecasted) and to select these areas for the issuance of highly targeted public emergency notifications. Further, the app provides built-in collaboration tools so emergency managers can can work with outside experts to clarify the information being presented.
Second, it offers toxic plume modeling capabilities that, when combined with atmospheric information, provides detailed information on the dispersion patterns of toxic substances. This information can also be used to guide the issuance of public alerts. The application can apparently model more than 500 toxic substances (based on the CAMEO chemicals database).
The application is designed to utilize the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) for communicating with local emergency notification systems and National Weather Service transmitters. It will also interface with FEMA's upcoming Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) through CAP.
The system was piloted in four FEMA regions last year, and several more pilots are scheduled for this year. FEMA says it expects the application to be generally available to emergency managers by 2013.
All the best,
Lorin
To receive a comprehensive Galain Solutions white paper: "Notifications Alerts & Warnings, The Next Generation," email us your request at resources@galainsolutions.com.
Galain Solutions, Inc.
www.galainsolutions.com
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Solving the Mystery of Nixle
As we travel around the country, we keep hearing public safety officials talk about Nixle. It's a notification solution, similar to others. A public safety agency subscribes, then invites residents to sign up to receive notifications. Here's the difference: Nixle is free. It doesn't cost public safety anything and it doesn't cost the residents anything.
So, how can a company offer such a service with no obvious means of survival? A prominent theory about the mystery is that Nixle will generate revenue by selling space in their notifications to advertisers. Wrong, we learned. In fact, their agreements with their public safety customers specifically state they won't do so. So, what is it?
Being astute detectives, we decided to solve the mystery. (OK, perhaps we simply called Nixle's Chief Executive Officer/Founder.) Craig Mitnik is a former prosecutor, clearly with a passion for helping make sure citizens are notified when there's something of interest going on in their communities. He says he's surprised that his business model has become an issue, but says he's been asked about it many times in the last few months as he was building his customer list to over 3,600 agencies.
Here's the trick: Mitnik and company have developed related technology they intend to sell to the private sector. That, he believes, will be more lucrative than selling to public safety, and will help support his public safety efforts.
Mitnik stresses that his public safety system and his private sector systems "are not co-mingled". His partners will probably make sure that's the case. One of them is the National Law Enforcement Technology System (NLETS), which has strict standards for security.
We don't endorse vendors, but I must confess to being impressed with Nixle. I signed up to check it out. (Since my hometown doesn't use Nixle, I had to trick the system into thinking that I live in a bar in Virginia.) I was impressed with the notifications I received. Mitnik shares credit with the public safety agency in Virginia I tricked, saying Nixle gives complete control to the agency for content.
Is Nixle the answer to the challenge of solving notification problems? Probably not by itself, but it sure looks like an interesting piece of the puzzle. Let's just hope Mitnik and company are successful selling to the private sector so they can keep their public safety habit alive.
All the best,
Rick
So, how can a company offer such a service with no obvious means of survival? A prominent theory about the mystery is that Nixle will generate revenue by selling space in their notifications to advertisers. Wrong, we learned. In fact, their agreements with their public safety customers specifically state they won't do so. So, what is it?
Being astute detectives, we decided to solve the mystery. (OK, perhaps we simply called Nixle's Chief Executive Officer/Founder.) Craig Mitnik is a former prosecutor, clearly with a passion for helping make sure citizens are notified when there's something of interest going on in their communities. He says he's surprised that his business model has become an issue, but says he's been asked about it many times in the last few months as he was building his customer list to over 3,600 agencies.
Here's the trick: Mitnik and company have developed related technology they intend to sell to the private sector. That, he believes, will be more lucrative than selling to public safety, and will help support his public safety efforts.
Mitnik stresses that his public safety system and his private sector systems "are not co-mingled". His partners will probably make sure that's the case. One of them is the National Law Enforcement Technology System (NLETS), which has strict standards for security.
We don't endorse vendors, but I must confess to being impressed with Nixle. I signed up to check it out. (Since my hometown doesn't use Nixle, I had to trick the system into thinking that I live in a bar in Virginia.) I was impressed with the notifications I received. Mitnik shares credit with the public safety agency in Virginia I tricked, saying Nixle gives complete control to the agency for content.
Is Nixle the answer to the challenge of solving notification problems? Probably not by itself, but it sure looks like an interesting piece of the puzzle. Let's just hope Mitnik and company are successful selling to the private sector so they can keep their public safety habit alive.
All the best,
Rick
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
An Offer You Can't Refuse?
In a follow up to our recent post on providing incentives for citizens to register their mobile phones for alerts, it appears San Diego County is dipping its fingers into the motivational pie. Literally.
The county, in conjunction with Twenty First Century Communications, is offering to give the first 500 people who register their mobile phones a free medium Papa John's pizza. The incentive is open to people who haven't previously registered their phones with AlertSanDiego, the county's emergency notification system. And for those who miss the initial free pizza deal, the pizza chain will provide special discount coupons for additional registrants throughout the month of February.
We love to see creative juices flowing (sorry) when it comes to cost-effective methods for creating a buzz among citizens. This situation is an example of a win-win-win for citizens, public safety officials and local business.
Keep your eyes open for more unique partnering programs that get results. And let us hear about your own success stories. Unless, of course, the ideas happen to be really...cheesy.
(Very sorry).
All the best,
Lorin
The county, in conjunction with Twenty First Century Communications, is offering to give the first 500 people who register their mobile phones a free medium Papa John's pizza. The incentive is open to people who haven't previously registered their phones with AlertSanDiego, the county's emergency notification system. And for those who miss the initial free pizza deal, the pizza chain will provide special discount coupons for additional registrants throughout the month of February.
We love to see creative juices flowing (sorry) when it comes to cost-effective methods for creating a buzz among citizens. This situation is an example of a win-win-win for citizens, public safety officials and local business.
Keep your eyes open for more unique partnering programs that get results. And let us hear about your own success stories. Unless, of course, the ideas happen to be really...cheesy.
(Very sorry).
All the best,
Lorin
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