NWS items for CAP-SC

[Mike Gerber <mike.gerber@noaa.gov>]

Gang,

Here are a few items we at NWS would like to see addressed on the CAP-SC.

- Discuss meaning of <expires> time and add a new optional element 
called <endTime>.  NWS use of <expires> reflects the time at which the 
information in the message (about the subject event) has gone stale and 
should no longer be used. It comes from the expired time (aka purge 
time) in the UGC block of NWS alerts. We added an optional parameter 
called <eventEndTime> to reflect the expected end time of the event.  
This comes from the NWS VTEC. Some events do not have an expected end 
time, so we don't include the <eventEndTime> in those situations.

- There are a couple of ways <references> could be interpreted when 
multiple extended message identifiers are included in the tag. Which is 
allowed or are both allowed?

Scenario 1:  The identifiers serially refer to previous messages about 
the event for the geocodes specified in the CAP message.

Scenario 2:  The CAP message would serve as a follow-up to multiple CAP 
messages, each of which had different geocodes.  To illustrate this, 
imagine the following.  A Flash Flood Watch is issued.  The Flash Flood 
Watch is later expanded to include an additional geocode.  This results 
in a new CAP message with <msgType> of Alert to reflect the new area in 
the watch. Later on, the watch area is expanded again and another CAP 
message with  <msgType> of Alert is issued to reflect the new area in 
the watch.  Later, an Update CAP message is issued as a followup for the 
entire watch area.  In this case, multiple identifiers would be used in 
the <references> tag where each of the previous messages had different 
geocodes.  Thus, there wouldn't be a serial relationship between all of 
the CAP message referred to in the <references>.

- During an event, the subject of the event could have a location and 
move around within the threat area.  This could be a storm, gunman, 
hazardous materials on a train, etc.  For storms which can be pinpointed 
to a current location, such as a tornado, the NWS will include a 
parameter which describes the storm's location, direction of motion, and 
speed.  Should an element be standardized in CAP which describes the 
location, direction of motion, and speed of the subject within the event?

Mike

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fn:Mike Gerber
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org:National Weather Service;Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services
title:Physical Scientist
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