Addressable Radios for Emergency Alert AREA Early Warning

Addressable Radios for Emergency Alert (AREA): Early Warning: Challenges, Options & Solutions S. Rangarajan and Mala Rao World. Space Satellite Radio srangarajan@worldspace. com, mrao@worldspace. com Making Communities Disaster Resilient 11 December 2007 GK 3 CONFERENCE 0

Global System Requirements: Early Warning Delivery n To be addressed by country, group, tier and also the current location of the receiver n To be delivered with a latency of less than 10 seconds once the message is sent out n To automatically trigger a siren/alarm even if the receiver is not under use n The receiver should display text and also automatically switch to audio information in a local language n Should cater to diverse requirements/infrastructure ranging all the way from a sophisticated weather office, down to a fisherman out at sea n Should go beyond conventional modes of communication and supplement/complement other technologies n Should survive even under most hazardous conditions & power failures n Should be re-used for the daily requirements of the community (entertainment, agriculture, health, training etc) n Should be economical even when there is a scattered population n Should adopt the Common Alert Protocol (CAP)- International standards for all hazards, all media 1

World. Space Satellite Coverage In Service 2

Applications of World. Space Satellite System Data Multicasting Audio • Direct delivery of multiple channels of Pre recorded/ Live Audio to compact receivers File Broadcast Services • Provides for the distribution of files to all recipients of a CUG Data stream transmission Provides the distribution of data streams to all recipients of a CUG. E. g. Stock Markets or News Streams Combined Live Audio & Slide Show (CLASS) Synchronous, live instructor lead classroom Distribution of Emergency Alert Messages Selectively addressable, secure, reliable and instantaneous 3

All Hazard Warning via World. Space Satellite Event Sensors Radio or Land lines t ma or Pf Warning Centers pa ld. S ce ite ell k lin CA Up To AREA Receivers S at r Wo Satellite Coverage Area CAP formatting, Audio in Multiple Languages 4

World. Space AREA Solution • Existing Space & Ground segment. • Extensive coverage • Small, portable, affordable receive equipment. • Works even when the terrestrial broadcast infrastructure may get knocked off by the Hazard. • Alert in time and in local languages. • Reach beyond conventional modes of communication. Ideal for Real Disaster Management on a large scale 5

AREA Solution: Features • Alert signal generated by Authorized agency, as per CAP (Common Alert Protocol) format • Signal uploaded by a secure web interface to World. Space uplink server • Inserted as a message into WS channel, addressed by group or country or location • XML output for delivery to other media. • Interface for audio-capture (local language). • Insertion of audio on World. Space channel. • Command to remotely switch the audio channel. • Specially designed WS radio (AREA) all the time looking for an alert message • AREA connects to an external box via USB to provide: More extensive display Operate a relay to trigger a siren when the alert arrives Interface with a GPS receiver for geo-referencing of the alert. Normal Radio transforms to Disaster Radio as needed. AREA is activated whether the radio is being used or not. 6

States of AREA receiver 7

Portfolio of Services • Text only: Trigger the alarm and display the CAP parameters as text on the AREA receiver • Text plus Switch to one of WS channels: Trigger the alarm and display the CAP parameters as text on the AREA receiver; Switch to an existing BCID like CNN or a data channel like RANET • Text plus shared Disaster Audio channel: Trigger the alarm and display the CAP parameters as text on the AREA receiver; Switch AREA to play the Disaster Audio channel in which the Alert provider can insert audio announcements relating to the Disaster (including in local languages) • Text plus Dedicated Audio channel: The alert provider leases from WS a dedicated 16 kbps audio channel the content of which is maintained by the alert provider 24 X 7, with a CUG encryption for this audio. At the onset of alert the designated AREA receivers trigger the alarm, display the CAP parameters as text and switch to playing the dedicated audio channel. 8

Addressable Radio for Emergency Alert AREA-B AREA-A AREA-M AREA-C Alert Generation Different configurations to suit different needs 9

AREA-A • AREA-A is a configuration that connects to the USB port of a computer. • Supports all audio and data services of World. Space. • Onset of alert is indicated by a computer- generated siren. • Displays all the alert parameters (mandatory & optional). • Can support audio/data download even during the alert state. • Can support text-to-speech for the alert description. Ideal for Airports, Harbors, NGO’s & First Responders 10

AREA-C • AREA-C is ideal for community deployment. • Immunity to loss of mains power at the time of the alert. • 7 AH battery can be recharged by mains or Solar. • External siren controlled by a relay that is closed by the World. Space signal. • Can be connected to Public Address system. • Additional box displays all the alert parameters. • Radio plays the remotely selected audio channel that carries authentic information. Ideal for remote locations, beaches, Community Centers & Worship places 11

AREA-M • AREA-M is meant for mobile users. • Through the external box a GPS receiver is connected. • The box displays the current location of the receiver before the onset of alert. • The alert is triggered only if the current location of the receiver is within the alert zone defined by the sender. • Can be powered by the vehicle power supply and it does not use the external battery and siren. • Ideal for the travelers on land sea. Ideal for trucks, ships, boats & vessels 12

Global Acceptance n n n Indonesia has 3 nodal agencies (BMG, Kom. Info & Ristek) and all 3 have agreed to work jointly to include AREA in Banten pilot (Dec 26, 2007) to comply with Federal Disaster Law (passed in May 07) Asia Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), an Intergovernmental agency with 22 member countries has requested partnership with us to promote AREA in the member countries Sarvodaya, a leading NGO, has drafted an MOU with the government of Sri Lanka (DMC) that includes sharing Sarvodaya’s AREA solution to the government for Early Warning n NDWC, Thailand has accepted the technical capabilities of AREA and included it in a competitive tender n World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is testing AREA solution in parts of Africa 13

Key Successful Demonstrations n n n n n NDWC, Thailand IMD, India DMC, Sri Lanka Pacific Corp, Thailand Ristek, Indonesia Kom. Info, Indonesia Meteorological Dept, Malaysia Demos and presentations given to • 50+ government representatives • 20+ Non govt entities (UN, ADPC, etc) • 100+ Private companies Request for pilots/bids received from India (+local Govts), ITU on behalf of Pacific Island Countries, Thailand, Indonesia (+ Local Govts), Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh, multiple agents and Private Companies. 14

Advantage: AREA n Scalability • • n Sustainability • • n Coverage already exists and so easy to roll out services. Being a broadcast service, cost per site decreases as the network grows. Possibility of expanding to other geographical areas. Possibility of expanding to multiple sectors, like education or health. Does not require technical expertise to install, operate or maintain. Can be configured even in places with poor or no Electric mains supply. Would survive adverse environmental conditions. Independent of terrestrial, telecom and Internet availability. Affordability • Lower initial cost than any other satellite-based system. • Lower recurrent costs. • Cost can be spread across multiple projects as the system can be reused. A single system for multiple Alert providing Agencies like Police, Local governments, Healthcare etc. 15

In Summary n The challenge of Emergency Alert is unique • Distribution over vast geographical areas • Multiplicity of Disaster events, Multiple sources • Need for coordination among multiple departments & agencies n World. Space AREA offers • • • Selective Addressability & Controllability Immediate wake-up by siren & buzz Text and Audio messages A common system for multiple alert providers Field-tested & Ready-to-go 16

The added advantage …. n The audio capability AREA Receiver • Can be effectively used by the community during “non-alert” times for broadcasting information on health, education, agricultural practices etc. • Provide training sessions in handling emergencies • Provide access to entertainment Thus effectively integrating the device as a part of the community’s daily lives 17

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