Geofencing Technology Enhances NL-Alert's Emergency Messaging Capabilities

By Netvora Tech News

NL-Alert, the country's emergency messaging system, has been equipped with geofencing technology since last September, allowing for more precise warnings in the event of emergencies. This was announced by Minister Van Weel of Justice and Security to the Committee on Digital Affairs.

How Geofencing Works

Geofencing ensures that NL-Alert sends messages only to people in the immediate vicinity of, for example, a disaster, and not to those who are not directly in the area. This technology makes it possible to send messages to only users in a specific region.

Originally, NL-Alert was not equipped with this technology. This was due to the fact that the previous technology was unable to address smaller areas than the cell range in a mobile communication network. This was particularly problematic in rural areas, where cell towers are relatively large.

Implementation and Testing

To implement geofencing in NL-Alert, the system's administrator (Landelijke Meldkamer Samenwerking) conducted tests with mobile phone providers. The goal of these tests was to determine whether geofencing (on iPhone and Android devices) functions properly on the networks of mobile phone providers and the NL-Alert broker, and to identify areas for improvement. This led to the recommendation to implement geofencing in NL-Alert starting in September 2024.

A follow-up project is also underway to further develop geofencing, with the aim of enabling messages to be sent to even smaller areas, with a size of at least 200 by 200 meters. Last Monday, the bi-annual test message from NL-Alert was sent.

Improved Accuracy and Effectiveness

The addition of geofencing technology enhances NL-Alert's ability to inform the public about emergencies, incidents, and other critical situations. By targeting messages to specific areas, the system can reduce the risk of people receiving unnecessary warnings and improve the overall effectiveness of the alert system.