Instant MessagingInstant MessagingEnhanced CommunicationsEnhanced Communications

Faith Borden & Darone JonesFaith Borden & Darone Jones

NWS BirminghamNWS Birmingham

Instant Messaging HistoryInstant Messaging History

The use of instant messaging has evolved and increased over the The use of instant messaging has evolved and increased over the years.years. Started in 2000 at one office (Birmingham, AL).Started in 2000 at one office (Birmingham, AL). As of September 2006, 15 of the 32 offices (42%) in Southern Region were As of September 2006, 15 of the 32 offices (42%) in Southern Region were

using some form of Instant Messaging.using some form of Instant Messaging. Offices outside of Southern Region? At least 8 offices from Central Region.Offices outside of Southern Region? At least 8 offices from Central Region.

Instant Messaging continues to be a top best practice in Service Instant Messaging continues to be a top best practice in Service Assessments.Assessments.

EvolutionEvolution

It has been instrumental in detailing storm/event evolution to It has been instrumental in detailing storm/event evolution to

broadcasters which is in turn relayed to the public.broadcasters which is in turn relayed to the public. Give the general public an increase in knowledge and saves lives.Give the general public an increase in knowledge and saves lives.

Instantaneous exchange of warning information and storm Instantaneous exchange of warning information and storm

reports in real-time “during” events.reports in real-time “during” events. Emergency Managers and TV crews are reporting damage and Emergency Managers and TV crews are reporting damage and

relaying pictures minutes after happening.relaying pictures minutes after happening.

With instant messaging...the professional communities work With instant messaging...the professional communities work TOGETHER...talking in “real-time”...from radar scan-to-radar TOGETHER...talking in “real-time”...from radar scan-to-radar scan.scan.

Advantages of IMAdvantages of IM

Chatroom was very unreliable with some users having Chatroom was very unreliable with some users having difficulty entering and others getting removed randomly.difficulty entering and others getting removed randomly.

There was information duplication in the room, where a NWS There was information duplication in the room, where a NWS forecaster would mention the products they were about to forecaster would mention the products they were about to issue as well as state the issuance time of the product. issue as well as state the issuance time of the product.

Some outlets did not allow the commercial chat clients Some outlets did not allow the commercial chat clients within their network because some messaging software is within their network because some messaging software is adware.adware.

Chatrooms did not support the participation in multiple Chatrooms did not support the participation in multiple

rooms. The effect was to have everyone pile into the same rooms. The effect was to have everyone pile into the same room where the amount of information was overwhelming. room where the amount of information was overwhelming. This was very ineffective for other media markets that covered This was very ineffective for other media markets that covered

a portion of the CWA.a portion of the CWA.

If you were in a television market covered by more than one If you were in a television market covered by more than one forecast area…you were just plain hosed.forecast area…you were just plain hosed.

Limitations of Previous IMLimitations of Previous IM

Each NWS Office has dedicated chat room and ability to support Each NWS Office has dedicated chat room and ability to support multiple chat rooms.multiple chat rooms.

The chat room has a history function which allows you to see the last The chat room has a history function which allows you to see the last 40 lines of conversations when you join the room.40 lines of conversations when you join the room.

If you were to leave the chat room you don’t have to be re-invited to If you were to leave the chat room you don’t have to be re-invited to join again, you can just log on.join again, you can just log on.

A server keeps an archive of all chats that allows you to refer back to A server keeps an archive of all chats that allows you to refer back to any event at any time.any event at any time.

Another attractive feature of this solution is that the chat protocol Another attractive feature of this solution is that the chat protocol (Jabber), server (Jabberd 2.0), and client (Gaim) are all cross platform, (Jabber), server (Jabberd 2.0), and client (Gaim) are all cross platform, Open Source, and very secure. Open Source, and very secure.

The chat room is frequented by an automated process (named iembot) The chat room is frequented by an automated process (named iembot) that relays NWS issued products to the chat room automatically. The that relays NWS issued products to the chat room automatically. The iembot is fully VTEC aware and alerts users to non-VTEC products like iembot is fully VTEC aware and alerts users to non-VTEC products like MCDs from SPC, hurricane statements from NHC, and even alerts when MCDs from SPC, hurricane statements from NHC, and even alerts when ASOS sites report severe wind gusts. This process average delivery ASOS sites report severe wind gusts. This process average delivery time to the room is about 12 seconds from issuance.time to the room is about 12 seconds from issuance.

