New stuff coming

The team has started looking at the new CDEM Group web site. Glen Young is Horizons' new Webmaster and is bringing a number of exciting ideas to the camp. Once we've got a concept developed, we'll be taking it out to the EMOs and CEG members for refinement.

We know that the site needs to be informative, current, and quickly updated (especially during events), but it also needs to look good, be easy to navigate and be modern. As well as the usual preparedeness information there are a number of cool things we're looking to include. Things like RSS feeds, inter-operability with Facebook, Bebo and other social networking sites, Twitter functionality, GIS map interface, web-cams, blogs and vlogs, tech-wikis and all sorts of other cool tools.

One of the global developments that is still just over the horizon is Google Wave. Although the developer tools are now available, Wave is not being launched by Google until later this year. We will look to take advantage of Google Wave as soon as we can. In my view this advancement is going to be one of the most significant advancements we've seen in recent years. Although the video is quite long (1 hr 20min), it is certainly mind-expanding.

MCDEM information system

Well, it seems things are moving ahead with the MCDEM Emergency Management Information System (EMIS). Sean Hodges and I (along with a bunch of EM managers and REMAs) attended a MCDEM consultation meeting today to consider sector needs for an emergency information management system.

Although my initial impressions are that it's a fairly ambitious exercise, MCDEM seem to have engaged a more than capable team to see it through. One of the big things for me was that for this to be a successful national system, the CDEM Groups will need to 'buy-in' to make it work. I'm really pleased that MCDEM have had a change of heart about the importance of a system that can be used sector-wide.

Much of today's discussion was around process path and information needs. Being clear about what MCDEM needs to see to make strategic decisions informs what the Groups (and others) need to contribute to the EMIS. As we know, Groups address operational issues at a Local Controller level and strategic issues at the Group Controller level. So, the Group's operational information informs the Group's response strategy. Group strategies inform the National response strategy. We talked about rolling up the information so the next layer up is not overwhelmed by the amount of information potentially available.

The work that we've started with our Group's GIS web portal will continue as it will make any national system more robust. Once we've seen the MCDEM Request for Proposal, we will have a better idea on specifications that need to be considered in the Group project.

All in all, things are moving but don't expect immediate results. I'd estimate we're at least 16 months away from a product.

On-line course

As part of the move to Microsoft Groove, I want to introduce staff to Groove and its capabilities in the simplest way possible. I've recently trialled the free on-line course linked below. I found this to be a useful programme and have asked some of the team for feedback before requesting that EOC and other staff work through the programme.

The pre-requisite is that you have a Microsoft Passport or Windows Live ID. The first hyperlink takes you to the sign-up page if you don't already have one of these. You will only need your e-mail address to sign up. Use your real name as this will print on the certificate at the end of the course.

Windows Live ID sign up.

Getting started with MSOffice Groove 2007.

I recommend that you have access to Groove so that you can do the 'labs' during the course.

I'd be interested in any comments you might like to add.

Microsoft funding gets closer

A while ago now we put in an application to Microsoft Innovation Centre for some development funding. The application was about getting a tab designed inside MS Groove that provides us with the functionality of SMARTboard's notebook and Bridgit conference capability. This means that you could share the information on your SMARTboard with people you have invited to your Groove workspace. This is just another way of providing for that information exchange. Being a SMARTboard of course doesn't put the information into a database type environment for use in other applications but it does mean we can see each others handwritten notes on the board.

Canterbury are also doing some work in developing forms for use in SharePoint and I can see us working closely with the Canterbury Group on future developments.

Both the Canterbury Group and our Group have been successful in having our proposals get through to the second round for funding. Hopefully sometime in the future I'll be reporting our success.