Cross-border public alert system trialled
A European cross-border public alert system that will allow government agencies and institutions to send out standardised emergency messages has been successfully trialled. Alert4All uses different communication channels including fire systems to send out alerts to the public whether they are on the road, in the office or at home.
A European cross-border public alert system that will allow government agencies and institutions to send out standardised emergency messages has been successfully trialled. Alert4All uses different communication channels including fire systems to send out alerts to the public whether they are on the road, in the office or at home.
The pan-European public warning system was developed as a European Commission FP7-project (Seventh Framework Programme) under the lead of the German Aerospace Centre and in cooperation with 11 European partners, as well as Euralarms PEARS (Public Emergency Alert and Response Systems).
Euralarm is the association of European manufacturers, installers and service providers of the electronic fire safety and security industry.
Alert4Alls modular design will allow integration with existing and future methodologies, allowing it to be upgraded to incorporate the security systems in large facilities such as company buildings, schools or shopping centres.
The integration of existing fire and security products, systems and alarm-receiving centres into cross-border public alert systems provides the opportunity to open an additional channel for public alert scenarios. Researchers say this can be expanded to deliver additional capability to reach large parts of the population in the event of crises in a very cost-effective way. It can also be programmed to take advantage of trends in social behaviour and use of new media.
It also has the capability to receive alert signals that can then be used to activate audible and/or visual warnings. More sophisticated systems can convert public alert messages into intelligible voice messages or display the same message on PCs.
Euralarm now wants to initiate a broader discussion at a European level to focus on adapting the existing fire safety and security systems regulations to encourage the integration of alarm systems into public alert communication networks.