IEMChat - A Solution for AllIEMChat - A Solution for All

Actual log from May 5, 2006

Actual log from May 5, 2006

BMX issues Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Montgomery [AL] till 6:30 PM CDT

Followup statements (SVS) BMX cancels Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Elmore [AL]

Special Marine Warnings MFL issues Marine Warning for Biscayne Bay, Coastal waters from Deerfield Beach to Ocean Reef FL out 20 nm [AM] till 8:45 AM EDT

Non-precipitating warnings (requires VTEC) OUN issues Fire Weather Warning valid at Aug 18, 12:00 PM CDT for Comanche, Stephens, Garvin, Murray, Pontotoc, Coal, Cotton, Jefferson, Carter, Johnston, Atoka, Love, Marshall, Bryan [OK] and Archer, Clay, Wichita [TX] till Aug 18, 8:00 PM CDT

SPC Mesoscale Convective Discussions (MCD) Storm Prediction Center issues Mesoscale Discussion #1836

SPC Tornado and Severe Thunderstorm watches Storm Prediction Center issues SEVERE TSTM watch till 17:00 UTC

National Hurricane Center products National Hurricane Center issues ADVISORY #32 for HURRICANE GORDON

ASOS extreme wind gusts WINNER,SD (KSFD) ASOS reports gust of 55 knots from SSE @ 0344Z KSFD 150353Z AUTO 16035G55KT 7SM FEW110 28/12 A2957 RMK AO2 PK WND 15055/0344 SLP991 T02780122 TSNO $

Local Storm Reports (LSR) Monroe [Turner Co, SD] emergency mngr reports TSTM WND DMG at 12:18 PM CDT -- 4 to 8 inch diameter tree limbs knocked down

WFO optional links to NOW casts, RER statements, Flood warnings/statements, Hurricane Statements, others can be added. SJU issues Flood Advisory (FLS)

NESDIS Satellite Precipitation Estimates (SPE) NESDIS issues Satellite Precipitation Estimates

IEM provided SchoolNet wind gust alerts UNITED COMMUNITY _ BOONE [Boone County] SNET reports 55 MPH from the N @ 05:55 AM

West Texas Mesonet wind gust alerts GRAHAM,TX (XGHS) ASOS reports gust of 52 knots from SSE @ 2110Z XGHS 162110Z 15033G52KT -RA 23/19 A3006 RMK AO1 T02280187 P0001 RH 080%

Special Weather Statements (SPS) EPZ ISSUES THIS IS A REISSUE OF THE RIVER FLOOD WARNING FOR THE RIO GRANDE IN EL PASO for El Paso [TX] till 7:00 AM MDT

IEMBot ExamplesIEMBot Examples

IM on the WAN (Southern Region)IM on the WAN (Southern Region)

Census data with the polygon warningsCensus data with the polygon warnings

CAP alerting (Common Alert Protocol) – XML formatted CAP alerting (Common Alert Protocol) – XML formatted messagesmessages CAP alert messages can quickly launch Internet messages, news CAP alert messages can quickly launch Internet messages, news

feeds, television text captions, highway sign messages, and feeds, television text captions, highway sign messages, and synthesized voice over automated telephone calls or radio synthesized voice over automated telephone calls or radio broadcasts.broadcasts.

Smarter Bot – county and zone aware. This allows the user to Smarter Bot – county and zone aware. This allows the user to program their area of interest.program their area of interest.

Whiteboard capabilities - Visually express ideas and Whiteboard capabilities - Visually express ideas and comments in a online/teleconference meeting. comments in a online/teleconference meeting.

Stuff In the WorksStuff In the Works

Questions?Questions?

Darone Jones or Faith BordenDarone Jones or Faith Borden

darone.jones@noaa.gov or faith.borden@noaa.govdarone.jones@noaa.gov or faith.borden@noaa.gov

465 Weathervane Road465 Weathervane Road

Calera, AL 35040Calera, AL 35040

(205) 621-5650(205) 621-5650

oror

Daryl HerzmannDaryl Herzmann

Program Assistant – Iowa Environmental MesonetProgram Assistant – Iowa Environmental Mesonet

akrherz@iastate.eduakrherz@iastate.edu

Contact InformationContact Information