RANET Activity Areas
RANET Internet Presence Initiative (RIPI)
As the name of RANET suggests, the program has actively worked to help NMHSs utilize the internet and new internet technologies. Many national agencies still face technical and resource constraints that prevents them from operating a web server or developing a web presence. The RIPI program provides training, as well as web hosting and e-mail services for a number of national weather services. RANET also provides similar hosting to strategic NGO partners. Organizations interested in RIPI should e-mail ripi 'at' ranetcommons.net.
RANET Satellite Broadcast Service (RSBS)
Since RANET began activites in 2000, it has utilized and managed a satellite broadcast. Its first broadcast was on the WorldSpace AfriStar satellite. The program later utilized AsiaStar as well. The WorldSpace system afforded RANET a unique capacity to deliver image and text based materials to very remote and rural parts of Africa and Asia. The system is a continental scale broadcast, and while originally designed to deliver satellite radio (audio) programming, it is capable of delivering data as well. The unique advantage of the system for rural applications relates to the simple and inexpensive satellite receiver. No bigger than a typical personal FM radio, the system can be easily installed without support from a trained technician. Capacity on the WorldSpace satellites is provided through a partnership with First Voice International, which is a US 501-c-3 non-profit gifted with WorldSpace capacity to support development and humanitarian missions. RANET has used WorldSpace capacity to support everything from the delivery of educational material, to weather forecasts, and even in support of tsunami warning in Indonesia.
In 2008 RANET began a partnership with GEONETCast to obtain broadcast capacity over the Americas and Africa. GEONETCast is a task of the Group on Earth Observations, and its mission, to make earth science information and products widely accessible, is largely the same as RANET. RANET, as with capacity on the WorldSpace satellites, maintains a channel / sub-channel to help national weather services and similar agencies disseminate their own information nationally and regionally. In September 2008 RANET established its first GEONETCast station in Panama hosted by CATHALAC. A second downlink station will be establish in Costa Rica in late 2008, with others in Central America to follow in 2009.
RANET maintains and coordinates these broadcasts in support of National Meteorological and Hydrological Services. The goal of the RSBS is to operate a system on behalf of multiple countries. As a result RANET has developed a web interface that essentially automates the management of broadcasting over these satellites. This helps providers of information utilize and access a satellite broadcast without necessarily requiring in-house programming expertise. Organizations interested in broadcasting over RANET capacity or who wish to utilize the RSBS should e-mail rsbs 'at' ranet.ws. The main management site for the RSBS is located at http://www.ranet.ws. User name and password is required.
RANET Alert Watcher (RAW)
Following the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, RANET undertook an effort to use mobile phones to send SMS (text message) alerts and notifications from watch providers to key national and regional emergency managers. The service is meant only to augment and not replace formal and official means of alert and notification. This service is not open to the public, but rather reserved for national and regional warning providers, emergency managers, and similar. RAW is currently serving individuals throughout Asia, the Pacific, and the Americas. Individuals wishing to receive messages should send an e-mail to raw 'at' ranetcommons.net. RANET will require some verification of your affiliation to a national or regional governing body.
Community Reporter Program
Utilizing the same infrastructure developed for the RAW project, RANET designed a web management system that allows project managers to develop report templates. These templates in turn serve as guidance for individuals 'in the field' to report observations of any sort. While RANET focuses primarily on using the system to gather qualitative and quantitative weather observations, the system is open to any non-profit partner working on humanitarian assistance and development programs. There are many activities already underway which utilize mobile phones for reporting of field observations. Many of these fail to scale or it is too difficult for a small NGO to develop their own reporting and data collection system. We therefore decided to make sure the system, while built for weather observers in mind, would be applicable for workers in health, agriculture, and other. Organizations interested in utilizing or partnering with RANET should contact via e-mail crp 'at' ranet.mobi. The project site can be accessed at http://crp.ranet.mobi, however login required.
RANET Chatty Beetle
The RANET Chatty Beetle system and terminal is still in development, but it is designed as a two-way emergency messaging system. >The terminal is designed to work in remote locations, anywhere in the world. The terminal will be capable of audible and visual warning cues as well. The idea of the Beetle developed from interactions with RANET partners in the Pacific. Communication remains a significant challenge in remote islands. Where HF rigs and other systems exist, these often need to be turned off at night or for other extended periods of time to conserve electricity. Unfortunately, this means remote communities are unable to receive hazard warnings or other critical information in a timely manner. The Beetle was conceived, therefore, as a quick notification system, that will enable users to seek fuller, more robust information after the initial page is sent. The current terminal is designed to work in rugged environments and operate in standby on battery power for 36 hours. More details can be found at the RANET Chatty Beetle website (http://beetle.ranet.mobi).
