Presentation Outline Who and what is

Presentation Outline • • Who and what is RANET? What does RANET do? Core RANET principles and philosophies. Overview of Technologies – Satellite – Community FM – Other • Where does RANET work?

Who are we? “Just tell me where it has rained, and I will know what to do. ” - A nomad from Niger

Who are we? The RANET program began in Africa in 1998/9, following the experience of Seasonal Outlook Forums. It was recognized that benefits from advances in science and applications could only be realized if populations outside central cities could be reached. - Africa: 1998/99/00 -> present - Pacific: 2003 -> present - Asia, Indian Ocean: 2005

Who are we? RANET is a cooperative effort of various national, regional, and international partners, who seek to:

Who are we? RANET is a cooperative effort of various national, regional, and international partners, who seek to: - Make weather and related environmental information more accessible and useful to rural and resource poor populations in order to aid dayto-day resource decisions and prepare against natural hazards.

Who are we? RANET is a cooperative effort of various national, regional, and international partners, who seek to: - Make weather and related environmental information more accessible and useful to rural and resource poor populations in order to aid day-to-day resource decisions and prepare against natural hazards. - Improve the dissemination capacities of national hydro-meteorological and related national services, NGOs, and other information producers, thereby increasing the profile of and active value of these organizations to local populations.

What we do? RANET INCLUDES: - Web and Internet - Community FM Radio - HF Radio - SMS (Cellular Text) Messaging - Other Equipment Use and Maintenance - RANET Community Building: Newsletters, etc - Web Hosting - Network Development and Management - Maintain Satellite and Associated Server Systems - Pilot and Training Activities - Test and Identify Communication Solutions

Core principles? RANET IS A CONCEPT All activities are done in collaboration with, and with the approval of, the communities and national meteorological and associated services.

Core principles? RANET IS A CONCEPT Ensuring sustainability and maintenance of systems is a priority of all RANET activities, therefore we encourage local ownership and use of communication systems for multiple purposes such as education, health campaigns, community discussions, etc.

Core principles? RANET IS A CONCEPT RANET also works to build upon and augment existing networks and means of communication.

RANET Product Delivery - application

Wantok Community FM Radio Station • A Professional Quality FM Radio Station The Wantok Suitcase FM Radio Broadcast System. Hakupu Village, Niue FM station on the air… Funded by NOAA, and NZAID • • A complete broadcast station in a suitcase Ideal for a Community FM Radio Station Readily accepts any audio source Can be solar/wind powered for remote communities

Wantok Community FM Radio Station • Applications for the Wantok SBS-1 • Low cost, low power community radio station • Education and training • A tool for Socio-Economic Development • Ideal for Disaster Alerting and Response • Gets important information to the end user Owned by the Community - for the Community The Wantok Suitcase FM Radio Broadcast System

HF Radio Email • What is HF Email? (two way communications) • • Email received and sent via a HF Radio Transceiver Requires a special radio modem Modem interfaces to PC or laptop Software can interface with many applications, e. g. Outlook Express, our m. STAR automatic weather station Niue HF email system, quickly installed after TC Heta Funded by Met Office, UK

HF Radio Email • Why HF Radio Email? • • Cost effective two-way remote communications system Easy to install and operate Some Pacific NMS already have suitable HF Radios Many staff already have HF radio experience Typical HF radio Email system set-up

Commercial satellite - Iridium • A Reliable Portable Internet Backup Solution (two way communications) • • Constellation of 66 LEO satellites Small Cellular phone type handset - SMS capable Can access Iridium Direct Internet Gateway Built in Modem Rugged external marine antenna All weather capability Can use any Internet Email or Browser Client Niue Iridium Backup Coms System – installed April 2005

EMWIN Emergency Manager’s Weather Info Network • The Emergency Managers Information Network is a wireless, priority-driven computer weather data broadcast system. • EMWIN provides rapid dissemination of: – Warnings < 2 minutes – Forecasts ~ 5 minutes – Graphics ~ 10 – 15 minutes – Imagery ~ 10 – 15 minutes – Other (as time permits) Typical EMWIN setup - Bonriki Airport Met Office Tarawa

