Project CHORIST

CHORIST proposes technical solutions to address the Early Warning issues: some have been or are already subject to research projects, but many fields remain to be explored.

The future of the CHORIST situation awareness module:

• Sensor networks

  Whatever the quality of the sensors, awareness works if measurements are made and transmitted in real-time. Technical economic aspects are a key issue.

• Prediction models

  Forecasts are already made by specialised agencies, and a system like CHORIST should provide added-value to these models and not duplicate them (e.g. multi-hazard events)

• Visualisation

  Tables and state-of-the-art GIS-based maps are proposed by CHORIST, but 3D models should be investigated, as they present the results of the assessment in a way which may lead to better informed decision making.

• Training

  Inputs of the situation awareness module must go beyond clear input events, and also include the unsubstantiated information that the Authorities usually receive from phone calls rather than sensors.

The future of the CHORIST warning system:

• Population behaviour

  Difficult to predict by theories, the behaviour of the population has to be better understood so that the warning systems are efficient. Studies and large field tests have to be conducted to know more on this domain. This topic is non-technical, but is perhaps the most significant thing to understand.

• Simulations

  The simulation of population behaviour could be a means to train decision makers when alerting the population: The effects of messages could be evaluated a posteriori. The elaboration of a strategy to warn the population by decision makers could be enhanced with the usage of these models a priori.

• Standards for warning message content

  The content of the warning messages, and especially the behavioural requirements, must be harmonised (i.e. standardised) across Europe so that their understanding and the implementation of required actions are properly carried out by non-native people.

• Supplementary channels

  The usage of satellite (EGNOSS, DVB-SH…), paging networks, road signs and other message delivery technologies has to be studied and experimented with.

• Involvement of intermediate security officers

  Security staff at locations such as shopping centres, entertainment stadia, universities or company premises must be warned at least in parallel to the population, preferably earlier, in order to implement predefined emergency procedures. These procedures may differ from and indeed override the actions required of the general public in the warning messages. Management of these potentially conflicting requirements will be an issue.

• Warning end devices

  The provision of dedicated end-user devices for warning message delivery is both an interesting topic to study, and market to explore. As a priority, devices to assist the visually and audibly impaired should be created.

The future of the CHORIST rapidly deployable systems:

• Mesh networks

  Interoperability between stand-alone IP mesh networks and infrastructure IP networks shall be transparent.

• Data applications for public safety

  Many data applications could be created to make profit from the available bandwidth.

• Security

  Security of mesh networks is a mandatory feature to be included in the system. It has to be developed.