National
warning system

Why to build a national warning system

Countries establish their public warning systems to warn their population against common danger. Historically, typical dangers included a military danger (war, bombing, rocket attacks) and danger of natural disasters (flood, tsunami, earthquake). Modern industrial production has brought a danger of industrial disasters and the current situation in the world has brought a danger of terrorist and war attacks.

As for the emergency situations caused by such dangers, countries, which are represented by relevant institutions, have developed a variety of emergency plans to instruct the persons in charge/the first responders on what measures and procedures are to be taken in such situations. These measures also include the warning procedures established by national acoustic warning systems. Despite the existence and usage of other forms of notifying the public of an impending danger, for example, television, radio, and mobile phone, the warning systems based on electronic sirens with their own communication infrastructures represent the most reliable and effective method of mass warning in endangered areas.

Why to build a national warning system

National warning system description

This unique and complex solution uses the entire Telegrafia’s technology and product portfolio. Within a few seconds, the system is able to activate any siren or group of sirens (depending on access rights) from any warning and notification centre on the national territory. Within a few minutes, the feedback information on the successful activation is provided by the system. It is possible to activate both the state-owned and state-operated sirens and the sirens of autonomous warning systems run by industrial enterprises and equipped with an interface for communication with the national warning system. Warning and notification centres can be equipped with the Vektra® software designed to control a siren network and to automate the processes following the declaration of a state of emergency.

The early warning and emergency notification system covers the entire national territory and it consists of:

The main national early warning and notification centre.
Regional warning and notification centres.
Mobile warning and notification centres.
Communication infrastructure interconnecting the individual warning and notification centres.
Radio communication infrastructure designed to monitor and control sirens, using designated radio frequencies (the primary communication channel).
RDS communication infrastructure using radio broadcasters (the secondary, back-up communication channel).
A network of several thousands of the Pavian sirens.
Autonomous warning systems built and operated by potentially hazardous industrial companies.

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National warning system description

The early warning and emergency notification system covers the entire national territory and it consists of:

The main national early warning and notification centre.
Regional warning and notification centres.
Mobile warning and notification centres.
Communication infrastructure interconnecting the individual warning and notification centres.
Radio communication infrastructure designed to monitor and control sirens, using designated radio frequencies (the primary communication channel).
RDS communication infrastructure using radio broadcasters (the secondary, back-up communication channel).
A network of several thousands of the Pavian sirens.
Autonomous warning systems built and operated by potentially hazardous industrial companies.

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Elements of a national warning system

Main national early warning and emergency notification centre

The main national early warning and emergency notification centre is the superior control centre of the entire system. The entire system is fully backed up by batteries and fully operational even after power failure. The centre allows control of all national sirens, including those that are part of autonomous warning systems. It is equipped with the Vektra® software in order to monitor the status of the entire technology (of both the sirens and the communication infrastructure), to control the sirens, and to automate all operational activities during the standard operation of the centre and upon the declaration of a state of emergency. This includes the standard communication amongst centres, communication between centres and industrial enterprises and, upon the declaration of a state of emergency, also the notification of the responsible persons and institutions by phone, email and text messages. In addition, the centre automatically keeps complete records of phone and radio communication within the provided communication infrastructure.

Radio communication infrastructure designed to control sirens

This radio communication infrastructure is used to control and monitor the status of the individual sirens within the system. It is established on the basis of the SMART communication units and works at designated frequencies. All its elements are able to operate for 72 hours after a power failure. This infrastructure also includes sirens equipped with radio modems, which can, at the same time, function as retransmitting stations.

Local early warning and emergency notification centres

Local early warning and emergency notification centres are fully autonomous workstations providing the same activities as those provided by the main centre; however, only on the local basis. This local limitation is defined only by access rights so that each early warning and emergency notification centre can take up the role of the main or any other warning and notification centre. At the same time, in the event of the communication breakdown with the main early warning and emergency notification centre, the local centres operate fully autonomously and are able to perform the operational functions within the entire area/location.

RDS communication infrastructure designed to control sirens

In practice, VHF radio broadcaster signals cover the entire populated area of a country. They also transmit RDS signals used for siren control. The individual early warning and emergency notification centres enter the modulation routes of such broadcasters and thus they can control sirens: either they can switch the sirens into the mode of broadcasting the same information as the radio broadcasters or interrupt the radio broadcasting with a message delivered directly from a warning centre. This can be very effectively used to notify the public in case of emergencies.

Communication infrastructure designed to interconnect early warning and emergency notification centres

The individual early warning and emergency notification centres are interconnected by wire through a designated backed-up channel. This interconnection of the computers in the centres to an integrated system allows the data synchronisation amongst these centres and the creation of a desired hierarchy in the system control.

Electronic sirens Pavian

The Pavian electronic sirens are used as a terminal acoustic element. They are designed to cover a given populated area by the acoustic signal of a desired acoustic pressure. In most countries, both the populated area and the value of the desired acoustic pressure (depending on the background noise of the relevant area) are stipulated directly by legislation. Since this early warning and emergency notification system must meet extremely stringent requirements, all the advanced functions of the Pavian siren series are fully used, particularly its autodiagnostic functions.

Autonomous warning systems of potentially hazardous industrial companies

Autonomous warning systems of potentially hazardous industrial companies are independent early warning systems built and operated by these companies (operators of water dams, power plants, industrial enterprises and others) which warn the public against an emergency in an endangered area in the event they cause it. Although these local warning systems are independent, each siren within the system is equipped with a module controllable via radio by the RDS system from the national early warning and emergency notification system and operable in case of an emergency even though these companies do not cause the emergency. In addition, the autonomous and national early warning systems are interconnected; therefore, the national system is automatically informed of any siren activation.