Feasibility Report on Emergency Notification Systems, Research Proposal Example

 Abstract

The following is a proposal to conduct a feasibility study in order to establish an emergency notification system in the University of Houston Downtown (UHD). This proposal presents information emerging from problems with the current emergency notification system, improvements that can be made, a schedule for completing the project, our charges and costs, and the qualifications I have to complete to conduct and complete the feasibility report (Markel 23).

Introduction

Student population in today’s universities is faced with new problems in school violence. As time progresses, it has become easier for many students to acquire firearms, and our rights to bare arms only facilitates the issue. There has been an increase in issues regarding violent school shooting and the victim numbers are escalating. Our current emergency notification system at the university uses broadcast email and phone message, which is sent to office extension as means relaying information to students on critical issues that could save life. These methods of informing students are no efficient enough since not all students will be using computers or have direct access to the offices on a timely manner when there is an emergency or a shooting on campus. UHD therefore need a more effective and efficient means of informing students of critical information that could save lives of students and faculty.

In order to solve the problem, the first option to consider is using text messaging capabilities on faculty’s and students’ cell phones to make everyone aware of what is going on, action to take, as well as other information that would be helpful. The second option to consider would be setting up a communication system in all classrooms as well as other densely populated areas that are outside class such as social halls to inform students about the incident, in addition to other safety measures to be taken (Loffler & Klann 56). This involves verbal communication rather than text-based option. The last option is to use the currently available emergency communication system that include broadcast phone message, UHD’s main switchboard, external media, and DT_ALL_USERS and Gator Mail in cases of emergency. This option will not tell what is specifically going on with the needed agency, but would alert everyone within and outside the campus. Each of these has advantages and disadvantages, which will be explained latter in details.

Description of the Feasibility Report

The feasibility report will contain information regarding the current emergency notification system in addition to its more effective and efficient substitutes or complement the current emergency system. The feasibility report will be presented in a simple yet technical manner communicate the differences between the alternatives and put the reader in a position to make decision on basis of the information presented. In this feasibility report, statistical data, graphics, technical data, and comparisons of pros and cons for each notification system is included.

Statistical Data: In order to complete this feasibility study, we will include our results from an extensive research on coming up with an efficient notification system. The statistical data will have accurate information displaying the results of our findings that are in a position to enable the reader make decisions upon which system would be more appropriate for the university.

Graphics: Is part of this feasibility study, the graphics that will be used include free-hand sketches, Computer Aided Drawing (CAD), tables, and pictures (Chandler 74). The free-hand sketches will provide initial revelations for the prototype, while CAD will help in portraying the final prototype for the system. Pictures will be included in the feasibility study to aid in visual understanding of the written material. In addition, tables will be provided to show statistical and technical data in a presentable and organized manner.

Technical data: The technical information that will be included in this feasibility study will be simplistic and broad. The aim of doing this is to ensure that people with minimum scientific concept knowledge will fully understand how the notification system will work.

Feasibility report outline: This feasibility report analysis will mainly focus on extensive research on the current practices and the proposed practices of the emergency response system. As part of this feasibility study, an evaluation of potential impact of implementing the proposed project is included. The feasibility report will be presented to greater details to enable any person reading it to make decision on whether to or not to implement a program or project.

Introduction: this section will contain information on current security problems universities are facing and the available options that are available to solve such problems.

1. Technical characteristics: will present information on the technical characteristics that hinder implementation of the options.
2. Alternatives: will present information on different types of systems or programs that are useful in solving the problem.

Option 1:Com System

1. General description: this will contain information of what it is and how it works.
2. Technical characteristics: this will include information its limitation to notify students and faculty on an emergency.
3. Advantages: this will provide benefits that the device will provide.
4. Disadvantages: this will provide information on setbacks the device has.
5. Research: this will include the findings of our research.

Option 2: Stock tower bell

1. General description: this will contain information of what it is and how it works.
2. Technical characteristics: this will include information its limitation to notify students and faculty on an emergency.
3. Advantages: this will provide benefits that the device will provide.
4. Disadvantages: this will provide information on setbacks the device has.
5. Research: this will include the findings of our research.

