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VT Alerts Update

VT Alerts Update. Carl Harris Chief Technology Architect Virginia Tech IT. VT Alerts Timeline. Sep 2006 initial discussion on need for mass communications Jan 2007 evaluation of providers of SMS/phone notification May 2007 Everbridge (3N) contract negotiation July 2007

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VT Alerts Update

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  1. VT Alerts Update Carl Harris Chief Technology Architect Virginia Tech IT ceharris@vt.edu

  2. VT Alerts Timeline • Sep 2006 initial discussion on need for mass communications • Jan 2007 evaluation of providers of SMS/phone notification • May 2007 Everbridge (3N) contract negotiation • July 2007 Self-service app for subscribing to phone alerts ceharris@vt.edu

  3. Since Then... • 2008 • VT Alerts Emergency Notification System application • SMS/Phone • VT Home Page • “Blast” Email • Classroom signs • 2009 • Desktop alerts • Subscribe-by-proxy for phone alerts ceharris@vt.edu

  4. Since Then... • 2010 • Regional notification (DoEd mandate) • Standardized scenarios and templates • Fully automatic subscriber data synchronization with Everbridge • 2011-2012 • Twitter integration • E-mail delivery improvements • Phone alerts for non-affiliates • Phone alerts purge support ceharris@vt.edu

  5. By the Numbers • ~60,000 phone alerts subscribers • ~28,000 total Twitter subscribers • @vtalerts + @vtnews • ~500 digital signs in classrooms • > 100,000 downloads of VT Desktop Alerts ceharris@vt.edu

  6. Phone Alerts for Non-Affiliates • Who? • First responders and associated leadership • Contractors, vendors, etc • Town residents adjacent to the university • CRC staff and tenants • What? • Submit an application to enroll in VT Phone Alerts • Vetted by Office of Emergency Management • Log in using university “guest account” ceharris@vt.edu

  7. Phone Alerts for Non-Affiliates Application Form ceharris@vt.edu

  8. Phone Alerts for Non-Affiliates Review Form ceharris@vt.edu

  9. Other Initiatives Underway • Preparing an RFP to establish a new contract for SMS and phone alerting • Contract with Everbridge has about one year left • Lots of work writing technical requirements ceharris@vt.edu

  10. Other Initiatives Underway • Significant changes in system architecture • Improve robustness • Simplify and reduce risks for introducing new technologies • Better, more reliable delivery feedback • Ability to replicate components off-site • Compliance with Common Alerting Protocol ceharris@vt.edu

  11. Other Initiatives Underway • Push notifications • An alternative to SMS for “instant” notification of alerts on smartphones, tablets, desktop systems • Support for all major providers of push notification capabilities • Apple, Google, and Microsoft • Most of the design and implementation prototyped to support the VT Gemini application ceharris@vt.edu

  12. Other Initiatives Underway • Integration with building alarm systems • Deliver audio alert over fire alarm enunciators in suitably equipped buildings • Dramatic cost reduction vs. digital signage • Install for an entire building is about the same as cost for installing two digital signs • Depends on many aspects of the Unified Communications system project ceharris@vt.edu

  13. Other Initiatives Underway • Moving all of VT Alerts development to open source • Some source code already released • Much more remains to be released • Rebranding as UAlerts and productizing as we go • Trying to develop collaborations with other institutions also working in this space ceharris@vt.edu

  14. Where to From Here? • Incident management in ENS • Better use and conveyance of geo-location • Mobile alerts applications • Receiving alerts • Initiating alerts (e.g. Office of Emergency Management, VTPD) ceharris@vt.edu

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