Semi-Real-Time Safety Alerts

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Semi-Real-Time Safety Alerts

Safety Alerts

In today’s world, security and quick response to threats are crucial for ensuring stability and protecting people’s lives and property. One of the main challenges for local authorities and organisations is to quickly inform citizens about dangerous situations as they occur. These can include extreme weather conditions, natural disasters or health emergencies 1Radoslaw Wolniak and Wies Grebski, “The Usage of Smartphone Applications in Smart City Development – Public Safety and Emergency Services”, Scientific Papers of Silesian University of Technology, 2023, https://managementpapers.polsl.pl/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/180-Wolniak-Grebski-1.pdf. Traditional communication methods, such as TV, radio, or posters often don’t reach people fast enough. With recent developments in modern technology, there are many semi-real-time possibilities that can give citizens information within minutes. Examples include HeartRunners and SchoolGuard applications, where alerts can be sent in less than a minute.

The effective use of such Safety Alerts are a vital component of smart cities, enabling authorities and citizens to respond quickly to emergencies such as accidents, fires, extreme weather events, or infrastructure failures. By leveraging sensors, AI, and connected communication systems, these alerts provide near-instant notifications that can prevent injury, reduce property damage, and save lives. In the context of growing urban populations and climate-related risks, such systems enhance urban resilience and public safety, ensuring cities can adapt to dynamic threats. They directly support Agenda 2030, particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), by promoting inclusive, safe, and disaster-resilient urban environments. Additionally, they align with the Paris Agreement by supporting risk reduction and climate adaptation strategies critical for protecting communities in a warming world.

What Are Semi-Real-Time Safety Alerts?

Hazards in smart cities typically fall into three main categories: environmental, urban, and health-related. Environmental hazards include natural disasters such as floods, wildfires, and extreme weather events, which are getting worse and more frequent due to climate change. Urban hazards involve traffic accidents, power or internet failures, fires, or industrial incidents that can be dangerous and disrupt daily life. Health hazards include outbreaks of disease, air pollution spikes, or chemical spills that can harm people’s health. Real-time safety alert systems in smart cities are important for reducing the impact of these risks by sending instant, location-specific warnings to people and emergency services.

Regardless of the hazard type (environmental, urban, or health-related), safety alerts help manage city dangers better. By using modern technologies and sending multi-channel notifications (e.g., mobile apps, public screens, SMS text messages, and in-car systems), these alert systems save lives. They make sure people get timely and actionable warnings, so they can react swiftly and appropriately when danger strikes. This helps reduce harm and makes the city more resilient 2Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, ” Essentials of Alerts, Warnings, & Notifications”, 2020, https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/CISA%20Essentials%20of%20AWNs_4.27.20%20-%20FINAL%20%28508c%29.pdf.

FIG. 1: The proposed classification of common hazards in modern cities, in “Survey of Emergencies Management Systems in Smart Cities” 3Daniel G. Costa et al., “A Survey of Emergencies Management Systems in Smart Cities”, IEEE Access, 2022, https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=9787492

Key Features of Semi-Real-Time Safety Alerts

  1. Real-time data integration: By using the Internet of Things (IoT), which connects physical objects to computers, and data from cameras, weather sensors, and other technology, these alert systems can provide almost instant, accurate information about things like air quality or sudden weather changes 4Sean Tikkun et al., “IoT Solutions for Near Horizon Challenges in Smart City Pedestrian Travel”, Department of Transportation State of North California, 2023, https://connect.ncdot.gov/projects/research/RNAProjDocs/IOT%20Solutions%20for%20Near%20Horizon%20Challenges%20in%20Smart%20City%20Pedestrian%20Travel%20final.pdf.
  1. Personalisation of messages: In advanced systems, alerts can be changed to fit the user’s location and the type of danger. For example, people living in a specific area might get warnings about traffic jams or local flooding risks 5Victor M. García et al., “Management of Real-Time Data for a Smart Flooding Alert System”, 2020 IEEE International Smart Cities Conference, 2020, https://par.nsf.gov/servlets/purl/10295460.
  1. Multi-channel communication: Semi-real-time systems use mobile apps, social media, SMS or voice messaging systems to reach as many people as possible quickly 6Andrin Hauri et al., “A Comparative Assessment of Mobile Device-Based Multi-Hazard Warnings: Saving Lives through Public Alerts in Europe”, 2022, https://css.ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz/special-interest/gess/cis/center-for-securities-studies/pdfs/RR-Reports-2022-Warning-App-Study.pdf.
  1. Rapid response and prevention: The information sent lets people avoid risks and take safety actions like evacuating or closing roads.