Option 3:Text messaging

1. General description: this will contain information of what it is and how it works.
2. Technical characteristics: this will include information its limitation to notify students and faculty on an emergency.
3. Advantages: this will provide benefits that the device will provide.
4. Disadvantages: this will provide information on setbacks the device has.
5. Research: this will include the findings of our research.

Compare and contrast: Emergency notification system

1. Similarities: will present the similarities that exist between the notification systems.
2. Cost effectiveness: will include information on the cost of implementing of of the systems
3. Reaching people: will include information on potential of each notification system to reach people.

Conclusion: recommendations and advising

1. Will include providing recommendation and advice on thoughts for decisions to be made.

Methods

The team to enable us come up with an outstanding feasibility report will conduct adequate research. Interviews and surveys on and off campus will be conducted with the purpose of learning how the student and faculty population feel about our options and also if they are even possible. Concerning the cell phone options, we will conduct surveys in the halls of residence and student center asking students about the capabilities of their phones. In the first place, we must know if they have a phone, if it has capability for text messaging, and if they have or not they have a text messaging subscription or plan. As for the com system plan, we will interview the security personnel responsible for operating the com systems in the campus to see what can be done, and interviews with teaching staff will be conducted in order to get their opinions on the options. In regard to stock tower idea, the person in charge of the bell will be interviewed to get an insight into what can be done for the option. In general, these interviews and surveys will be conducted to identify which option in terms of price and ability to reach people effectively.

Qualifications

Group Cappollos^® is an organized team of students that specialize in insightful knowledge related to university students. The team is made of five students from UHD, who natures the skills of college students of the present generation. As part of the group I hold a cumulative average point of 3.67 in the university’s writing department. All the members of the group have taken at least two courses on technical communication and one of the members has adequate knowledge on modern graphics communication. In addition, each member has a laptop and stable internet connection as well as technical gadgets, thus help in decreasing the overall cost of carrying out the feasibility report. Each member of the group has skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. My resume will be attached as an appendix at the end of this project proposal.

Costs

Conducting and writing this feasibility report will require time for writing, editing, and revision, and the cost for office supplies. By estimate, we will spend 5 hours to write one page, and the cost of developing a ten page feasibility report to cost $40.00 per hour. Revision and editing will cost $200.00 for the whole report, and $40.00 for office supplies.

Schedule:

March 30: proposal draft submitted to supervisor for evaluation

April 3: Receive proposal and start work on the feasibility study

April 14: Submission of final proposal to UHD for review as we wait for response.

April 15: In case it is approved, we will start brainstorming and analyzing each section of the feasibility report.

April 16: Conduct a research on technologies related to the report.

April 17: Assign each group member to different sections for in depth research.

April 18: identify and contact people to be interviewed for the feasibility study.

April 20: design survey instruments and start survey for statistical analysis.

April 23: Compile the collected information and start writing the first draft.

April 26: Inspection of the first draft by the group members and the supervisor.

April 29: Finish all detailed research and commence writing the final feasibility study.

May 5: Group members meet to discuss the final feasibility report that is to be submitted.

May 10: Presenting the feasibility report to the supervisor to get a grade.

 Conclusion

This is project feasibility proposal for the establishment of an emergency notification system for UHD. The proposal has presented a detail view and direction on how the project will be conducted. The alternative solutions have been briefly presented in this proposal for a brief view. There is a presentation of methods that will be used in conducting the research and the schedules aimed at ensuring that the deadline for the project is met. This proposal gives a clear picture of what will be presented in the final feasibility project, which will be done as a group.

Works Cited

Chandler, Robert. Emergency Notification: PSI business security. ABC-CLIO, 2010.

Loffler, Jobst and Klann, Markus. Mobile Response: Second International Workshop on Mobile Information Technology for Emergency Response. Springer, 2009

Markel, Mike. Technical Communication with 2009 MLA and 2010 APA Updates. 6^th ed. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2010.

Gustin, Joseph. Disaster and Recovery Planning: A Guide for Facility Managers. Hoboken: The Fairmont Press, Inc., 2010.