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.