Ahmed Zeddam (Chair) Dave Faulkner (Climate Associates Ltd, UK)

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Q 23/5 “Using ICTs to enable countries to adapt to climate change”

Q 22/5 "Setting up a low cost sustainable telecommunication infrastructure for rural communications in developing countries"

Ahmed Zeddam (Chair)Dave Faulkner

(Climate Associates Ltd, UK)Franz Zichy (US Department of State)

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Note to Japanese ColleaguesWe would like to add our sympathy to you

and your families as you experience various hardships arising from the recent earthquake

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Agenda

Introduction to the meeting-Ahmed Zeddam Introduction to the new Question 23/5 "Using ICTs

to enable countries to adapt to climate change" -Dave Faulkner

Introduction to the new Question 22/5 "Setting up a low cost sustainable telecommunication infrastructure for rural communications in developing countries" -Franz Zichy

Coordination and contributions-Ahmed Zeddam Future meetings (SG5 and this JCA)-Ahmed

Zeddam AOB

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Introduction to this online meeting,

SG5 (and this JCA) ChairmanAhmed Zeddam (France Telecom-Orange)

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What are the aims of this meeting?

Introduce new Questions 22 and 23Provide stimulation for contributions on

the new topicsEspecially where gaps in standards are

identified

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Motivation for the new Questions The Conference of the Parties of the United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December 2007 (COP-13) developed the Bali Action Plan. Among its actions it calls for- enhanced action on adaptation, taking into account the needs

of developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change;

The ITU is well placed to help countries to implement the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol through the use of ICTs It is proposed to work with UNFCCC to ensure that the right policy and

technical frameworks are in place to move towards a low carbon economy and so that ICT’s potential to adapt to climate change is maximised.

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What is in the new Question 23/5?

“Using ICTs to enable countries to adapt to climate change”

Acting Rapporteur-Dave Faulkner (Climate Associates Ltd)

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Aims

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The aim of the new Question is to address this area of the Bali Action Plan: ‘enhanced action on adaptation’

This will provide handbooks on best practices and recommendations, if necessary, to help developing countries to deal with the issues concerned with adaptation to climate change.

It will work closely with Q18/5 activity on methodology and standardise the technologies themselves in the appropriate SGs and with new question ITU-D Q24/2.

http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/studygroups/com05/sg5-q23.html

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Study Items include but are not limited to #1

What are the standardisation requirements for ICTs to enable adaptation to climate change?

How can ICTs, in particular fibre submarine cable networks, be used more effectively to monitor the global environment/ecosystem and what new standards are required?

How can ICT standards be used and adapted to more effectively disseminate information on both natural and man-made disasters (early warning) to communities (e.g. supporting GDACS under the UN framework?

9http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/studygroups/com05/sg5-q23.html

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Study Items include but are not limited to #2 Identifying if new ICT standards are needed to address food

security, water transportation and supply, in close collaboration with D sector.

How can ICT standards better enable water management under accelerating climate change conditions to improve the overall efficiency of water use, leading to a more sustainable use of water resources?

What ICT standards need to be used or developed to disseminate information to enable farmers to better forecast crop yields and production?


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Study Items include but are not limited to #3 How can ICTs be used to monitor deforestation and forest degradation

and what standards are available or need development? How can ICTs be used to reduce CO2e emissions by better waste

management through a ‘cradle to cradle’, i.e. ‘closed loop’, approach whereby more efficient recycling means fewer raw materials need to be mined?

What standards are needed for ICTs to be used to increase energy supply efficiency and maximize the use of renewable sources?

How can ICTs be used in education and to raise awareness on climate change and what standards development is required?

What e-health standards are needed for more effective healthcare, as diseases spread due to changing climatic conditions, and to ensure interoperability?


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TasksEstablish handbooks on practical examples and

best practices of ICT standards, and if necessary Recommendations, to support adaptation to climate change.

