Newsbug : multi-channel public emergency messaging system / Prepared by Maurice McGinley, Andrew Turk.

EMA Project 03/2003.

Includes bibliography, p. 73.

Executive summary -- Section 1 : Introduction -- Section 2 : Project description -- Section 3 : Problem description -- Section 4 : Newsbug system -- Section 5 : Trial description -- Section 6 : Findings.

"Based on a review of relevant published literature, a survey of current practice in Australia, and consultation with local stakeholders, a set of design criteria for a public emergency messaging system was identified. The system should support: multiple recipients, multiple channels, multiple hazards, multiple stakeholders, multiple senders, multiple platforms, and Write Once Message composition. A prototype system was built according to these deisgn criteria, based on the Common Alerting Protocol version 1.0, a royalty-free XML schema designed specifically for emergency messaging applications. The deisgn was validated in trials simulating messages sent during a tropical cyclone and a bushfire. A total of 56 trial participants including local residents, hazard management professionals, business owners, journalists and ogovernment representatives were surveyed with regard to their experience of the system. Overall, the prototype system functioned successfully and participants reported high levels of satisfaction. Further research and development is recommended." --p. 1.