EWBSEmergency Warning Broadcast System
APT online training course
for the effectiveness of radio broadcasting in rural areas
where the limited broadband network.

January 2022

Japan Telecommunications Engineering and Consulting Service

EWBS ecosystem & requirements- Emergency Warning Broadcast System l Wide coveragel Robust transmissionl One way communicationl Low Latencyl Resistant mobile receptionl Low cost, easy introduction

EWBS

equals to characteristic of“Broadcasting Radio Wave”

See Video (５ Minutes)
NHK STRL about EWBS
2016 IEEE Milestone Award

NationalOrganization
for DisasterPrevention

EWBS operation in JapanMain Operator：Broadcaster
ISDB-T
EWBS Information(Text)

Emergency!!
Emergency Program

Covering
Emergency
Information

for General households

EWBS is one of theBroadcasting Contents

Main Operator：

ISDB-T

National Organization for
Disaster Prevention
Emergency!!

Emergency Information
Emergency!!

Adaptation EWBS for oversea countries
Broadcasting network is used
Ø as communication systemØ open to anybody / any devices

for General households

Broadcaster

Display

Siren

EWBS is emergency information delivery systemusing broadcasting infrastructure

for Public place

Why Emergency Information on Broadcast radio wave?

1. Wide coverage
2. Robust transmission
3. One way communication
4. Low Latency
5. Resistant mobile reception
6. Low cost, easy introduction

See Video (2 Minutes)
Why Emergency Information onBroadcast Radio Wave

Why Emergency Information on Broadcast radio wave?

1. Wide coverage

Broadcasting is public media accessible to everyone.
Broadcast radio wave reaches every corner of nation in most countries.

Why Emergency Information on Broadcast radio wave?

2. Robust transmission

Devastated landslide by torrential rains hit Izu-Oshima, on 16 Oct. 2013

Telecommunication failed
Electricity failed

Broadcasting transmitting station

Broadcasting kept transmission !
Broadcasting transmission system is designed to be disaster resistant.
Wireless operation, Located in a higher place, Backup by emergency generator….

Why Emergency Information on Broadcast radio wave?

3. One way communication
Traffic Congestion freeResistant to cyber security

Guarantees high reliability

Why Emergency Information on Broadcast radio wave?

6. Low cost, easy introduction

Maximum usage of existing network

Guarantees low cost and easy introduction

Types of EWBS

1. Audio Analogue Multiplexing method
2. Digital Data Multiplexing method

Types of EWBS
MethodAudio Analogue
Multiplexing
Digital Data
Multiplexing

Capacity<1kbps(64bps)>16kbps

CodeTextTV✔

NANA *1✔

✔

Ø JapanØ Latin America

ApplicationMWFMØ JapanØ Tonga

NA*2InternationalIntroduction
in considerationby using “DARC”*3*1 in Japan, used to be in operation in analogue TV broadcasting*2 MW is technically incompatible to digital data multiplexing*3 in Japan, under operation in ITS communication service (VICS)

Case study of MW Radio
Retransmission on FM

Tonga

RAR

“Nationwide Early Warning System in theKingdom of Tonga“ （NEWS Project)
MW TransmitterJapanese Grant Aid 2018～

Studio Building: Relates to Radio BroadcastingCase study of MW RadioCase study of MW Radio
Block diagram and operational procedure of Early Warning System using radio broadcast
Control code overAM broadcasting program
RAR
Decoder

AM station
ProgramController

Control Signal

Transmitter

RAR

Control code

Encoder

METTrigger

Mixer/switcher::
Decoder

IP Link
Control code overFM broadcasting program RAR

FM stations
Program

Encoder

Decoder

Mixer/switcher

Transmitter

RAR

Control code
DecodeBasic procedure
MET triggered off at Controller
in case of emergency

Control signal created byController is sent to selectedbroadcasters via IP link link.

Control code which encoded byEncoder is switched atMixer/switcher ,and then sent toTransmitter as a radio program
audio signal.

RARs are activated when control
code is detected at decoder
equipped in the receiver even duringswitched-off/Sleep-mode.

Case study of MW Radio
Remote Activated Receiver (RAR)
PurposeTo disseminate urgent emergency information to the peoples in
Tsunami hazard areas especially in:- Remote islands where outdoor sirens do not cover- Reside or work at outside of sound coverage from outdoor sirens- Inside of large buildings where sound of outdoor siren is hardly
heard- Other important organizations/facilities

Major functions- Act as ‘Emergency indoor warning sound devise’ which remotely
activated from MET/NEMO office when emergency.
- User can enjoy this as a normal radio (AM/FM) in normal time.

Major specifications- Tuners:
AM and FM- Dimension:
250mm (W) x 70mm (D) x 160mm (H)- Weight:
1.8 kg- Power source:
AC240V or DC12V or USB- Power Consumption: Negligible small in stand-by mode
- Backup:
Rechargeable battery inside for blackout- Alerting sounds:
Siren sounds, Chimes, pre-recorded voicemessages etc.
- Installation:
Fixed to the wall by screw and poweredfrom outlet nearby.

