Emergency Alert System

Emergency Alert System Dave Swift Zach Smith

Why EAS? • Virginia Polytechnic Institute • Client: Union College Campus Safety • Siren • Text Messaging • Email • Web • TV (TVuC) • Radio (WRUC)

Overall Specifications • Shared responsibility between TV and radio • Pre-recorded messages from Campus Safety • Single point to initiate override of both TV and radio • Emergency control station • User (defined by campus safety) given a local URL to activate • User name / password • List of scenarios • Click link to activate • Points of failure • Power & internet required • Manual Override should internet not be available • Television override • Radio override • Secure

TVuC Specifications • Control station to store recordings • Must always have TV-out enabled • Cannot have pop-ups on screen • Cannot automatically restart • Launch Sequence • Emergency Code generated by Web site • Script programmed to launch an MPG containing a slide and audio • Hardware override • Force video out to modulator • Force audio out to modulator AND to radio • Audio streamed out via direct connection with WRUC • Modulation within specification

WRUC Specifications • Components • Broadcast Medium • Must be ready to transmit 99% of time • Must be crash resistant • Audio Switch • Must not change the audio level dB • Response time of < 2 seconds • FCC regulations • Software Design • Web Coding • Switch Control • ****MODULATION / AUTO TAKE OVER

Measuring System Performance • Spectral analysis • Signal levels • Modulation readings

Current TVuC Layout WRUC Time Warner Headend (channel 21) coax Ch.2 Modulator composite audio a/v NetworkPatchPanel A/V Switch - Includes 250gb HD, JPEG Slideshow Capabilities a/v Monitor IP Connectiontvuc.union.edu a/v vga a/v a/v a/v a/v MiniDV (video 1) VCR (video 2) DVD 1 (video 3) DVD 2 (video 4) Computer (video 5) * note: a/v = composite mono audio and video connection

Expected Additions WRUC Time Warner Headend (channel 21) coax Ch.2 Modulator composite audio a/v EMERGENCY SYSTEM a/v NetworkPatchPanel A/V Switch - Includes 250gb HD, JPEG Slideshow Capabilities a/v Monitor IP Connectiontvuc.union.edu a/v vga a/v a/v a/v a/v MiniDV (video 1) VCR (video 2) DVD 1 (video 3) DVD 2 (video 4) Computer (video 5) * note: a/v = composite mono audio and video connection

TVUC Emergency System OVERRIDE (serial) To: Controller Emergency Computer TCP Connection VIDEO (composite) AUDIO (composite) VIDEO IN (composite) From: A/V Switch Control Station AUDIO IN (composite) From: A/V Switch AUDIO OUT (composite) To: Modulator To: Radio IN* VIDEO OUT (composite) To: Modulator

Logic for Control Station PANIC = CODE IN FROM WEB INTERFACE AV_IN1 = IN FROM PROGRAMMING SWITCH AV_IN2 = IN FROM EMERGENCY COMPUTER AV_OUT1 = OUT TO MODULATOR AV_OUT2 = OUT TO WRUC (audio only) WHILE (1) { PANIC == 000 //normal mode AV_OUT1 = AV_IN1 //pass signal from programming switch AV_OUT2 = NULL //force radio override OFF IF (PANIC != 000) //if EMERGENCY override { WHILE (PANIC != 000) //hold until over { AV_OUT1 = AV_IN2 //force output to EMERGENCY COMPUTER AV_OUT2 = AV_IN2 //force radio override ON } } }

Legend Audio Signal Control Signal Block Already Exists Blocks to be Implemented

Progress Report • Preliminary Design • Reconfiguring TVuC office space • Putting WRUC online for the year • IEF Grant • Block Diagram and Functional Decomposition • Design Paper Outline • Working with Campus Safety

Current Tasks • Temporary Solution to Campus Safety • Research • Controller / Op-Amps • Scripting • Design Paper • Web site • Radio Override Switch Controller Programming

What we Hope to Learn • Scripting • Building hardware controllers with near 100% uptime & limited points of failure • Preventing computer from crashing • Learn how each other’s setup functions

Emergency Alert System