early warning system

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The early warning system is a device which, as a warning system, detects emerging hazards at an early stage and informs those at risk as quickly as possible. It is intended to help avert danger or to mitigate the consequences through timely and comprehensive reaction.

Parts of an early warning system

The listed components of early warning systems relate to the area of disasters within the framework of disaster control or civil protection , but can also be transferred to other areas.

Measurements

The basis is always the installation and use of sensors that record environmental data (e.g. vibrations, temperature, humidity). Measurement in subcultural structures is particularly important.

Collection of the data

Effective predictions are only possible if the data from many sensors that are far away from each other converge at a central point. For this it may be necessary to set up your own infrastructure. It is often advisable to use existing communication channels and include data that comes from sensors that existed before the early warning system was set up.

Monitoring / evaluation

The measured values ​​of the sensors are checked around the clock in real time for irregularities and peculiarities. A comparison with older data is helpful for this. Not every peculiarity is a sure sign of a catastrophe, but the simultaneous occurrence of several conspicuous different types of measured values ​​is a serious indicator.

assessment

While the preceding steps can be automated well, it is necessary that signs of a disaster are examined by a team of experts for their significance. This assesses how likely it is that an accident will occur. In addition, the relationship between the damage caused by a possible disaster and the damage caused by a false alarm must be checked. A warning can therefore be issued or withheld.

Warning / spread

Knowledge of the impending disaster must be passed on as quickly as possible. For this purpose, it is already determined when the early warning system is set up who needs to be alerted and in which order this is appropriate. A tree-like structure is often used, in which each person alerted informs several other bodies. In the ideal case, there are special communication facilities that enable everyone to be notified at the same time. But even the simplest means such as telephone or radio can be sufficient.

It often makes sense to immediately inform the entire affected population, e.g. B. with sirens or by television, radio, internet or mobile radio. Under certain circumstances, however, the consequences of an unorganized evacuation or a mass panic can be so serious that the population and the civil protection authorities have to be informed separately. For example, if the population is warned too early, millions of people want to warn their relatives by telephone and there is no capacity left in the telephone network to plan major measures. Some disasters can be prevented if there is an effective early warning system in place.

Automatic response

The reaction is not fundamentally linked to the actions of people either. So when a warning occurs, for. For example, gas lines are shut off, fire doors shut, trains stopped and bridges closed without human intervention.

All clear

A clear regulation of whether, when and how the warning is given makes sense. As long as a person at risk does not know that he should wait for an all-clear, he will try to assess the end of the danger himself and thus possibly put himself in danger again. Mixing up the warning and the all-clear must also be prevented.

Requirements / precaution

The best early warning system is of little use if the warned do not know how to react to a warning or cannot put their knowledge into practice. A large-scale education campaign should therefore not be missing. Regular refreshing of knowledge as well as regular exercises help to be prepared for an emergency. The availability of shelters, escape routes, evacuation plans , food and water supplies is necessary so that a warning can be responded to appropriately.

Limited early warning systems

A good early warning system has all of the above characteristics. But even the presence of a few parts or just a single part can be described as an early warning system and be useful as such.

Dissemination of early warning systems

As a general rule, early warning systems are mostly only operated where disasters occur with a relatively high degree of regularity. For example, there is a well-functioning system for tsunami early warning in the Pacific region .

Early warning systems in the area of ​​fire protection

The most common early warning system is found in fire protection in the form of smoke and gas detectors, heat sensors, fire alarm systems, sirens and notices to emergency exits. These are practically always found in public buildings. In the private sector, these are not mandatory and are therefore still quite rare. The increasing awareness of dangers and the low level of investment (sometimes under ten euros) mean that smoke alarm devices for the private sector are becoming more widespread .

US Air Force Boeing E-3 Sentry

Early warning systems in the military sector

Early warning systems include reconnaissance by military satellites, radar systems and reconnaissance aircraft. NATO uses the flying early warning and control system AWACS for air surveillance. The term Airborne Early Warning System is often used for airborne systems . Sea- based systems such as the Sea-Based X-Band Radar are also used.

Early warning systems in the field of economy

The aim here is to identify negative trends in corporate development early on so that a reduction in sales or even bankruptcy can be prevented. The individual levels of the system are comparable to those mentioned above. There are companies that specialize in working as early warning signs for other companies. Here, referred to as the early warning system, it is part of risk management . These measures are often set up by business consultants .

Early warning systems in the field of natural disasters

Since a particularly high number of deaths and injuries can usually be expected in natural disasters, the associated natural events have been scientifically observed for a long time. In the wake of the earthquake in the Indian Ocean in 2004 that a severe tsunami caused at least 231,000 deaths, more early warning systems have been established or improved in the affected region. Indonesia operates the German Indonesian Tsunami Early Warning System (GITEWS), which works together with the Malaysian Malaysian National Tsunami Early Warning System (MNTEWS) and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC).

Early warning systems in other areas

There are other possible uses in other areas; they are operated as social, military or ecological early warning systems.

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