Alert System Specification (D4.3)
This deliverable reports on the outcome of the activities of Task 4.2 (GNSS-supported alert message delivery). The deliverable describes the alerting components of the PHAROS alerting system, focusing on the used dissemination channels, namely, Cell Broadcast and GNSS. The alerting part of the PHAROS system is chronologically the last service used by the PHAROS primary user: from the information collected by the sensors, the simulation performed by the simulation tool and the result of the decision support system, primary users can make use of the alerting gateway to send alert messages to the targeted recipients. Apart from this overall use case, the alert system can also be used in a stand-alone fashion, also when the hazard or risk has not been detected by the sensor networks integrated within the system, but primary users have the need to communicate to the population.
The alert message delivery system included in the PHAROS short-term approach system is strongly based on the alert system designed and implemented during the EC FP7 Alert4All project [1]. In the context of PHAROS, two new distribution channels are considered, with regard to the ones analysed and interfaced during the Alert4All project: Cell Broadcast and GNSS. The Cell Broadcast technology enables to reach mobile phones at a particular geographical area by broadcasting messages from the corresponding telecom antennas. The GNSS system enables to reach population owning a mobile device equipped with a GNSS receiver.
After introducing the technical requirements that the alert system should satisfy, this deliverable firstly explains what the different components of the PHAROS alerting system are in order to fulfil the requirements. Thereafter, the system design is presented, focusing on the different modules that build it and their corresponding interfaces.
Among the major challenges found during the performance of this task, there is the use of the EGNOS channel for distribution of alert messages. As documented in the body of the report, the initial plan of liaising with the MLU Test bed (Multi-constellation Land users Test bed) could not be carried out due to the official decommissioning of the test bed. For the time being, the different alternatives to access a real EGNOS payload to test the system capabilities are being investigated, together with the possibility of using any available test bed for this purpose. Since this matter tackles mostly management aspects, the activities within this task have been focused in providing the technical solution for the EGNOS channel, even if the feasibility of its integration within the alerting system is not yet clear, so that no technical bottleneck is present in case the test bed or the real access is available.