The EU-funded AWARE project organised its first live demonstration in Logarska Dolina, Slovenia, paving the way for innovation in public warning systems. The AWARE module was put into action, demonstrating how it is helping to protect communities at risk of natural disasters.
The demonstration gathered representatives from the AWARE consortium, the Civil Protection Authority of Slovenia, civil protection authorities from several EU Member States, and other interested stakeholders, who took part in the exercise and accompanying networking sessions.
Aleš Klemenc, Director of the Office for Development, IT, and Investments at the Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of Slovenia (ACPDR), thanked the consortium for developing this module, which he said will significantly contribute to increasing public awareness and safety in various hazards. “We are pleased to have hosted the first satellite-based emergency alert trial here in Logarska Dolina, which was very successful and for that, we thank all project partners.”
The project has developed an innovative module that can receive and transmit alert messages using Galileo’s Emergency Warning Satellite Service (EWSS), which can alert people with the use of satellites even when telecommunication networks on the ground are unavailable. This module can be fitted on display panels, sirens, acoustic devices and indoor warning systems, which can then provide warning with text or audio messages in case of an emergency.
The demonstration showcased the AWARE module integrated into a long-range acoustic device (LRAD/ACOUSTICS) provided by project partner GENASYS. Inspired by Slovenia’s devastating 2023 floods – the country’s worst natural disaster in decades – the demonstration scenario simulated an impending natural hazard. The AWARE module received genuine Galileo EWSS alerts broadcast by satellites and transmitted them to the equipped device. The siren then delivered a crystal-clear audio warning message in Slovenian and English to alert the nearby population about the imminent danger and provide instructions for protection.
The demonstration highlighted the module’s operational capacity and effectiveness in ensuring fast and reliable public warning through fixed devices. By integrating Galileo’s Emergency Warning Satellite Service, the module can make certain that crucial information and alerts can reach the affected population even when telecommunications networks are down or disrupted.
AWARE Project Manager Charly Faradji (Telespazio) expressed his gratitude to the ACPDR for hosting the project’s first demonstration. “We are delighted to be in Logarska Dolina, Slovenia, for the first demonstration of Galileo Emergency Warning Satellite System applied to fixed devices.
Speaking about the project’s efforts to develop the AWARE module that is capable of relaying satellite alerts to fixed public warning devices, Mr Faradji highlighted that the demonstration shows that this technology is a true game changer. “[AWARE is] enhancing public warning and ensuring alerts are delivered even when terrestrial telecommunication networks are disrupted.”
The AWARE project is the first project to integrate Galileo EWSS to fixed devices, facilitating a multi-channel approach to public warning systems that can reach citizens when it matters most, indoors and outdoors. In a time where the frequency and intensity of disasters is increasing, AWARE is contributing to robust public warning, dedicated to the aim of enhancing the safety of citizens in Europe. The project is directly contributing to the European Union’s Disaster Resilience Goals, ensuring that emergency warnings are delivered to the right people, at the right time.
This EU-funded project, led by Telespazio France, brings together eight partners from four countries with the necessary knowledge and expertise on public warning and the capabilities of Galileo EWSS.
The first demonstration is an important milestone for the AWARE project. In the coming months, two more demonstrations will take place across Europe to showcase the system’s operational capacity in different risk scenarios and contexts. Together, these events will bring the project closer to its goal of enhancing public warning capabilities and ensuring the safety of all citizens.
Regarding the project’s future, Mr Faradji explained that the next step is the deployment and preparation for the initial Galileo EWSS service declaration, expected in mid 2026.
“We are ready to support your country in organising dedicated demonstrations with your existing public warning devices, adapting feasibility studies to your national needs, as well as launching dedicated pilot projects,” Charly Faradji said.
“Let’s get ready to be AWARE when every second counts!”
