Common Alerting Protocol: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|XML-based markup language}}

The '''Common Alerting Protocol''' ('''CAP''') is an [[XML]]-based data format for exchanging [[Emergencyemergency population warning|public warnings]] and emergencies between [[alerting technologies]]. CAP allows a warning message to be consistently disseminated simultaneously over many warning systems to many applications., such as [[Google Public Alerts]] and [[Cell Broadcast]]. CAP increases warning effectiveness and simplifies the task of activating a warning for responsible officials.

Standardized alerts can be received from many sources and configure their applications to process and respond to the alerts as desired. Alerts from the [[Department of Homeland Security]], the [[Department of the Interior]]'s [[United States Geological Survey]], and the [[United States Department of Commerce]]'s [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] (NOAA), and state and local government agencies can all be received in the same format, by the same application. That application can, for example, sound different alarms, based on the information received.

By normalizing alert data across threats, jurisdictions, and warning systems, CAP also can be used to detect trends and patterns in warning activity, such as trends that might indicate an undetected hazard or hostile act. From a procedural perspective, CAP reinforces a research-based template for effective warning message content and structure.

The CAP data structure is backward-compatible with existing alert formats including the [[Specific Area Message Encoding]] (SAME) used in [[NOAA Weather Radio|Weatheradio]] and the broadcast [[Emergency Alert System]] as well as new technology such as the [[Wireless Emergency Alerts]] (WEA), while adding capabilities includingsuch as the following:

*Flexible geographic targeting by using latitude/longitude “boxes” and other geospatial representations in three dimensions;

*Multilingual and multi-audience messaging;

*Phased and delayed effective times and expirations;

*Enhanced message update and cancellation features;

*Template support for framing complete and effective warning messages;

*Digital encryption and signature capability;

*Facility for digital images, audio, and video.

==Background==

The U.S.US [[National Science and Technology Council]] (NSTC) November 2000 report on “Effective"Effective Disaster Warnings”Warnings" recommended that “a "standard method should be developed to collect and relay instantaneously and automatically all types of hazard warnings and reports locally, regionally and nationally for input into a wide variety of dissemination systems”systems."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sdr.gov/NDIS_rev_Oct27.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2006-05-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060513144112/http://www.sdr.gov/NDIS_rev_Oct27.pdf |archive-date=2006-05-13 }}</ref>

In 2001, an international, independent group of over 120 emergency managers that was convened online by California emergency telecommunications expert Art Botterell began specifying and prototyping the Common Alerting Protocol data structure based on the recommendations of the NSTC report. The project was embraced by the non-profit Partnership for Public Warning and a number of international warning system vendors.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ppw.us/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20020928072102/http://www.ppw.us/|url-status=usurped|title=Partnership for Public Warning|archive-date=28 September 2002|website=ppw.us}}</ref> A series of field trials and long-term demonstration projects during 2002-03 led to the submission of a draft CAP specification to the OASIS standards process for formalization.

The CAP&nbsp;1.0 specification was approved by [[OASIS (organization)|OASIS]] in April 2004. Based on experience with CAP&nbsp;1.0, the OASIS Emergency Management Technical Committee adopted an updated CAP&nbsp;1.1 specification in October 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/emergency |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030207195408/http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/emergency/ |archive-date=2003-02-07 |title=OASIS - Committees - OASIS Emergency Management TC}}</ref><ref>[http://www.oasis-open.org/committees/download.php/14759/emergency-CAPv1.1.pdf Common Alerting Protocol, v. 1.1] oasis-open.org</ref> At a meeting in Geneva in October 2006 the CAP&nbsp;1.1 specification was taken under consideration by the [[International TelecommunicationsTelecommunication Union]]'s [[ITU-T|Standardization Sector]] for adoption as an ITU-T recommendation. CAP was subsequently adopted as Recommendation X.1303.<ref>{{cite web |title=X.1303 : Common alerting protocol (CAP 1.1) |url=https://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-X.1303/en |publisher=International Telecommunication Union |access-date=2019-04-30}}</ref>

The latest CAP specification version 1.2 ishas been available since July 2010 at the OASIS Web sitewebsite.<ref>[http://docs.oasis-open.org/emergency/cap/v1.2/CAP-v1.2-os.pdf Common Alerting Protocol Version 1.2] oasis-open.org</ref>

==ImplementationsImplementation==

===Worldwide===

In 2007, the International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) adopted the Common Alerting Protocol as Recommendation X.1303.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/|title=ITU Telecommunication Standardization Sector|work=ITU}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itu.int/rec/T-REC-X.1303-200709-I/en|title=X.1303&nbsp;:&nbsp;Common alerting protocol (CAP 1.1)|author=tsbmail|work=itu.int}}</ref> The recommendation annex contains an authoritative [[ASN.1]] module translation of the CAP XML schema that may be useful for some implementations. Rec. X.1303 is within the remit of ITU‑T Study Group 17 (Security), Rapporteur Group on Cybersecurity (Q.4/17) for purposes of further evolution of the standard.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/studygroups/com17/index.asp|title=ITU-T Study Group 17 (Study Period 2013-2016)|work=itu.int}}</ref>