Case study of MW Radio

Siren tower
Broadcasting Station

See Video (1 Minutes)
EWBS
with Medium Wave Radioin Tonga

Case study of Digital TV

EWBS Case study in Latin America
with Digital TV radio wave

Japanese Digital TV standard adopted by 20 countries

Japan
Honduras
GuatemalaPhilippines

Nicaragua

El Salvador

Venezuela

Costa Rica

AngolaEcuador

Sri Lanka

Peru

Maldives

Bolivia

BotswanaParaguay
Chile■DVB-T/T2 adopted

UruguayArgentina

As of February 2020 Research by DiBEG■ISDB-T adopted

Brazil■ATSC adopted■DTMB adoptedThose countries which are facing the risk of natural disasters （Peru, Central American countries etc.)
have strong interest in EWBS introduction and expect a technical assistance from Japan.

EWBS Standardization in ISDB-T International ForumTSUNAMI Warning

Broadcasters

Activation Flag
Superimpose

Receivers
Automatic activation
by Activation Flag
Emergency Information Display
by Superimpose

Adding a “Superimpose” function on the Japanese original,
EWBS Standard was approved by ISDB-T International
Forum in May 2013

What is “Superimpose” ?
3 Types of text messages used in TV service（１）Normal Subtitle (Open Caption)
Ø Information which belongs to the main programØ Always on the display

Overlay in Broadcasting Studio（２）Closed Caption
Ø the service for inaudible persons / multilingual movie etc.
Ø Synchronous information with the main programØ Selection of display (on/off) by viewers（３）Superimpose
Ø Asynchronous information with the main programØ Selection of display (on/off) by viewers
Ø to be sent background at any time

Overlay in Receivers
Emergency!!
Emergency!!

See Video (1 Minutes)
Explanation of Superimpose

What is “Superimpose” ?
Superimpose
Independent digital text data
issued by JMA (Japan Metrological Agency)

Utilized for EWBS
Open-Caption
Broadcasting contents
edited by NHK

On 14:46 March 11,2011 NHK’s BroadcastingEWBS Dissemination Systemdeveloped in Japan for Latin American countries that adopt Japanese Digital TV standard (ISDB-T)
Broadcasting Radio Wave
(Digital TV)

Display EWBS

EWBS STBEWBS Gateway
EWBS Inserter

EWBS
Reception
ModuleØ Emergency information dissemination systemutilizing Broadcasting Radio Wave
Ø Efficient dissemination with maximum use ofexiting infrastructure

Siren♪ “EWBS”
Siren♪ “EWBS”
Siren♪ “EWBS”

See Video (5 Minutes)
EWBS
with Digital TV Broadcastingin Latin America

EWBS Superimpose Modulen Exclusive reception of Text Informationn 24-hour monitoring ⇒ never to miss EWBS alertn Robust “One-seg” receptionn Small size , Low consumption

EWBS Superimpose Module

Application of operation controlled by EWBS Inserter
Siren for TSUNAMI
1

Tsunami
Alert

2

Local
Alert

3
4

Test for
DesignatedreceiverDrill

5

Important
Notification

6General
Information

SignageN

Full-segOne-seg

TSUNAMI Alert

LFull-seg
One-segLocal Alert

LOne-seg

Equipment test

NL

One-seg

Disaster Drill

NL

One-seg

Heavy Rain !

NL

One-seg

Weather Info.

N: Nation wide Operation

L: Local OperationTV
TSUNAMI Alert

Local Alert

Equipment test

EWBS transmission control terminal ( operation menu )EWBS transmission control terminal ( configuration menu )EWBS compatible Set Top Box

Automatic activation
Automatic HDMI port changeover TV-set
HDMI CEC function
ISDB-T“One-seg”

EWBS STB

Separate EWBS dedicated tuner"never misses the alarm"

Result of HDMI – CEC compatibility test in Costa Rica (March 2019)

Major manufactures’ TV-set are almost
compatible HDMI-CEC function

Applications of “EWBS Gateway”
Bridge of EWBS to any existing communication systems

Network out

Audio out

Contact out

HDMI out

WiFi
Siren
EWBS

PublicCommunication
System
EWBS
Gateway

Speaker

Signage
EWBS
EWBS

EWBS
Gateway

EWBS
robustness
wide coveragehigh reliability

CATV

EWBS

EWBS

EWBS
Gateway

・・・EWBSEWBS implementation in Latin America with Japan’s cooperation
Nicaragua

El Salvador

Costa Rica

Perú

BrasilEcuador

3/2018 Field experiment of EWBS equipment
4/2021 Start of test transmission of EEW (Earthquake Early Warning) information
12/2021 Pilot project for EWBS receivers’ expansion (underway)
10/2018 Field experiment of EWBS equipment
10/2019 Demonstration of EWBS receivers
4/2021 Start of test transmission of EEW (Earthquake Early Warning) information
10/2018 Field experiment of EWBS equipment
3/2019 Demonstration of EWBS receivers
4/2021 Start of test transmission of EEW (Earthquake Early Warning) information
1/2019 Field experiment of EWBS equipment
3/2019 Start of technical support with operation training
11/2019 Large scale demonstration in national evacuation drill on World
Tsunami Awareness day (Nov. 5,2019 )12/2019 Field experiment of EWBS equipment
3/2021 In-door experiment of EWBS equipment
1/2022 Field experiment of EWBS equipment (underway)

EWBS operation in Peru
Lima
IRTP(H.Q.)

