Multi-channel broadcasting of alert messages

Uberto Delprato

IES Solutions srl

Agenda

• IES Solutions in a nutshell

• The challenge and the findings of the ESENet project

• Authorities and Public warning

• Our case study in Sicily: challenges and expected benefits

• Radio broadcasting using the CAP standard

• Lessons learnt and recommendations

IES Solutions

• IES Intelligence for Environment & Security• Software developer and system integrator since 2004

• Cloud based systems for the Security of Environment and Citizens

• Based in Roma, Catania and Oxford

• We believe in the power of interoperability for improving communication between authorities and citizens

• We advocate the widest use of standards for information exchange (CAP, EDXL, MAIT…)

• We work in EC-funded projects (14 so far), mainly on Emergency management (REACT, REACH112, IDIRA, ESENet, EmerGent, EPISECC)

• A set of web-based tools, built around the CAP standards.

• Currently used by the Italian National Fire Corps and by the Civil Protection of Regione Sicilia

CNVVF: 120 connected PSAPs2500+ events managed per day

20000+ messages exchanged per day

Information interoperability in Italy

Project recommendations

• 2 years, 9 webinars, 4 workshops, 65 experts, 180 challenges for interoperability

• 10 “Top stories” with identified gaps, recommendations and suggested actors• Basic caller access and information• Management of trans-national emergency calls• Interaction in case of an emergency• Mission Critical Communication• Moving forward to NG112• Harmonisation of public warning systems• Data exchange between Emergency Services• Cross-border cooperation during emergencies• Business continuity and contingency management• Improved call management

http://www.esenet.org/results/esenet-final-report/

Top Story 6“Harmonisation of public warning systems”

• The main challenges for the dissemination and communication of risk-related information and early warnings are:• warnings should reach all citizens at risk

• risks and warnings should be well understood

• warning information must be clear and usable

• A modular warning system contains as many means for information en masse as necessary to reach the largest part of the population that could be affected by the emergency.

Member States should have a modular warning system defined that covers the “authority to citizens” communication, taking into consideration the different levels and impact of

incidents, the different agencies involved and the "rules of engagement" when communicating in different situations.

“Harmonisation of public warning systems”Radio Broadcasting

• The recent major natural and technical disasters have confirmed, both at a national and international level, that the radio is a very convenient warning and information means.

• Additional alert elements are needed (e.g. via acoustic signals) to draw the population’s attention to imminent hazards in an appropriate time, i.e. “wake them up” – and tune the radio on.

On Member States level, research should be done to see whether legislation is needed to secure radio channels to be used by authorities in case of large-scale

incidents and/or events where the public needs to be warned regarding their safety.

Case study:Civil Protection Authority in Sicily

• The Regional Civil Protection manages all emergencies and works with:• Provincial and local headquarters

• Highways and road authorities

• Electricity and Gas companies

• National Civil Protection

• Third parties, such as Fire Fighters, Police, Ambulances etc.

9 Provinces and Prefectures390 Municipalities

600+ Volunteers Organizations

• One of their responsibilities is alerting the population

Case study:Civil Protection Authority in Sicily• They use GECOS, a system based on CAP,

developed by IES

• Needs for mass warning (meteo, flash floods, wildfires…)

• Warning using a simple interface from the Control Room

• It should be possible to send the alert from users at different level of the hierarchy (Region, Provinces, Municipalities)

A Gecko!

RegionalAuthority

LocalAuthority

Information Sharing

AlertPublic Alerts

Public Alerts

Emergency alerting using the CAP standard

• The CAP standard from OASIS is an ideal format for alerting

• FEMA promotes the EAS (Emergency Alert System) based on CAP for emergency alert notification

• No similar standardised system exists in Europe

• CAP is increasingly adopted and used, particularly for meteo alerts

• A single CAP message may be used for launching alerts on many channels

Radio broadcasting using CAP

• Source: alerting Authority (e.g. Regional Civil Protection)

• Alert: a text message embedded in a CAP message

• Sharing: a CAP message published and distributed

• Receiving: The CAP message is received and parsed at the Radio Station

• A dedicated unit fetches the message and switches the broadcasting from the normal radio program to the alerting message

• The text is converted by a built-in “Text-to-Speech” converter

• Any receiving radio device becomes an alerting tool

Civil Protection of SicilyAlert broadcasting via radio using CAP

1

2

3

• Based on a high-quality radio switch

• Quickly installed and configured at the radio station

• No need for maintenance, just a reliable connection to the Internet

• Any alerting Authority can use it if:• An agreement is signed

• The Radio identifier is known to the Authority

• Can be configured for multi-language messages

• Can be installed at the radio stations or in radio bridges

Features of the alert broadcasting device

Lessons learnt

• Alerting via radio broadcasting still is a powerful channel to reach everybody, even those not “always-connected”

• Involving Radio broadcaster is key: agreements between CP and radio broadcaster must exist• In Italy there is a register, named A.R.E “Albo Radio di Emergenza”

• High quality hardware is needed to have the system accepted by managers

• Technically feasible and sustainable

• Already tested in Sicily: it works and it is effective

• A similar approach may be adopted for TV and variable signs

Recommendations

• Aim for a standardised interface to as many alerting system as possible

• Reach an agreement with “last-mile” alerters (e.g. radio broadcasters)

• Cover the geographical area you are responsible for

• Define responsibilities in the alerting chain

• Make the system cost-free for radio broadcasters

• Learn how to alert with short instructions

• Plan for regular exercises

• Social media are not the only alerting channel - do not give up on the “good old technologies”

Uberto DelpratoCEO, IES Solutions u.delprato@iessolutions.eu

( +39-346-6367499

http://www.iessolutions.eu/

Thank you for your attention

Please visit the Showroom B (Beta80) formore information and for

broadcasting your own alert!

Thank you for your attention

Please visit the Showroom B (Beta80) formore information and for

local-casting your own alert!