===Australia===

The Australian Government Standard for Common Alerting Protocol (CAP-AU-STD, 2012) was developed by a CAP-AU-STD stakeholder group comprising federal agencies [[Emergency Management Australia]], the [[Bureau of Meteorology]], [[Geoscience Australia|GeoScience Australia]], [[Department of Agriculture and Water Resources|Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry]] and the [[Department of Health, (Australia)|Department of Health]] as well as a number of State Government authorities and emergency services agencies. The project was co-ordinated by the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department (Australian Emergency Management).<ref>{{cite web|url=httphttps://www.emag.gov.au/EmergencyManagement/Emergency-management-capability/Pages/default.aspx|title=PagesEmergency Management Capabilities - AustralianAttorney EmergencyGeneral's ManagementDepartment|work=emag.gov.au|access-date=2018-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115184416/https://www.ag.gov.au/EmergencyManagement/Emergency-management-capability/Pages/default.aspx|archive-date=2018-01-15|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.govsharedata.gov.au/item-detailsdataset/?rid=57cap-au-std|title=Common Alerting Protocol – Australia (CAP-AU-STD) - GovShareData.gov.au|work=govsharedata.gov.au}}</ref>

===Canada===

In Canada, a working group composed of public alerting practitioners and government agencies has developed a CAP Canadian Profile (CAP-CP) based on CAP but specialized to address the needs of Canadian public alerting stakeholders, such as bilingualism, geocoding for Canada, managed lists of locations and events, etc. The Canadian government has adopted CAP-CP for its [[National Public Alerting System]] (NPAS) project. The CAP‑CP working group, along with stakeholders and projects such as the [[Canadian Public Safety Operations Organization]] (CanOps) and Netalerts' Sarnia Lambton trial, are now working with and refining CAP‑CP for national application in Canada.{{citation needed|date=June 2015}}

CAP has been implemented for a small-scale, grassroots hazard information system in [[Sri Lanka]] following the [[2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami]]. This implementation was part of the "HazInfo Project", funded by Canada's [[International Development Research Centre]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lirneasia.net/projects/current-projects/evaluating-last-mile-hazard-information-dissemination-hazinfo/|title=Evaluating Last-Mile Hazard Information Dissemination (HazInfo)|work=lirneasia.net|access-date=2007-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070709060448/http://www.lirneasia.net/projects/current-projects/evaluating-last-mile-hazard-information-dissemination-hazinfo/|archive-date=2007-07-09|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The province of [[Alberta]] adopted CAP as part of its [[Alberta Emergency Alert]] system. In March 2015, [[Alert Ready]], a national public warning system based upon CAP-CP, was officially launched. Participation in the system by all broadcasters and television providers is mandated by the [[Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Public Alerting Bulletin to Last Mile Distributors|url=https://alerts.pelmorex.com/download/public/Broadcaster%20Bulletin%202015-03-27.pdf|publisher=Pelmorex|accessdateaccess-date=9 June 2015|formatarchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506000827/https://alerts.pelmorex.com/download/public/Broadcaster%20Bulletin%202015-03-27.pdf|archive-date=6 May 2015|url-status=PDFdead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Alberta emergency system goes digital|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-emergency-system-goes-digital-1.993701|website=CBC News|accessdateaccess-date=9 June 2015}}</ref><ref name=cbc-aeavoice>{{cite web|title=Digital alert system hard to decipher: critics|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/digital-alert-system-hard-to-decipher-critics-1.1032381|website=CBC News|accessdateaccess-date=9 June 2015}}</ref>

===Germany===

The Federal Office for Citizen Protection and Disaster Support (''Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und KatastrophenhilfeKatastrophenhilf''e, BBK) is working on an implementation based on CAP 1.2, which will allow for Internet-based access to data provided by the nationsnation's modular warning system MoWaS.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bbk.bund.de/DE/AufgabenundAusstattung/Krisenmanagement/WarnungderBevoelkerung/Warnmultiplikatoren/Warnmultiplikatoren_node.html | title = Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe - Warnmultiplikatoren Warnmultiplikatoren|publisher=}}</ref> The development of MoWaS is based on the satellite-based warning system SatWaS from 2001, which only provides information to less than 150 state and media entities. In case no broadcast receiver, like a radio or television, is running nearby, the resulting warning effect of SatWaS would be severely limited, because many state-run emergency sirens have been left unmaintained or were dismantled altogether. ThisThe is oneuse of the issues, CAP support in MoWaS isshould hopedalleviate tothis alleviateproblem.

===Italy===

The Department of fire corpsFirefighters, publicPublic rescueRescue and civilCivil defenceDefence ([http://www.vigilfuoco.it/aspx/home.aspx Dipartimento dei Vigili del Fuoco, del Soccorso Pubblico e della Difesa Civile] ) of the [[Ministry of Interior (Italy)|Italian Ministry of the Interior]] adopted the CAP protocol with two Ministerial Decrees in [http://www.vigilfuoco.it/aspx/ReturnDocument.aspx?IdDocumento=4859 2008] and [http://www.vigilfuoco.it/aspx/ReturnDocument.aspx?IdDocumento=4855 2011.] Since then, its 100 provincial control rooms, 18 regional control rooms and the Nationalnational control centre exchange ana daily average of 25,000 CAP daily private messages concerning rescue operations in real time. As per the decrees, any emergency stakeholder in Italy which wants to exchange or share data with the Fire Corps in the course of large scale emergency or rescue operations has to adopt the CAP protocol.