EWBS Inserter（Local）

ISDB-T
MUXL
ISDB-T
TX

Arequipa
DVB-S2(BTS)

IRTP （Local)

L

EWBS Inserter（Local）
ISDB-T
TX

Satellite
RX

Satellite
TX

EWBS Inserter（Nation wide）

EWBS

Normalmessages

INDECI-COEN

Combination ofNational and Local
operation

EWBS

Normalmessages

INDECI-COER

EWBS operation in Peru

Display EWBS in operationin Radio broadcasting station

Peru - EWBS utilized in the event on “World TSUNAMI Awareness day”
5 November 2019

Emergency message (EWBS) displayed on the large display at the main site of the evacuation drill

Utilization in a local government

EWBS Displays utilized in the Disaster Ministerial meeting

EWBS Reception Survey in Costa Rica (March 2019)10 points

Volcan Irazu
3,400mEWBS Reception Survey in Costa Rica (March 2019)

Field test at a fire station

Field test in acoast guard boat

Field test in a vehicle

Field test in a railway carriage

EWBS trial in Nicaragua (March 2018)

SINAPRED

EWBS Control PC

Canal 6

EWBS Inserter

EWBS trial in El Salvador (October 2019)

EWBS Control PC

Canal 10
Protección de Civil
EWBS Inserter
EWBS receiver installation ata government agency

Demonstration inEvacuation drill
Receipt on moving vehicle

EWBS trial in Costa Rica (March 2019)

EWBS Control PC

CNE (Disaster Prevention Agency)

SINART (States Broadcaster)

EWBS Inserter

EWBS trial in Brazil (December 2019)

EWBS trial in Ecuador ( March 2021 )EEW around the globe

EEW Real-time testing stage
in Central America region

Earthquake Early Warning in Central America

Cooperative Project with EWARNICA

Deliver earthquake early warning (EEW) automatically to theresidents by connecting EWARNICA system and EWBS

Cooperative Project with EWARNICA

TV

Dissemination
BroadcastingRadio Wave

Automated
communication
Interface

Internet

Speaker

Siren

EWARNICA

EWBS

Signage

CATV

Mensaje EWBS
de Alarma deemergencia

EWBS trial disseminating Earthquake (EEW) information (April 2021）
Broadcasting
Transmitting Station

Canal 10in El Salvador
EWBS

Earthquake Early
Warning (EEW)
Seismic observation agency MARN

49

See Video (5 Minutes)
IOC -UNESCO(Inter-govenmental Oceanographic Commission)

Exercise Pacific Waves

Possibility of utilizing FM Radio wave
Ø FM Radio broadcast standard is common throughout the world
Ø Digital data multiplexing system on FM Radio are standardized in ITU-R
European ”RDS” ( Radio Data System) / Japanese “DARC” ( Data Radio Channel).
Ø Japanese DARC has enough capacity to deliver “Superimpose” text.
Ø In Japan, DARC has long been in service in “VICS” ( Vehicle Information andCommunication System) and widespread.
Ø DARC has promising potential to expand the EWBS case of Latin
America to Asia-Pacific countries by utilizing the exiting FM Radio wave.

Digital data multiplexing system on FM Radio
Bandwidth assigned for FM Radio Broadcasting( The only one ITU standard)

FM Radio Program
to be used for EWBS
L+R

L-R
Digital Data
19

38

Frequency (kHz)100

Digital data multiplexing system on FM Radio
RDS

DARC

(Radio Data System)(Data Radio Channel)

Development

EuropeJapan

Standardization

1986(ITU-R Rec. 643)

1995
(ITU-R Rec.1194)

Modulation

DBPSK

LMSK

Sub-Carrier

57 kHz76 kHzData Capacity

1 kbps

16 kbpsSufficient capacity
for the EWBS case of Latin America

DARC in operation in Japan
VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System)
https://www.vics.or.jp/en/
VICS is an innovative information and communication
system, enables you to receive real-time road traffic
information about congestion and regulation.

Information is provided through three communication and broadcast media

Text information delivery is compatible to EWBS

Idea to expand the EWBS case of Latin America to Asia-Pacific countries
Digital TV

Display EWBS

FM Radio

EWBS STBEWBS Gateway
EWBS Inserter

Compatible toFM RadioEWBS
Reception
ModuleCompatible toFM Radio
Siren♪ “EWBS”
Siren♪ “EWBS”
Siren♪ “EWBS”