How can Semi-Real-Time Safety Alerts support the functioning of smart cities?

Let’s look at some aspects of Semi-Real-Time Safety Alerts that make them a useful tool to improve the functioning of modern cities:

  1. Public safety: these systems allow residents to be quickly alerted to dangers such as storms, floods, fires, acts of violence or chemical spills 7Daniel G. Costa, 2022. With semi-real-time notifications, the community has time to respond appropriately.
  1. Support for emergency services: Semi Real Time Safety Alerts also help the city and emergency services. When receiving early warnings, they can better coordinate their actions based on reports from citizens and find the area that needs help quickly 8Daniel G. Costa, 2022.
  1. Increased trust in local authorities: Thanks to transparency and speed of information processing, residents feel better informed and more protected, which improves the relationship between the community and public institutions 9Jasmin Haunschild et al., “Perceptions and Use of Warning Apps– Did Recent Crises Lead to Changes in Germany?”, in: Mensch und Computer, 2022, https://www.peasec.de/paper/2022/2022_HaunschildKaufholdReuter_WarningAppsChangesGermany_MuC.pdf.

    FIG. 2: Current, past and future planned use/awareness of alert apps in Germany (left to right: current, planned, past, no use, no awareness of such apps) 10Jasmin Haunschild et al., 2022.

  1. Protecting infrastructure and the environment: Alerts about infrastructure failures (e.g. power outages, damage to bridges and other structures) allow problems to be quickly identified and preventive action taken, reducing costs and minimising impact 11Rodoslaw Wolniak and Wies Grebski, 2023..
  1. Citizen support systems: When networks of helpers are connected in near-real time, citizen action can save lives, like the Heart Runners network in Sweden and Denmark that helps people with heart problems 12Heartrunner. Tech. People. Hearts, “Homepage”, no date, https://heartrunner.com/.

 Real World Examples

  1. The scale of destruction caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami pushed the international community to develop the concept of ‘end-to-end, people-centered’ early warning systems. Its goal is to ensure that no one is left behind when disasters strike. This video highlights the four key elements of ‘end-to-end, people-centered early’ warning systems: 1) Understanding risk; 2) Detection, monitoring, analysis, and forecasting; 3) Dissemination and communication, and 4) Preparedness and response capabilities.
  1. Japan: J-Alert. The J-Alert system is one of the most advanced warning systems in the world. It uses radio waves and phone networks to send alerts about hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic activity. The system can warn residents even seconds before a disaster strikes, giving valuable time to react 13CTI Engineering Co, Ltd, “The Booklet of Best Practices of resilient ICT systems in Japan”, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication, no date,  https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000372211.pdf.
  1. United States: School Shooting Alert App. SchoolGuard App is an official emergency app that allows the user to press a panic button on screen and immediately inform a 911 (US emergency number) operator and all other users assigned to the location. It also sends an alert to all federal, state, and local law enforcement officers in close proximity 14Guard 911, “Homepage”, 2025, https://guard911.com/services/schoolguard/.
  1. India: Cyclone Warning System. India, struggling with frequent cyclones,  has developed a warning system that informs people about approaching storms. The system uses satellite data and SMS text messages to reach communities that are most at risk 15Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, “Cyclone Warning System in India, India Meteorological Department”, 2019, https://www.tropmet.res.in/ip4/ppt/28112019/1%20CWS-final(27Nov).pdf.

It’s essential for people to understand how these systems work so they can react correctly in an emergency. Watch this video from the National Disaster Management Authority to see how the Indian government introduced the cyclone early warning system to its people:

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These articles have been reviewed using AI in order to align the style and length of each article. The research and content are original to the authors noted.

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