The GFW-01 is a low cost, stand alone radio transmitter that can be fitted to emergency vehicles or installed on fixed enclosures for localised public warnings. When activated, it transmits a pre-recorded message over the commercial radio frequencies in close vicinity of the device. This pre-recorded message advises road users and/or the general public within a controlled radius of the specific emergency (eg. emergency vehicle that is approaching, other local emergency, etc) and the actions they should take.
There is no need to modify existing radios to hear the broadcasted message: any radio will pick up the signal in the defined and chosen area around the emergency vehicle or fixed enclosure in which the GFW-01 is installed.
Additionally, the GFW-01 is ideal for Road Traffic Authorities, train level crossings and local emergency applications or anywhere a broadcast message can help improve public safety.
The GFW-01 is an intelligent, carefully-engineered, state of the art device, designed to meet the differing needs of various emergency services.
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A picture of the complete mobile GFW solution is shown below:
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| Transmitter Unit
Length : 370mm Width : 225mm Height : 60mm |
Master Unit
Length : 155mm Width : 150mm Height : 50mm |
Antenna
Height : 400mm Diameter : 10mm |
Range
The GFW-01 can accurately control power output (transmission distance) per carrier frequency to any predetermined distance as required, and can operate under two differing range scenarios:
- Fixed Range. In this mode, a set distance for effective operation can be selected within a controlled radius of the device. The power output can be set to a fixed minimum level that will only transmit to a specified range. This control feature ensures minimal disruption to commercial radio traffic, or surrounding public.
- Dynamic Range. This feature is relevant to emergency transits. In this mode, the GFW-01 monitors the vehicle speed and varies the signal strength to provide a signal range that achieves a pre-determined notification time. This means that an emergency vehicle travelling at a higher speed will transmit the warning message at a further distance than one travelling at a lower speed. This minimises the radio frequency output of the device, which reduces lateral interference when emergency vehicles are in close proximity.
Directional skew
Use of reflectors and antenna positioning techniques enable directionality skew so that the message is transmitted more in one direction than another (eg. usually in front of the emergency vehicle) at a fixed or variable distance. Again, this focuses transmission override to drivers in most need to receive the warning message.
Alternatively, an omni-directional antenna can also be used where the message is transmitted in any nominated direction, e.g. where drivers approaching road hazards from opposite directions must be warned, or the general public in a surrounding area need to be notified.
Active frequency override
The GFW-01 is controlled by the microprocessor subsystem that generates an audio signal containing the message to be transmitted. The microprocessor also controls the frequencies used to transmit the message and controls the output power of the transmitter(s) per carrier frequency. A unique feature of the GFW-01 is the ability to include or exclude particular frequencies within the radio frequency band from override. This is important as certain frequencies that are already used for emergency broadcasting eg. ABC for bushfire reports or HAR (Highway Advisory Radio) for traffic incidents can be excluded from override.
In order to determine the power used to transmit the message, the microprocessor sub system uses a radio receiver to update a database of active broadcast radio stations in the area. The database contains the signal strength measured for any given radio station for that particular area and this is updated at regular intervals. The update interval is selected by the user. This feature enables the calculation of the precise transmission power required to obtain consistent transmission coverage across all frequencies.
The GFW-01 transmits the warning message only on the discrete frequencies active in the vicinity of the emergency vehicle. It does not transmit over unused frequencies. Again, this eliminates the potential for collateral interference with other frequency users.
Transmission stream control
GFW-01 users can select from a number of pre-recorded authorised/approved warning messages depending on the situation, road hazard or specific emergency event. It should be noted that all messages are subject to authorisation by the appropriate authority and a security key will ensure that the end user cannot alter the predetermined messages without the appropriate authorisation.
During emergency vehicle transits, the transmission override lasts only a few seconds, affecting only vehicles in close proximity of the emergency vehicle. The driver's radio reverts back to normal operation once the emergency vehicle has passed.