Produce a ‘roadmap’ to identify the types of ICT technologies and standards available, propose improvements and facilitate more effective use of these

Coordinate with other SGs, ITU-R, ITU-D and other bodies on a regular basis to collaborate effectively


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NextThe following slides illustrate aspects of

adaptation which could lead to contributions Monitoring and climate forecasts Adaptation Service Types Fixed v mobile benefits Which Wireless Systems are we interested in? Which Devices are we interested in? GDACS-Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System

Identification of gaps in standards is a key consideration

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Climate change adaptation Definition

“Climate change adaptation is acting to tolerate the effects of global warming”[1] It consists of initiatives and measures to reduce the vulnerability of natural and

human systems against actual or expected climate change effects

However the capacity and potential for human systems to adapt (called adaptive capacity) is unevenly distributed across different regions and populations [2] Adaptation will be more difficult for larger extremes and higher rates of climate

change

14[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_change_mitigation[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptation_to_global_warming

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Climate MonitoringProvides climate data to enable scientific

theories to be verified and allows predictions to be made by climate modellersOften linked with data gathering for weather

forecasting and air traffic control

15http://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/meeting_CMS2010.php

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What is the predicted temperature change?-varies with region and location One example cited

here-West Africa The bars at the end

of the orange envelope represent the range of projected changes for 2091 to 2100

Circa 2007 (always check for latest results from climate modellers)

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http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-chapter11.pdf

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Sea Level Rise This Century

IPCC 4th assessment report prediction [1] 0.18-0.59m

“Models of glacier mass balance (the difference between melting and accumulation of snow and ice on a glacier) give a theoretical maximum value for sea level rise in the current century of 2 metres (and a "more plausible" one of 0.8 metres), based on limitations on how quickly glaciers can melt [2,3].

17[1] http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg2/ar4-wg2-chapter6.pdf[2] http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/321/5894/1340[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Current_sea_level_rise[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:NOAA_sea_level_trend_1993_2010.png

[4]

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Sea Level Fluctuations Combinations of factors can lead

to flood disaster Land mass sink Low atmospheric pressure* Storm surge* Wave and tidal peak* Earthquake and tsunami Storm run off*

* = increased risk with global warming

18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_level

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Climate Monitoring: Examples

Satellite observations [1,2,3] Visible and in infrared

Ground based Remote Automated Weather Stations [4,5] May be added to cellphone base stations

Submarine systems How can we adapt telecommunications

systems for this? See ITU-T Technology Watch Report [6]

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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_satellite[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Current_sea_level_rise[3] http://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/meeting_CMS2010.php[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remote_Automated_Weather_Station[5] http://raws.fam.nwcg.gov/raws101.html[6] http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-t/oth/23/01/T23010000110001PDFE.pdf

commons.wikimedia.org/.../File:GOES-12_satellite_image_of_Hurricane_Katrina.jpg

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Climate Monitoring Where are improvements needed? Example - Africa

Africa has a network eight times below the WMO minimum recommended standard, and less than 200 automatic weather stations that meet WMO observation requirements

Mobile networks provide the necessary connectivity, power and security to sustain the weather equipment. Up to 5,000 automatic weather stations are to be deployed at cellular sites across

Africa, where less than 300 are reporting today. This will increase dissemination of weather information via mobile phones to

users and communities, including remote farmers and fishermen The initial deployment, already begun in Zain networks, focuses on the area

around Lake Victoria in Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda. The first 19 automatic weather stations installed will double the weather monitoring capacity of the Lake region

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www.wmo.int/pages/mediacentre/press_releases/pr_855_en.html

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Priorities for Adaptation #1Will climate change put these more at risk?

Drinking water supplyFood supplyShelterHealth (diseases)Transport infrastructure (boat, rail, road, air)

Robust communications services are vital to maintain these services

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Priorities for Adaptation #2Ubiquitous ICT can reduce the risk to local populations

Food and water preparedness for possible disaster [1] Availability of advice online

Drinking water supply Control of water levels (close/open sluice gates etc) Blocked drains (alert and action to unblock)

Food supply Monitoring and control of agricultural land and processes Flood/drought: request to send to food from nearest store to remote

locations Shelter

Disaster: request to provide tents and other necessities Health (diseases)

Request advice/medications by phone, text or email Transport infrastructure (boat, rail, road, air)

Updates on state of roads, bridges, railways during flood run off

22[1] http://www.state.nj.us/njoem/preparedness_foodwater.html

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ICT and Food SecurityExample of a wireless network scheme to monitor agricultural parameters

23[1] ITU-T Technology Watch Report “ICTs and Food Security”http://www.itu.int/oth/T230100000B/en[2] http://commonsense.epfl.ch/

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NextEstablishing the ICT service requirements

for Adaptation to Climate Change..

