Implementation of CAP in Hong Kong Observatory TONG Yu-fai Scientific Officer Hong Kong Observatory...
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Transcript of Implementation of CAP in Hong Kong Observatory TONG Yu-fai Scientific Officer Hong Kong Observatory...
Implementation of CAP in Hong Kong Observatory
TONG Yu-faiScientific Officer
Hong Kong Observatory Hong Kong, China
Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) Implementation WorkshopWMO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland, 23 – 24 April 2013
Presentation Outline
• Weather Warnings Service in Hong Kong• Delivery of Warning Warnings in XML Format• CAP Implementation for Local Warnings• CAP Implementation for TC Warnings for
Shipping• Next Steps
Hong Kong Observatory (HKO)
• A government department of Hong Kong• Responsible for forecasting weather and issuing
warnings on weather-related hazards in HK• Monitor and assess radiation levels in HK, and
provide geophysical services
Weather Warnings in Hong Kong
Very Hot Weather WarningVery Hot Weather Warning
Cold Weather WarningCold Weather Warning
Strong Monsoon SignalStrong Monsoon Signal
Fire Danger WarningFire Danger Warning
Frost WarningFrost Warning
Landslip warningLandslip warning
Special Announcement on Special Announcement on FloodingFlooding
Thunderstorm Thunderstorm WarningWarning
Rainstorm Warning Rainstorm Warning Signals Signals
(colour-coded)(colour-coded)
Tropical Cyclone Tropical Cyclone Warning Signals Warning Signals (number-coded)(number-coded)
Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) is the alerting authority in Hong Kong to issue the following weather warnings:
Mass media (newspaper, radio and television) SMS
Telephone enquiry system
Internet Websitehttp://www.weather.gov.hkhttp://www.hko.gov.hk
Public
Mobile applications
eXtensible Markup Language (XML)
Social NetworkTwitter/Weibo
Delivery via diverse and multiple means to communicate weather information
of different volumes and degrees of details
Dissemination of Weather Warnings
Delivery of Warning Messages in XML format
• Currently, HKO disseminates weather warning messages in its own XML-based format to users with the needs of system automation, facilitating exchange of weather warnings between machines.
• Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) is a XML-based data format for exchanging warning messages.
Why do HKO need to deliver weather warnings in CAP - another XML-based format?
Presentation Outline
• Weather Warnings Service in Hong Kong• Delivery of Warning Warnings in XML Format• CAP Implementation for Local Warnings• CAP Implementation for TC Warnings for
Shipping• Next Steps
HKO’s XML data service
• Provision of weather bulletins (including warnings ) in XML since 2003
• A website was set up to allow users to retrieve the XML bulletins over the Internet
• Wide spectrum of users• Effective means to deliver up-to-the-minute weather
reports/forecasts and warning electronically
Weather Info in XML
Media Transport operators
Utilities
Telecom
Service Industry
Government users
HKO’s XML data service
Limitations of the HKO’s XML Service for Delivery of Weather Warnings
“Proprietary” XML Schema• The schema specifying the HKO’s XML bulletins is
proprietary, not adopted from any open data standard• No open library support. Users have to develop their
tools to retrieve the HKO’s XML bulletins and ingest them into their systems.
• Could not contain reference to additional information in the form of a digital asset
• No geographic information. Messages target to all people in HK even though the incident affects only a specific area.
Multiple messages on same incidentFor certain weather warnings, multiple XML bulletins referring to the same incident are issued to users, but containing different aspects of the information about the incident.
Tropical Cyclone Tropical Cyclone Warning SignalWarning Signal
TC bulletin (TC analysis info)
TC signal bulletin (which TC signal is issued?)
TC warning announcement (event description & actions to be taken)
Multiple messages for same event may cause user confusion and incur extra effort on users to incorporate the XML bulletins into their information systems.
Limitations of the HKO’s XML Service for Delivery of Weather Warnings
Presentation Outline
• Weather Warnings Service in Hong Kong• Delivery of Warning Warnings in XML Format• CAP Implementation for Local Warnings• CAP Implementation for TC Warnings for
Shipping• Next Steps
CAP is an XML-based data format for exchanging public warnings. It has advantages over the HKO’s XML data service:
CAP data format
HKO’s XML data format
Open data standard for exchanging public warnings
Geographic information of target area
Reference to additional information (e.g. image/audio files)
Why do HKO need to deliver weather warnings in CAP?
Tropical Cyclone Tropical Cyclone Warning SignalWarning Signal
Implementation of CAP for Local Weather Warnings
TC analysis & forecast track information
TC warning bulletin (which TC signal is issued?)
TC warning announcement (event description & actions to be taken)
These messages are originally coded in 3 different XML bulletins
CAP
Combine them into a signal CAP message
Combine messages of same event into a single CAP message
Example: TC warning signal
Implementation of CAP for Local Weather Warnings
Combine messages of same event into a single CAP message
Example: TC warning signal
TC warning bulletin (which TC signal is issued?)