EMWIN • Data are collected from a variety of sources – NOAA NWS Gateway, Weather Wire – FTP, Internet • They are assembled at the EMWIN servers and: – Prioritized – Split into packets – Assembled into a data stream • The data stream is then sent to Wallops CDA (NESDIS) where it is: – Up-linked to satellite (GOES 10 & 12 => Worldspace ASIA-STAR) • The data stream is then available to be received by user stations – From here EMWIN products – FM Radio, HF Email – Commercial satellite EMWIN C-Band Dish Antenna at Met Office, Port Vila, Vanuatu

Sample Warning • • WEHW 40 PHEB 012158 TSUHWX • • • • • • TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TEST TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 003 PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER 11: 58 AM HST 01 APR 2003 TEST TEST TEST THIS FOLLOWING BULLETIN IS FOR A CIVIL DEFENSE EXERCISE. TO: CIVIL DEFENSE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII SUBJECT: LOCAL TSUNAMI WARNING CANCELLATION BULLETIN TEST EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THE URGENT TSUNAMI WARNING ISSUED FOR ALL COUNTIES IN THE STATE OF HAWAII IS CANCELLED. AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THE FOLLOWING PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS: ORIGIN TIME - 11: 40 AM HST, 01 APR 2003 COORDINATES - 19. 2 NORTH, 155. 9 WEST LOCATION - NEAR SOUTH KONA, BIG ISLAND MAGNITUDE - 7. 6

Sample Graphic

World. Space satellite broadcast • World. Space satellite broadcast (receive only) • • • Latest Satellite Digital Audio Broadcast Technology Uses low-cost radio receivers and antennas Data Interface available for PC or Laptop Able to send HTML and images at 128 Kps Data easily viewed using Internet Browser eg. IE 6 Will carry the Pacific component of the EMWIN broadcast in the Asia-Pacific region on Asia. Star satellite • Issues • Asia. Star broadcast not received east of about 180 degree meridian Typical World. Space outdoors antenna and receiver

World. Space Asia. Star Coverage Asia. Star Footprint and West Pacific Reception Area

World. Space Equipment Requirements USD 160 In Footprint Costs USD 500 USD 160 Out of Footprint Costs Asia. Star Footprint and Out of Footprint Costs (excluding PC)

EMWIN and RANET Systems Woleai Atoll, Yap Papua New Guinea Tarawa Nanumea Vaitupu Funafuti Niulakita Solomon Islands Kiribati Tuvalu Tokelau Is. Samoa Vanuatu Fiji Tonga Siviri Village, Port Vila, Bauerfield Liku & Hakupu Villages Efate Hanan Airport Niue KEY EMWIN systems all countries Cook Is RANET World. Space satellite receiver installed or pending RANET HF Email / FM radio installed RANET HF Email / FM radio installations in progress Iridium Satellite / HF Email systems installed or pending

World. Space RANET Product Delivery

Tuvalu RANET Project • Project deliverables – At three atolls – RANET systems at Met Offices • • World. Space satellite receivers HF Radio digital email systems Community FM Radio stations FM solar/hand cranked radios for community – At a further atoll (Met Office) • HF Radio digital email system – In-country assistance – Training Funded by: Met Office, UK Main atoll -Funafuti from the air

Meteorological & Disaster Mitigation Communications: “Blueprint” (Pacific) • Primary communications • • EMWIN for warnings to “selected locations” or World. Space satellite (where reception possible) A coms link between “selected locations” and secondary (FM) FM Community radio for redistribution plus some civil defence type siren for villages • FM solar/hand cranked radios for community • Local ISP for outbound coms • Back up communications • HF Radio email and/or • Commercial satellite email FM solar/hand cranked radio

Web Site & Contact Informa • RANET info@ranetproject. net http: //www. ranetproject. net THANK YOU AND RANET WELCOMES YOUR PARTNERSHIP! IOC ITIC l. kong@unesco. org http: //www. tsunamiwave. info