As per the decrees, any emergency stakeholder in Italy which wants to exchange or share data with the Fire Corps in the course of large scale emergency or rescue operations has to adopt the CAP protocol.

The first use of CAP protocol in a civil protection activity has been recorded in 2009, in the aftermath of the Central Italy Earthquake, when the Fire Corps exchanged data with the Ministry for Cultural Heritage to coordinate their efforts in designing and implementing provisional measures for monuments and historical buildings.

The first use of CAP protocol in a civil protection activity hasin Italy beenwas recorded in 2009, in the aftermath of the [[Central Italy Earthquake]], when the Fire Corps exchanged data with the Ministry for Cultural Heritage to coordinate their efforts in designing and implementing provisional measures for monuments and historical buildings.

===United States===

According to a CAP 1.0 Fact Sheet,<ref>http://www.incident.com/cookbook/index.php/CAP_Fact_Sheet</ref> CAP implementations have been demonstrated by agencies and companies including: [[United States Department of Homeland Security]]; [[National Weather Service]]; [[United States Geological Survey]]; California Office of Emergency Services;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edis.oes.ca.gov|title=Emergency Digital Information Service (EDIS)|work=ca.gov}}</ref> Virginia Department of Transportation; NDS, Ltd.; GeoDecisions, Inc.; Blue292; Warning Systems, Inc.; Comlabs, Inc.; mobileFoundations; Ship Analytics; AlertSense (formerly MyStateUSA); IEM, Inc.; Hormann America, Inc.; Oregon RAINS; Alerting Solutions, Inc. and others.

On April 5, 2017, an [http://www.vigilfuoco.it/aspx/download_file.aspx?id=22636 agreement] between the "Corpo Nazionale dei Vigili del Fuoco" and the "Arma dei Carabinieri" has been signed to improve the forest fire fighting activities. The interoperability of data exchange that the agreement allows is based on the use of the CAP protocol.

It is also mentioned by the [[Internet Society]] in its 2005 "Public Warning Network Challenge".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isoc.org/challenge/|title=The Internet Rises to the Challenge of Public Warning|work=isoc.org}}</ref>

===United States===

In early 2005, the U.S.&nbsp;Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in partnership with the Association of Public Television Stations,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apts.org|title=Association of Public Television Stations|work=apts.org}}</ref> demonstrated CAP-based "digital EAS" broadcasts over public television digital TV transmitters and satellite links in the [[Washington, D.C.]] area and nationwide.

On September 30, 2010, the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) officially adopted CAP as the protocol for its new [[Integrated Public Alert and Warning System]] (IPAWS), which is designed to disseminate emergency messages via various platforms, including broadcast media ([[Emergency Alert System]]), wireless devices ([[Wireless Emergency Alerts]]), and other platforms.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=385a5fb7-aa83-431d-80a1-3aa45296e3db|title=FCC revises emergency alert system rules; reminds participants of June 30, 2012 CAP compliance deadline|last1=Oxenford|first1=Davis Wright Tremaine LLP-David D.|last2=Tol|first2=Jennifer|website=Lexology.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-24|last3=Frewer|date=10 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadcastlawblog.com/2010/09/articles/fema-adopts-digital-message-format-for-eas-cap-standard-triggering-180-day-clock-for-compliance/|title=FEMA Adopts Digital Message Format for EAS CAP Standard, Triggering 180-Day Clock for Compliance|date=2010-09-30|website=Broadcast Law Blog|language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-24}}</ref>

== See also ==

CAP is the foundation technology for the planned "Integrated Public Alert and Warning System", an all-hazard, all-media national warning architecture being developed by DHS, the [[National Weather Service]] within NOAA, and the [[Federal Communications Commission]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fema.gov/emergency/ipaws/ |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2010-06-24 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629014918/http://www.fema.gov:80/emergency/ipaws/ |archivedate=2010-06-29 |df= }}</ref>

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== References ==

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==External links==

*[httphttps://wwwweb.archive.org/web/20160611053603/https://botterell.net/CAP/ The CAP Cookbook: Archive of early CAP documents]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061001162846/http://www.fema.gov/pdf/media/2006/deas_fact_sheet.pdf DEAS and Department of Homeland Security]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080908043938/http://www.fema.gov/pdf/emergency/ipaws/ipaws_factsheetIPAWS_factsheet.pdf U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency "Integrated Public Alert and Warning System" (IPAWS) fact sheet.]

*[http://docs.oasis-open.org/emergency/cap/v1.2/CAP-v1.2-os.html OASIS documentation on CAP v1.2]

*[http://docs.oasis-open.org/emergency/edxl-cap-logo/v1.0/edxl-cap-logo-v1.0.html official CAP Logos]