EU Space Days 2025/ New system will warn against threats

While technologies such as Alert RCB are already effective in warning the population, the mobile networks they rely on can themselves be destroyed in the event of a disaster. During the EU Space Days organized in Gdańsk, experts demonstrated a new, resistant and fast satellite technology based on the Galileo system.

During one of the panels organized as part of the Gdańsk EU Space Days conference (27-28 May), a group of experts discussed satellite technologies that play a key role in warning against disasters and other threats and in eliminating their effects.

One of the main elements of the meeting was the presentation of the European system currently being created, which, using Galileo satellites, will efficiently and reliably warn people about various types of dangers.

The new solution is that a stream of data with simple information is added to the typical signal providing navigation services. The thing is that the cellular networks used today are not completely resistant to various events on Earth.

"Basically, currently, if someone has a phone, they will receive information that there is a problem and that they should behave in a certain way. However, sometimes they may not receive it - for example, if there is damage to ground infrastructure, as happens during major floods," explained Dr. Jakub Ryzenko, head of the Crisis Information Center at CBK PAN.

Such a dangerous situation occurred quite recently in Poland.

"The last flood in Poland in September last year can serve as an example - we had a situation then where there was no GSM connection for several hours. This is exactly the kind of case when people could receive information about a potential threat, especially since the embankment broke and the water started flowing rapidly towards several villages," the expert recalled.

In addition, not everywhere has access to mobile networks yet, and the system will have global coverage.

“In such situations, the ability to send a message that reaches a person directly without the need to use terrestrial infrastructure makes a huge difference,” Dr. Ryzenko emphasized.

To use the new technology you will need a phone with a Galileo signal receiver.

The operation of the system could be seen in practice – a presentation was prepared based on a real situation that took place in Gdańsk a few weeks earlier – a fire broke out in a warehouse, releasing toxic gases that posed a threat to residents.

“You will see an alert that was prepared by colleagues here in a room a few hundred meters away from here,” announced Dr. Ryzenko.

And indeed, after the system was launched, in a little over a minute, phones equipped with appropriate receivers, prepared for presentation, received the alert. It indicated the threatened area and gave instructions on how to behave.

"We are talking about a solution that can clearly add value to what is known in Poland as Alert RCB – a system used to send SMS messages to the public. Similar systems also exist in other European countries," said Dr. Jakub Rozenko.

In the longer term, in addition to telephones, the signal will also be received by new cars and electronic billboards.

Science in Poland, Marek Matacz

matt/ agt/

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