Geotargeted Alerts and Warnings: Report of a Workshop on Current Knowledge and Research Gaps

Citation
National Research Council, Computer Science and Telecommunications Board, Geotargeted Alerts and Warnings: Report of a Workshop on Current Knowledge and Research Gaps (2013) (full-text).

Overview
This publication is the summary of a February 2013 workshop to examine precise geotargeting of public alerts and warnings using social media. The workshop brought together social science researchers, technologists, emergency management professionals, and other experts to explore what is known about how the public responds to geotargeted alerts and warnings, technologies and techniques for enhancing the geotargeting of alerts and warnings, and open research questions about how to effectively use geotargeted alerts and warnings and technology gaps.

This report considers the potential for more precise geographical targeting to improve the effectiveness of disaster alerts and warnings; examines the opportunities presented by current and emerging technologies to create, deliver, and display alerts and warnings with greater geographical precision; considers the circumstances where more granular targeting would be useful; and examines the potential roles of federal, state, and local agencies and private sector information and communications providers in delivering more targeted alerts.