Cyclone Warning Markup Language (CWML) - DRAFT
The standard-based language for cyclone advices described in this document is being developed as a first attempt to define structured semantic data models for cyclone advices. The benefits of structured semantic data models include:
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Less ambiguity of cyclone advice contents than with purely textual bulletins,
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Improve consistency of advices across the different bureaus of meteorology,
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Improve opportunities for machine processing of advices, allowing advices to be
- generated
- checked/validated
- disseminated
- combined/aggregated with other severe weather advices
- combined/aggregated with related information
- mapped to visual (or other) presentations suitable for decision makers and the public in a more efficient manner, allowing crucial information to reach the affected public faster.
The language aims to build on relevant standards wherever possible, in order to maximise opportunities for interoperability. For example, it uses selected concepts from the Geography Markup Language (GML), such as GML Points for describing location and GML CompassPoint for describing direction, to facilitate integration with mapping and geospatial systems (so that, for example, the observations and threats contained in a advice can be automatically plotted on a map).