EARLY WARNING COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
An effective early warning system needs an effective communication system. Early warning communication system has two main components. These are communication infrastructure hardware and interactions among the main actors of the early warning process. Communication infrastructure hardware must be reliable, especially during the disaster. Interactions among the main actors of the early warning process must be appropriate and effective. The main actors of the early warning process are the scientific community, stakeholders, decision makers, the public, and the media.
Redundancy of communication systems is essential for disaster management, while emergency power supplies and back-up systems are critical in order to avoid the collapse of communication systems after disasters occur. In addition, frequencies and channels must be reserved and dedicated to disaster relief operations to ensure the communication systems operate reliably and effectively during and after a disaster occurs, and to avoid network congestion.
Many communication tools are currently available for warning dissemination, such as Short Message Service known as SMS, e-mail, radio, as well as TV and web service.
Information and communication technology is a key element in early warning. It plays an important role in disaster communication and disseminating information to organizations in charge of responding to warnings and to the public during and after a disaster.
Today, the decentralization of information and data is provided through the WWW which stands for the World Wide Web. It makes it possible for millions of people worldwide to have easy, instantaneous access to a vast amount of diverse online information. This powerful communication medium has spread rapidly to interconnect our world, enabling near-real-time communication and data exchanges worldwide. The Internet has become an important medium to access and deliver information worldwide in a very timely fashion.
In addition, remote sensing satellites now provide a continuous stream of data. They are capable of rapidly and effectively detecting hazards, such as trans-boundary air pollutants, wildfires, deforestation, changes in water levels, and natural hazards. Using rapid advances in data collection, analysis, visualization and dissemination, it is now feasible to deliver relevant information on a regular basis to a worldwide audience. It is provided with modern technologies such as remote sensing, Geographical Information Systems, web mapping, sensor webs, telecommunications and Internet.
Information is now available in a near-real-time mode from a variety of sources at global and local levels. In the coming years, the multi-scaled global information network will greatly improve thanks to new technological advances that facilitate the global distribution of data and information at all levels.
Globalization and rapid communication provides an unprecedented opportunity to catalyze effective action at every level by rapidly providing authorities and the general public with high-quality and scientifically credible information in a timely fashion.
The dissemination of warnings often follows a cascade process, which starts at the international or national level and then moves to regional and community levels. Early warnings may activate other early warnings at different authoritative levels, flowing down in responsibility roles, although all are equally necessary for effective early warning.
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THE GEOWARN SYSTEM
The Global Emergency Observation Warning and Relief Network (GEOWARN) is a system that can provide a mechanism for the timely processing of information both before and after an event has occurred. The GEOWARN system complements the activities of existing international and national disaster management and meteorological agencies as well as local government and private response organizations. The objective of the GEOWARN system is to use existing technology to provide a global disaster warning and relief support service. The core of the system is a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites which monitor vulnerable areas of the earth and a global network of computing facilities that analyze the images and provide timely warning of impending disasters.
This system utilizes existing remote sensing resources augmented by additional satellites and airborne sensor platforms linked together via a computer network. It is configured around five control centers called Multi-National Centers to perform the task of providing global disaster warning and relief support.
The four primary functions of the GEOWARN system include data collection, data processing and management, information distribution, and communication support. Data collection is provided via space-based, airborne and ground-based remote sensing platforms. The data processing and data management elements include geographical information systems, simulations of hazard phenomena and databases. The usable information is transmitted to the appropriate government and private management agencies. The GEOWARN system provides value information to disaster management officials to support preparedness, warning and relief activities.
There are many immediate benefits of the GEOWARN system. The most significant is that it saves lives and reduces human suffering throughout the world. It reduces the extent of damage through preparations that is made with adequate warnings or more efficient disaster response activities.
The development of a global disaster warning system is considered as one of the most promising peaceful applications of space technology. It is evident that much of the technology that is used for scientific investigation of the Earth's environment and global communications can be applied directly to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters on humanity worldwide.
The GEOWARN system is a concept that integrates current remote sensing, data management and communication technologies. It provides disaster warnings and aids in disaster response on a global scale.
The GEOWARN system was originally developed at the 1993 Summer Session of the International Space University hosted in Huntsville, Alabama, USA. During the ten weeks of intensive interdisciplinary space studies the international student body, comprising 100 graduate and post-graduate level students from 30 countries, engaged in the development of two student design projects. GEOWARN was one of the design projects and was supported by 38 students from 16 countries in America, Europe, Africa and Asia.
The primary motivation for the GEOWARN project was a clear need to provide warning and relief support to the countries and regions of the world.
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