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Adaptation with Broadcast Services Radio and TV services

Early warning and Emergency advice• Severe weather

• Flood risk

• Evacuation procedure Education

Advantage Cheap country-wide coverage

Big limitation No signalling or alerts

• Limited use at night

One way communication • (except with private mobile radio, citizen’s band, etc)

Revert to sirens or loud hailers etc Broadcast text messages would be better

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Establishing the ICT requirements for Adaptation to Climate Change

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Adaptation with Voice Services

Interactive voice services (network may be fixed or mobile) Passing on local conditions (to broadcaster) Request for help Planning movement of water, food, people

Advantage Specific actions can be coordinated

Big limitation Coverage and powering Infrastructure build required

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Adaptation with Text Services Mobile networks (mostly)

Passing on local conditions (to broadcaster) Request for help Planning movement of water, food, people

Advantages Cheaper services (than voice and broadband) Message can be re-read Non intrusive (does not disrupt recipient) Alert signal is sent

Limitations Coverage Powering Infrastructure build required

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Adaptation with Broadband Services Fixed or Mobile Networks can be broadband enabled

Access to very detailed information from internet Access to email etc Video services via Skype etc

Applications include Passing on local conditions (to broadcaster) Request for help Planning movement of water, food, people New applications can be quickly devised

Advantages Can be always on Messages can be stored, re-read and forwarded Non intrusive (does not disrupt recipient) Alert signal possible Laptops or PDAs may be used for access

Limitations Cost of service Coverage (may require broadband enabling) Powering Infrastructure build required

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Are special requirements needed for adaptation to CC?

Adaptation builds on ‘intended use’ of telecommunications networks which is to enable business and social communications Adaptation is an ‘extra consideration’ to the basic services

• Text, voice and broadband

Some services may need to be designed and built to operate in different modes when disaster strikes

• Saving power

• Preventing overload

• Increasing security

• Increased resilience to outage

• Broadcasting text or voice services

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Fixed versus mobileFixed

Exchange power for telephony provided

ADSL may be added to existing lines

Unlimited bandwidth with fibre

Costly infrastructure needed to each user

Cannot be everywhere

Flood and wind risk

Mobile Local power (batteries)

needed to make calls 2/3G compatible systems

available Bandwidth limited by cell

size /spectrum availability Infrastructure requires

less trenching (cheaper) Can be anywhere (subject

to radio coverage) Less Flood and wind risk

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What needs to be done at project level-(Pre Standards)?

Run feasibility projects to serve your local or national community to help minimise the risks due to climate change This should (preferably) include an ICT aspect and a

business case A small project with scaling-up potential is preferred

Multiply up the benefitsCommunicate your results worldwide Input to international standards where possible

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Adaptation to Climate Change Which wireless systems are we interested in?

Satellite Monitoring weather/climate on national or international scale and early

warning of extent of disasters Interactive: providing ubiquitous coverage for news media

Land based interactive Private Mobile Radio (PMR) to mobilise emergency services

Land based broadcast News updates

Land based monitoring Weather stations

Cellular: providing detailed information (internet/websites) Person to person (text and voice calls) Implementing community action plans This is the topic identified in Question 22/5….

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Adaptation to Climate change Which ICT devices are we interested in? Mainframes

Providing ever more sophisticated climate models Computing power has doubled every 18 months

Data centres Acting as host servers to allow information to be exchanged

Personal Computers Accessing internet to gain information about climate change and forecasts Collecting, managing and uploading local environmental data

Handheld devices (e.g. based on mobile phones) Primary voice communications and text messages Global positioning system is included in latest generation Photographs and video streaming/upload possible Allow a multiplicity of new software applications to be downloaded

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Adaptation to Climate Change Software platforms

Ideally a single platform for mobile broadband would be standardised so that all mobiles could receive and transmit equally via the internet

E.g. Android may be an example of this [1] a Linux-based platform from the Open Handset Alliance Application programming is primarily done in Java. Performance critical code can be written in C, C++ or other native code

languages

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[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_application_development


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The Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS)

“A cooperation framework under the United Nations umbrella to consolidate and strengthen the network of providers and users of disaster

information worldwide provide reliable and accurate alerts and impact estimations after sudden-onset

disasters and to improve the cooperation of international responders in the immediate

aftermath..

