In the prerequisite course, CAP Basics, you were introduced to the Common Alerting Protocol: the benefits for using it; the technology behind it; examples of tools for issuing CAP alerts; and examples of CAP-based alert hubs. In this short course, we’ll provide guidance for planning and implementing a CAP-based alert feed.
Topic outline
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- Course Overview
Course Overview
This is a self-directed course that should only take 30-45 minutes to read through. However, the ultimate outcome for this course is for you to draft an implementation plan for publishing a CAP alert feed for your organization. That task will take considerably more time. It will involve reviewing your organization’s current alerting tools and processes, assessing how to update those to include CAP, identifying the resources needed for the update, and developing an implementation plan. To help you with that process, the course includes several
Action Items, suggested activities that support the drafting of an implementation
plan. The products of those Action Items will not be collected or graded; they are for your own use. 
If your organization does not have an existing alerting system, your task will
be significantly more involved as you’ll need to develop the processes and protocols related to issuing hazard alerts. Doing so is beyond the scope of this course. Consult with existing regional Alerting Authorities for input on best practices. While this course is being developed through the World Meteorological Organization in support of national meteorological and hydrological services, it has a broader utility. CAP is designed as a standard for all-hazards, all-media alerting; it is not restricted to hazardous weather alerting. While some examples and documents used in the course are WMO-related, they have universal applicability for planning and implementing CAP-enabled alerts.
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Read the Course Guide for information on how to complete this course:
The Announcement forum is used by the course organizers to post information on updates to the course and to share activities related to CAP implementation. As an enrolled participant in the course, you will receive email notifications for new postings.
- Develop a Plan
Develop a Plan
Implementing a new service, such as issuing CAP-based alerts, calls for careful project planning and management. Let’s take a look — from a project management perspective — at some key actions to take for adding or modifying a service:
- Understand the new service (e.g., benefits, processes, technologies, risks, personnel)
- Assess current service capabilities in the context of the new service
- Identify resources needed to offer new service
- Develop an implementation plan
- Secure support and funding
- Execute implementation plan
- Evaluate and maintain
Of course, depending on your situation, the order and importance of each of these steps can vary. Regardless, these steps provide guidance to gather the information and resources to successfully implement a new service. Here, we'll go through them in the context of adding CAP alert authoring and a CAP alert feed to your service offerings.
But first, take a quick survey.
- WMO No. 1109 Guidelines for Implementation of CAP File 3.6MB PDF document
- Implementation Plan Template File 20.5KB Word 2007 document
- Take Action
Take Action
The information and suggested action items in this course should help you develop a plan for implementing CAP-based alerts. Print the consolidated List of Action Items. Download a copy of the Implementation Plan Template and the WMO No. 1109 Guidelines. Adapt these resources to develop an implementation plan that works for your organization. Then put your plan into action!
We hope we'll hear from you soon when you share your new CAP alert feed through the Register of Alerting Authorities. Meanwhile, if you have questions or need direction on how to proceed, please contact the WMO Public Weather Services Programme.
- Implementation Plan Template File 20.5KB Word 2007 document
- WMO No. 1109 Guidelines for Implementation of CAP File 3.6MB PDF document
This survey is to inform the WMO approximately when you expect to implement CAP. Choose the timeframe within which you anticipate implementing CAP.
Final activity: Provide your opinion on the effectiveness of this course in preparing to implement CAP. Your information will be anonymous.
- Congratulations for completing the course! Page