[Advisors] C@P: Talking about the weather.
Dan Robichaud
admin at halifaxcap.ca
Tue, 8 Nov 2011 14:30:16 -0400
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Just put together this writeup on how a local CAP site is using a weather =
sensor to build community around their cause.=20
<br /><a href=3D"http://nscapcoordinators.blogspot.com/2011/11/talking-abou=
t-weather.html">
<br />http://nscapcoordinators.blogspot.com/2011/11/talking-about-weather.h=
tml=C2=A0 </a>
<br />
<br />(in plain text below)
<br />
<br />Yesterday we had a chance to participate in the ground break ceremony=
for what will be the most modern community center (and CAP site!) in the p=
rovince.=20
<br />
<br />This gave us a chance to meet the volunteers in that community - and =
they are very proud of their ICT project - Live Weather!=20
<br />
<br />
The Halifax Regional C@P=20
Association
=20
<br />
Dan Robichaud, Executive=20
Director
=20
<br />
Email/Mobile/Cell:=20
admin@halifaxcap.ca
=20
<br />
=20
<br />
Facebook: =C2=A0<a target=3D"_blank" href=3D"http://www.facebook.com/HRCAP"=
>http://www.facebook.com/HRCAP</a>
=20
<br />
(if you exchange email with us, why not go LIKE our Facebook=20
page?)
=20
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></font><span style=3D"font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Why Bea=
verbank is talking about the weather.....</span>
<br />
<br /><a href=3D"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vH6JE0r84Ac/TrlkSBOnLOI/AAAAAAAA=
AaY/N3ZUtbz1j94/s1600/302096_287010837997267_202641983100820_958544_2427954=
04_n.jpg"><img border=3D"0" id=3D"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672675466379996386" alt=
=3D"" src=3D"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vH6JE0r84Ac/TrlkSBOnLOI/AAAAAAAAAaY/=
N3ZUtbz1j94/s320/302096_287010837997267_202641983100820_958544_242795404_n.=
jpg" style=3D"display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cu=
rsor: pointer; width: 485px; height: 292px;" /></a><a href=3D"http://2.bp.b=
logspot.com/-G-sY22nDetE/TrlkSFAaTVI/AAAAAAAAAaw/rUcgXguduAo/s1600/385405_2=
87012754663742_202641983100820_958576_1227886917_n.jpg">
<br /></a>In
2009, the Beaverbank Community Center was lost to fire. This community
has a vibrant group of C@P Site volunteers - so vibrant that losing=20
their building couldn't stop their effort to bring ICTs to their=20
community.
<br />
<br />
<div style=3D"text-align: left;">Yesterday, almost two=20
years later, we participated in the grounbreaking ceremony for their new
community center. Although currently located in a temporarily in a=20
local fire station, the Beaverbank C@P volunteers have been working on=20
the installation of weather sensors and traffic cams.
<br />
<br /><a href=3D"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G-sY22nDetE/TrlkSFAaTVI/AAAAAAAA=
Aaw/rUcgXguduAo/s1600/385405_287012754663742_202641983100820_958576_1227886=
917_n.jpg"><img border=3D"0" id=3D"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672675467394174290" al=
t=3D"" src=3D"http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G-sY22nDetE/TrlkSFAaTVI/AAAAAAAAAaw=
/rUcgXguduAo/s320/385405_287012754663742_202641983100820_958576_1227886917_=
n.jpg" style=3D"display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; =
cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" /></a>
<br /></div>
The
community has installed a wireless-solar powered weather sensor on a=20
mast on the roof of the Beaverbank Fire Department. The sensor requires=20
no wires to pass through the roof, and no power source. The=20
self-contained sensor uses WiFi to communicate with the control panel in
the firehall. <a href=3D"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dRjOeYzsvO0/TrlmqxUm=
anI/AAAAAAAAAa8/AFlRve9_7zk/s1600/sensor.jpg"><img border=3D"0" id=3D"BLOGG=
ER_PHOTO_ID_5672678090630130290" alt=3D"" src=3D"http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-=
dRjOeYzsvO0/TrlmqxUmanI/AAAAAAAAAa8/AFlRve9_7zk/s320/sensor.jpg" style=3D"d=
isplay: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; =
width: 186px; height: 179px;" /></a>
<br />The
volunteers researched which suite of sensors would work best - and had=20
the opportunity to speak with Karl Vollmer, an IT Technician who has=20
installed a similar unit in Lower Prospect. For information on the=20
particular model installed at Beaverbank - this is the manufacturer's=20
website. <a href=3D"http://www.vantagevue.com/">http://www.vantagevue.com/<=
/a>
<br />
<br />Once
installed, the weather sensor provides live acute weather information=20
from a display panel located by the dispatch desk in the firehall. The
sensor uses a repurposed computer as a server, to store, collect and=20
share the weather information.
