DRM demonstrated to Indian disaster experts

Digital Radio Mondiale is demonstrating its Emergency Warning Features at a special event hosted by India’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).

The special session on DRM Disaster and Emergency Warning is closing the four-day event being held at the Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management in Gandhinagar.

Presentations are being made by Alexander Zink, Fraunhofer IIS, Vice-Chairman DRM Technical Committee, Radu Obreja, DRM Marketing Director and the Hon Chair of the DRM India Chapter, Yogendra Pal.

Their audience includes senior officers of the NDMA from nine coastal states and officials from the state broadcaster, All India Radio and Doordarshan. The session also includes a technical demonstration of how emergency alerts and information can be signalled and managed using DRM in the country in general and the coastal states in particular. This standard is currently being rolled-out all over India by All India Radio.

Mr Yogendra Pal says: “The inbuilt Emergency Warning Feature in DRM is an excellent way to inform the public immediately about possible disasters and other emergencies. All the digital receivers get automatically tuned to audio and or data emergency warning signals in multiple languages, even if they are tuned to another station.

“India has nine coastal states, so this feature is of utmost importance to give emergency messages to fishermen and all those on ships.”

All India Radio is already in the process of installing 72 DRM transmitters, which will eventually cover about 70% of the population.

Mr Zink adds: “The DRM Emergency Warning Feature combines the natural benefits of digital radio in terms of content options and coverage for the benefit of the society as a whole, enhancing and going far beyond the pleasures of radio as an entertainment medium.”