TC analysis & forecast track information
TC warning announcement (event description & actions to be taken)
<headline>TC No. 3 is issued at XX:XX HKT</headline>
<description>…</description><instruction>…</instruction>
<parameter> [analysis/forecast positions & intensities]</parameter>
CAP message for TC warning
Challenge of Applying CAP for Weather Warnings in HK
CAP element Values allowed by CAP Warnings issued by HKO
Urgency Immediate, Expected, Future, Past, Unknown Either Immediate or Expected
SeverityExtreme, Severe, Moderate, Minor, Unknown
Rainstorms: Amber/Red/BlackTC warning: Number-coded systemFire danger warning: Yellow/Red
CertaintyObserved, Likely, Possible, Unlikely, Unknown
Either Observed or Likely
Certain CAP elements could not be directly determined by HKO’s warning messages
Option 1• Develop rules to assign values of CAP <severity> for
each type of weather warnings.
• As HK people already get used of the number- and colour-coded warning systems, the selection of CAP <severity> values must match their perception on the severity of local weather warnings.
• The warning types (e.g. amber/red/black for rainstorms ) will be coded in the <eventCode> element.
CAP <severity>:CAP <severity>:
Extreme, Severe, Moderate, Minor
??
Rainstorm Warning SignalsRainstorm Warning Signals
30 mm/hr30 mm/hr
50 mm/hr50 mm/hr
70 mm/hr70 mm/hr
Option 2
• Extend the value domain of the CAP <severity> element to include the HKO’s number- & colour-coded warning systems
• However, it would NOT conform to the XML Schema of CAP!
Presentation Outline
• Weather Warnings Service in Hong Kong• Delivery of Warning Warnings in XML Format• CAP Implementation for Local Warnings• CAP Implementation for TC Warnings for
Shipping• Next Steps
Tropical Cyclone Warning for Shipping by Hong Kong Observatory
TC Warning Area of Hong Kong
HK
• Tropical cyclone over the South China Sea could pose a threat to mariners and ships at sea over the region
• HKO issues TC warning to ships when a tropical cyclone is located with the area 10o to 30o N and 105o to 125o E
Target users: mariners/ships over the warning area
Tropical Cyclone Warning for Shippingby Hong Kong Observatory
• Contain information about TC analysis and position/intensity forecast up to 72-hour ahead
• Update every 3 hours• Broadcast to ships via NAVTEX
(a radio frequency broadcast system)
TC Shipping Warning: Event focusing
• TC warning for shipping are focusing on the event, moving from one place to another
• For TC shipping warning, defining an area for sending alert is not as straight-forward as other warnings
T+0
T+24 hrs T+48 hrs
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Affected Area
Issues need to be rectified in adopting CAP for TC shipping warning• Define what kind of alert to be delivered for the CAP
message of the TC shipping warning.• Decide how to determine the alert area of the CAP
message to better meet the needs of the recipients.• Decide whether and how to break message into individual
CAP alerts for different areas that will be affected at different forecast periods, e.g. 0<T<=24; 24<T<=48, etc.
• Design rules for assigning values to elements urgency, severity and certainty
• Decide on how forecast track could be encoded and in what format
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Provide alert / notification for the presence of TC of a particular strength
• Break the TC shipping warning into different time intervals, e.g. 0-24, 24-48, 48-72, etc.
• Alert area would be the polygon bounding the initial and final positions of the TC including the uncertainty circles
• Provide alerts for the strongest intensity• Forecast track could be encoded in other XML format, e.g.
CXML, KML, etc. and attach to the CAP in the <resource> element
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Provide alert / notification for the presence of TC of a particular strength
T+0
T+24 hrs T+48 hrs
Area AArea A
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CAP (0<T<=24)
Urgency: Immediate
Target Area: A
CAP (0<T<=24)
Urgency: Immediate
Target Area: A
CAP (24<T<=48)
Urgency: Expected
Target Area: B
CAP (24<T<=48)
Urgency: Expected
Target Area: B
Area BArea B
Next Steps …
• Develop rules and automatic system to convert all local warnings & TC advisories into CAP format
• Set up a dedicate website to publish the CAP warnings and feeds
• Develop public outreach and promulgate users (media, public utilities, transport operators, government users, etc) to make use of CAP in their information systems
Thank You
Benefits of Applying CAPfor TC Advisories
• CAP is a standard for delivering alerts and notifications• WMO endorsed standard• Messages could be delivered timely for disaster prevention
and mitigation• CAP supports geographic information. Messages could be
delivered to people who need them, and only those who need them
• In adopting the CAP standard, multiple alert system could be activated with single input
• With a standard, it benefits users because applications, e.g. WMO Severe Weather Information Centre (SWIC), could be developed to meet individual needs.
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Characteristics of CAP
• Ideal for sending alert / notification of hazards for people at some particular area / location
• Convey messages of urgency, severity and certainty
• Prompt action of recipients (in <instruction> element)
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