<br />
<br />This local weather can now be=20
accessed through the Beaverbank communtiy portal website, as well as=20
through a volunteer-developped Blackberry App.
<br /><a href=3D"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KeA8TQRf0co/TrlkSMO7GOI/AAAAAAAA=
Aag/Sth6sloC6no/s1600/311756_287012871330397_202641983100820_958578_5997834=
62_n.jpg"><img border=3D"0" id=3D"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672675469334092002" alt=
=3D"" src=3D"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KeA8TQRf0co/TrlkSMO7GOI/AAAAAAAAAag/=
Sth6sloC6no/s320/311756_287012871330397_202641983100820_958578_599783462_n.=
jpg" style=3D"display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cu=
rsor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px;" /></a>
<br />
<br /><span style=3D"font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">But, why is th=
is important? </span>
<br />
<br />1)
Well. First and foremost, this was an activity to keep a dedicated=20
group of volunteers engaged in providing ICT solutions to their=20
community, despite having lost their physical space. Any device which c=
ommunicates to the internet is considered an ICT - even an annenometer. It=
was a
new gadget, and a fun,=C2=A0 dynamic installation project, both physically=
on the=20
building - as well as engineering the reporposed computer for the=20
server.
<br />
<br />That was first on the list, but it is far from the most important.
<br />
<br />2)
It is not the fact that the Beaverbank community can now access acute=20
local weather which is the success story here. The true success, is in
the long-term conditionning of the local residents to use the community
portal and smartphone apps as a daily routine.=C2=A0=20
<br />
<br />Now, the=20
community is owner of a valuable asset: Weather. The weather then=20
becomes a small peice of the puzzle. It's the hook that brings you=20
back. It's the hook that enshrines and conditions human behaviour.=20=20=
=20=20
But, it is not the message - it is merely the medium. The message, is=20
in the container you build to deliver the weather (websites, banners,=20
apps).
<br />
<br />Think of it this way: if one thousand people check your weather daily=
- you might want to advertise your <span style=3D"font-weight: bold; font-=
style: italic;">Parish Supper</span>
in the very close vicinity. The weather is just a hook to engage both
patrons, and volunteers. It empowers C@P as a community portal.
<br />
<br />The
weather may take up the top right corner (5%) of your entire website -=20
and that's why people go there. Use the rest of the website wisely.
<br />
<br /><span style=3D"font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Partnership</s=
pan>
<br />
<br />This
also is a partnership with the fire department. The sensor's control=20
panel and server are located on the dispatch desk inside the firehall,=20
and the sensor is mounted on the firehall roof.=C2=A0 The firehouse partici=
pated in the installation of the computer, sensor and control panel - parti=
cipate in it's maintenance, and use it daily. This provides the
most current, and relevant weather information for firefighters and EMO
agencies - all of which are elated to have this information available.
<br />
<br />The
group is also speaking with local Rivers and Trails Association to=20
install water level and water quality sensors along the Sackville River. Ag=
ain, all this=20
information would be available live through a website/app.=20
<br />
<br />
<br /><a href=3D"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yie9QIb4HW8/Trltvr7Vq4I/AAAAAAAA=
AbI/PyP5VEwHPEY/s1600/313543_10150368247944833_352556134832_8406360_1513353=
264_n.jpg"><img border=3D"0" id=3D"BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672685871662738306" al=
t=3D"" src=3D"http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yie9QIb4HW8/Trltvr7Vq4I/AAAAAAAAAbI=
/PyP5VEwHPEY/s320/313543_10150368247944833_352556134832_8406360_1513353264_=
n.jpg" style=3D"float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; wi=
dth: 185px; height: 320px;" /></a><span style=3D"font-weight: bold;">Case S=
tudy</span>
<br />
<br />In
the case study of a local business, East Coast Outfitters, the=20
intergration of live, acute local weather information has revolutionized
how they operate their website.
<br />
<br />Within one week of installing=20
the station and going "Live" with the website, three major broadc=
asters=20
had already mentionned the new local weather available "on the air&quo=
t;,=20
there's been a steady growth of website visitors, the vast majority,=20
landing on the weather station page.
<br />
<br />In times where there has=20
been extreme weather, for example, a 126.7km/hr gust in Lower Prospect=20
generated thousands of curious web-onlookers.
<br />
<br />For a small=20
business, generating this type of traffic is priceless. The thousands of
eyes may be looking only for a curious or viral weather event, but the=20
container (website) is<span style=3D"font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;=
"> really </span>the message.
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