CAP - Not So Common Alerting Protocol

Summary:

• CAP enables standardized emergency communication: The Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) provides a unified format for delivering alerts across systems, ensuring consistent, real-time emergency messaging regardless of the source.
• Digital signage amplifies alert effectiveness: When integrated with CAP, digital signage becomes part of a dependable emergency notification network that instantly displays critical safety information where people can see it during urgent situations.
• CAP integration enhances response coordination: Using CAP alongside digital displays helps organizations quickly reach entire populations, students, employees, visitors, with clear directions, minimizing confusion and supporting faster, more organized responses to crises.

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Written By: Bryant Nellermoe

Thinking on missed opportunities:

One observation that I've made over the years in digital signage is the "lack of urgency" or awareness around utilizing digital signage as a secondary support function of an already existing security system. This strategic enhancement has the potential to increase situational awareness and response accuracy if a worst case scenario happens.

This oversight represents a missed opportunity, particularly in safeguarding environments such as schools and corporate offices, where comprehensive safety and security solutions are already in place, often capable of supporting Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) standards. This adds a secondary layer of safety that can significantly enhance the overall security posture and emergency response capabilities of these establishments.

Are you using software with native CAP capabilities?

Emergency Notification Systems:

• Everbridge
• Send Word Now
• Blackboard Connect
• AlertMedia
• Rave Mobile Safety

Incident Management Systems:

• Juvare (formerly WebEOC)
• CrisisTrack
• Veoci
• Resolver

Mass Notification Systems:

• InformaCast by Singlewire
• Rave Mobile Safety
• Raptor Technologies
• xMatters

Public Safety Software:

• ESRI ArcGIS (with the GeoEvent Extension)
• Motorola Solutions PremierOne
• Hexagon Safety & Infrastructure
• CentralSquare Technologies

Emergency Management Platforms:

• AlertFind
• Everbridge Mass Notification
• IBM Emergency Management
• SAIC EM Tools

What is CAP (Common Alerting Protocol)?

The Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), is a safety and security format standard allowing for consistent alert messages to be disseminated simultaneously over multiple communications pathways. A single emergency alert can trigger a variety of public warning systems, increasing the likelihood that people receive the alert by one or more communication pathways.

Carousel Digital Signage can receive CAP messages from external systems on the network via an HTTP post. If another system, like an emergency alert system, sends Carousel a message you can automatically trigger alerts and other content. The content is triggered by bulletin tag so you can build complex trigger actions with ease. Carousel is ready in an emergency to receive CAP triggers to quickly display targeted visual notifications and instructions throughout your signage network with no user action required.

To see how this works across a full signage network, visit emergency messaging with Carousel Digital Signage.

The Common Alerting Protocol can:

• Add rich alert media such as photographs, maps, streaming video and audio
• Geographically target emergency alerts to a defined warning area. This is limited only by the capacity of the delivery system used.
• Serve the needs of people who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind (with accessibility sites) or low vision
• Send alerts in multiple languages
• and so much more!

Common questions about CAP

What is the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)?

CAP is a standard format for emergency alerts. It allows one alert message to be sent over multiple communication pathways at the same time, so a single alert can trigger a variety of public warning systems.

Does Carousel Digital Signage support CAP?

Yes. Carousel Digital Signage can receive CAP messages from external systems on your network via an HTTP post, and use them to trigger alerts and other content automatically.

How do CAP alerts reach my screens?

When another system, such as an emergency alert system, sends Carousel a CAP message, it can automatically trigger alerts and other content. Content is triggered by bulletin tag, so you can build complex trigger actions, and no user action is required for the alert to display.

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