RDS support - future proofing
The EWS research and development team have recently evaluated the concept of incorporating Radio Data System (RDS) technology into the GFW-01. This would enable the GFW-01 to not only override active radio frequencies but also switch off playing cassette tapes and CDs, so that the warning message can be heard by the driver (only applicable to new model car radios with RDS functionality). The concept appears viable, and EWS will seek to develop RDS compatibility should a market need arise.
Applications
The GFW-01 can be installed in Emergency Vehicles and activated during critical code 1 emergency transits to warn surrounding drivers to make way or steer clear of the approaching emergency vehicle.
The GFW-01 can be used by Road Traffic Authorities by warning oncoming vehicles of road accidents or spillages that may be present ahead, cautioning the driver to slow down, take an alternative route or stop. It also has the ability to warn oncoming vehicles of potential hazards they may be approaching eg. ice on the road.
Click on the following link to download a copy of our brochure for the emergency transit application
Mobile emergency transit warnings (112 KB): 
The GFW-01 may be installed on fixed sites for Rail Crossings. All vehicles in the vicinity of the rail crossing can be alerted to the approaching train. This application is particularly beneficial for rural areas, where rail crossings often do not have barrier arms/boom gates, therefore potentially reducing the risk of a major accident or fatality.
Alternatively, the GFW-01 can be used as an early warning system for Catastrophic Events, Natural Disasters (eg. tsunamis, bushfires, floods) or Major Crime Scenes (eg. terrorist attacks) and any other local emergency where the public in the area under threat needs to be quickly notified. Some examples of these applications are explained as follows:
Bushfire Warnings
One of the biggest problems experienced by residents during major bushfires is a lack of direction on what to do, what not to do and where to go. A detailed study conducted of those who died in the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires showed that community understanding of how bushfires behave and the appropriate steps to take before, during and after an outbreak is absolutely critical to survival. A study conducted by the Bushfire Co-operative Research Centre titled 'Effective Risk Communication' in 2005 said that:
"Communicating risk is a continuing difficulty for fire and emergency services. In many communities a significant proportion of people fail to respond appropriately to fire weather and fire emergency warnings."
The GFW-01 can help fill the capability gap by providing automatic and instantaneous localised broadcasting of time critical information to those at risk.
Click on the following link to download a copy of our brochure for the natural disaster application:
Natural disaster warnings (150KB):
Floods/Tsunami Warnings
The emphasis on the development of tsunami warning systems has increased significantly in recent times across the entire Australasian region. Tsunamis are infrequent but inevitable, and can be devastating. They cannot be prevented; however the impacts can be mitigated by effective warning systems and a better informed public.
The GFW-01 can augment the "front end" solution of a planned response for catastrophic events such as tsunamis and floods. That is, the mechanism by which the local emergency services can warn people in the surrounding area of such an event. The key benefit of the GFW-01 is that it will enable the instantaneous and automatic notification of residents through fast and effective localised and targeted messaging.
Click on the following link to download a copy of our brochure for the natural disaster application:
Tsunami warnings (131KB):
Terrorist Incident Warnings
Assessment and implementation of technologies to combat terrorism is one of the biggest political priorities in existence, both domestically and globally today. Federal law enforcement agencies are assessing numerous alternatives to both combat and respond to terrorism. The GFW-01 has the ability to communicate to a selected area in order to notify the general public of the occurrence of an attack, details of the attack, evacuation procedures, traffic diversion procedures, and any relevant instruction to preserve public safety and allowing emergency services to effectively respond to causalities.
The GFW-01 solution can compliment many other types of warning mechanisms used for real time warning notification by using standard commercial radio. The GFW-01 can transmit any warning message to a local area including a selection of pre-recorded messages for the most up to date instructions and evacuation procedures.
Click on the following link to download a copy of our brochure for the natural disaster application:
Major crime scene warnings (164KB):