Local Public Information and Notification System

All incidents, which have occurred recently in the Russian Federation (forest fires, floods, hurricanes, industrial disasters), evidence that the level of public information and notification about the occurred or imminent natural disasters in the Russian Federation is very poor. Many casualties would have been avoided had the executive authorities timely notified people about the threat to their life and health.

The Russian National Integrated Population Notification and Warning System (OKSION) Program introduced by the Ministry of Emergencies of the Russian Federation provides for the creation of notification infrastructure in Russian settlements with population over 50 thousand people by 2020. There are two such settlements in Kaluga Region: the cities of Kaluga and Obninsk.

The OKSION Program does not explain what other residents of Kaluga Region, as well as dwellers of other Russian towns, settlements and villages with population less than 50 thousand people should do in case of emergency.

The specialists of LLC Typhoon-Svyaz-Montazh, together with our partners have designed Local Public Information and Notification System (LPINS) which is a simple and low-budget public notification system for any populated places.

LPINS consists of:

  • information centre equipment including a control computer with special software connected to any communication channels with peripheral devices;
  • equipment of a public notification place (settlement, village etc.) including a general-purpose controller with a low frequency amplifier and a speaker connected to any communication channels with peripheral devices.

When in standby mode, a compact controller, which is essentially a small computer with a powerful processor, memory and special peripherals, can simultaneously solve other tasks of importance for remotely located facilities (two-way communication with the facility, its protection, transmission of the facility parameters data etc.).

The system’s operating principle is fairly simple 

In case of actual or potential emergency, short coded orders are sent from the region’s information centre through the communication channels to the equipment (controllers) in settlements. Having received an order, the controller recognizes it, finds a predetermined message in its memory, which corresponds to the order received, and broadcasts it through the speakers.

The notification can be on any topic; however, it shall be important for a particular situation in the region. The system also provides for a direct transmission of messages read by the duty officer of the information centre.

Below is an extract from the terms of reference for development of LPINS in Vorotynsk Settlement of Babyninsky District of Kaluga Region with a full list of technical characteristics and parameters of LPINS and comments by the authors.