Use of DAB Satellite for Addressable Alert Delivery
Presentation at the Training Workshop on
Disaster Risk Management in the Information Age
by
S.Rangarajan, WorldSpaceat the World Bank
October 8-9, 2008
WorldSpace: a snapshot
Individual
Transmission to Audio Receivers
Village Classroom
EmergencySituations
Creating a Digital Library
Solar Powered
In Service
In Service
Wide Coverage
Selectively AddressableAutomatic Alerts
Applications of a DAB satellite: e.g., WorldSpace
Audio
•Direct delivery of multiple channels of Pre recorded/ Live Audio to compact receivers
Data Multicasting
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.
Combined Live Audio & Slide Show (CLASS)
Synchronous, live instructor lead classroom.
Distribution of Emergency Alert Messages
Selectively addressable, secure, reliable and instantaneous.
Alert Delivery through WorldSpace
• Covers more than 100 countries with one secure uplink
• Can be addressed by country, group, tier or even the current location of the receiver
• Delivered with a latency of less than 10 seconds
• Automatically triggers a siren/alarm whether or not the receiver in use
• Displays text and automatically switches to audio information in local language(s)
• Caters to diverse requirements/infrastructure ranging from a sophisticated weather office
to a fisherman out at sea
• Goes beyond conventional modes of communication and supplements/complements other
technologies
• Survives most hazardous conditions & power failures
• Re-used for the daily requirements of the community (entertainment, agriculture, health,
training..)
WorldSpace Satellit
e Uplink CAP fo
rmat
Radio or Land lines
Event Sensors
Warning Centers
To AREA Receivers
Alert Delivery- How it works
CAP formatting,
Audio in Multiple
Languages
Satellite Coverage Area
Alert Delivery-Custom SolutionsService Options• Text Only• Text with Siren• Text with Shared Audio• Text with Dedicated Audio• Alert plus Data Delivery
Terminal Options (AREA- Addressable Radio for Emergency Alerts)• AREA-C Audio Alerts for Community Deployment• AREA-M Alerts for the Mobile User• AREA-A Audio and Data Alerts for the Computer-connected User
AREA-C
• AREA-C is ideal for community deployment• Immune to loss of main power at the time of the alert• Battery can be recharged by main or solar power• External siren controlled by a relay that is closed by
the WorldSpace satellite signal• Option to connect to Public Address system• Additional box displays all alert parameters• Radio plays the remotely selected audio channel that
carries authentic information
AREA-M
• AREA-M is meant for mobile users• A GPS receiver is connected through the external
box • 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 without using the external battery
• Ideal for travelers on land and sea
AREA-A
• AREA-A is a configuration that connects to the USB port of a computer
• Supports all audio and data services of WorldSpace • 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
Alert Delivery-Typical Timeline
Actions at the Alerting endTime = 5:35 pm• Tsunami warning received from NOAA 5:36 pm (1 minute elapsed)• Confirm the message• Type out Alert parameters in the CAP
format using the WorldSpace GUI• Record a short audio message in the
local language• Convert audio file to the required
format and FTP to WorldSpace server 5:40 pm (5 minutes elapsed)• Issue the Alert through WorldSpace
text channel• Insert audio in the alert audio channel
At the Receive pointTime = 5:41 pm ( 6 minutes elapsed)
• AREA –C sounds a siren, displays alert parameters and switches the audio to the alert audio messaging channel whether or not the radio was being used at this time
• AREA-M responds to this alert signal only if its current position is inside the alert zone. It also displays the text and plays out the alert audio channel
• AREA-A uses the computer to provide a more comprehensive display of the alert parameters, plays the alert audio on the computer and optionally generates a siren sound on the computer.
The Implementation Challenge
• New Technology• Alert Delivery is the responsibility of a government
agency and usually that agency has no role or budget for social development
• Need for coordination among Ministries• A comparatively large one-time investment if it has to
scale up to its full potential• Need owners for the activities at non-alert times (which
is hopefully most of the time!)• Continued training of personnel at the hub as well as in
the communities• Sustainability and upkeep of the system
Model in Indonesia-PPP
WorldSpace
Medialinks(Private Sector)
BMG(Government)
Network of Radio and TV Broadcasters
Satellite Capacity
Alert Content
Commercials
Stakeholders: IndonesiaRe-use Strategy Chosen
Datacast for Group of Media Companies
Channel Capacity WorldSpace
Alert Content BMG (Government)
Datacast Content Advertisers
Custodians for Receivers
Media companies
Training & Upkeep Private Sector Integrator
Hub Operation BMG
Model in Sri Lanka
WorldSpace
SarvodayaSri Lankan Government(Disaster Management
Agency)
Community Audio Channel24 x 7
Addressable Alert & Related Audio Delivery
Manage the Alert Service
Provide AREA receivers in Sarvodaya
villages
Stakeholders: Sri LankaRe-use Strategy Chosen
Audio channel 24 x 7 for community use
Channel Capacity WorldSpace
Alert Content DMC (Government)
Audio Content Sarvodaya (NGO)
Custodians for Receivers
Sarvodaya Village Units
Training & Upkeep Sarvodaya
HIH Operation Sarvodaya
Model in Bangladesh
WorldSpace
Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology
Bangladesh Government(Disaster Management Bureau)
Community Audio Channel24 x 7
Addressable Alert & Related Audio Delivery
Conduct a pilot
Provide AREA receivers in villages
Vista Communications
Stakeholders: BangladeshRe-use Strategy Chosen
Audio channel 24 x 7 for use in fishing boats (PFZ, Weather etc.)
Channel Capacity WorldSpace
Alert Content DMB (Government)
Audio Content Vista Communications (Private Sector)
Custodians for Receivers
Individuals
Training & Upkeep Vista Communications
HIH Operation DMB- Trained by Vista and BUET
In Summary
• The Government Agency responsible for Alert Delivery needs local partners
• These partners can be NGO’s, Private sector or other national organizations (Each country has to choose a model that best suits it)
• Non-alert time usage of the system vital not only for the economics, but for the local acceptance & up keep of the system
• If implemented in a large scale, across multiple projects and over a long duration, these solutions are cost-effective
• Need to bring in regional cooperation and inter-operability
• Important to adopt CAP and establish a Transmission Hub for all hazards, all media and all locations
• One point generation of the alert and multi point multiple media dissemination is reliable, scalable, sustainable and cost effective.
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