Smart Coastal City: Early Warning System
In 2100, it is predicted that global investment and maintenance cost of protection of coastal cities can go up to US$ 70 billion annually. Flooding, erosion and sea level rise are just example of hazards that coastal cities are facing both as fast and slow onset disaster. To improve their resiliency, coastal cities has adopted advance technological systems that not only useful to inform inhabitants as disaster happening but also as a tool to educate the community.
An example is the European Public Warning System, also known as EU-Alert, is a system that deliver emergency alerts and warnings to mobile devices within the European Union (EU). It is designed to provide rapid and widespread dissemination of critical information during emergencies and disasters. EU-Alert operates on the Cell Broadcast technology, which enables authorities to send text-based messages to all mobile devices within a specific geographic area, regardless of the recipients' network operators or mobile service providers.
As of September 2021, EU-Alert was being gradually implemented and adopted by EU member states. The wide coverage, speed, and simplicity of EU-Alert make it a valuable component of the overall emergency communication infrastructure. However, the effectiveness of any public warning system, including EU-Alert, is contingent upon several factors. These factors include the preparedness and responsiveness of authorities, public awareness and understanding of the system, the quality and accuracy of the information being disseminated, and the overall coordination and integration of different communication channels in emergency response.
Reference:
Tonmoy, F. N., Hasan, S., & Tomlinson, R. (2020). Increasing coastal disaster resilience using smart city frameworks: Current state, challenges, and opportunities. Frontiers in Water, 2, 3.