To date, GDACS has more than 9000 and has become an integral part of international disaster response to sudden-onset disasters. “Provides near real-time alerts about natural disasters around the world and

tools to facilitate response coordination, including media monitoring, map catalogues..”

Flood, earthquake, cyclone, tsunami, volcano Receive instant email, SMS or fax alerts in case an earthquake or tsunami

occurs with a potential for humanitarian disaster.

Has already standardised the communications protocols RSS and GLIDE

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NextFranz Zichy will introduce the new

Question 22/5

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New Question 22/5

“Setting up a low cost sustainable telecommunication infrastructure for rural communications in developing countries”

Acting Rapporteur Franz Zichy (US Department of State)

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MotivationCurrent mobile network systems do not meet the

requirements for rural/remote deployment in developing countries

Current mobile network systems designed for urban area deployment Infrastructure

– Power– Shelter– Accessibility– Manpower skills to operate– Logistics


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Challenges Challenges to deploying Telecommunication infrastructure

in rural/remote areas in developing nations are: Access to electricity. Expense of power backup. Terrain. Accessibility and transportation. Lack of skilled manpower. Installation and maintenance of networks. Operating costs high. Average revenue per user low. Population sparse and scattered.


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Study Items Include:

Collect, assess, and combine the challenges faced by developing countries in setting up a low cost sustainable telecommunication infrastructure in rural areas.

Develop requirements for rural mobile network system specifically addressing such identified challenges of rural deployment, to include Planning, Analysis, Design, implement, maintenance (SDLC)

Study the generic system requirements (independent of chosen Radio transmission technology) for rural mobile networks systems An outlook towards deployment architecture, power

consumption, power source, packaging, operation & maintenance etc.


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Tasks

Develop guidance: To set up sustainable telecommunication infrastructure in

rural/remote areas of developing countries. • With the objective to finding energy efficient means to

power mobile network systems for deployment of telecommunication infrastructure in areas without access to electricity.

To improve resilience of mobile networks during a disaster (e.g. hurricane, tropical storm, etc).

Guidance in the form of a Handbook would contain best practices and recommendations.

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Understand NeedsEstablishing the requirements for Rural

CommunicationsUnderstand the needs of rural areas in

developing countries• Taking into consideration:

– National, regional and global standards and policies– Available financial and manpower resources – Prevailing material and labor costs– The purchasing power of the targeted consumer– The capability of potential users, the 'information

culture' of the society, and topography and weather of these countries

– Action plans needed with partnerships at community level to support roll-out and educational aspects

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Technical Requirements

Understanding technical requirementsBase stations may be remotely located

• May require wind, solar, or other alternative green energy source.

• Equipment built to sustain extreme weather (weatherproofing)

• Ease of service by non-technical personnel• Ubiquitous coverage• Add-ons such as climate monitoring• Wide range of mobile, portable and fixed devices

supported• Resilient and robust network design• Low cost

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Options for Resilience

Alternative routing to base stationsE.g. point to point radio (2 links) and/or fibre

Alternative power sources at base stationGrid, diesel, wind, solar, battery, wood gas

Alternative accessFixed (copper and/or fibre) and wireless

IP routing at nodes Seeks alternative paths automatically

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Next

Coordination Activities and Summary of what contributions are needed

SG5 (and this JCA) ChairmanAhmed Zeddam (France Telecom-Orange)

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Q22 Coordination Requirements“Setting up a low cost sustainable telecommunication infrastructure for rural communications in developing countries”

ITU-T SGs 3, 5, 6, 15, 19 and 23/5 ITU-D SG 2 and ITU-R SGsStandardization bodies, forums and consortia:

ISO, IEC, ETSI , GSMA,Others

Need to consider best practice from other entities

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Work underway in ITU-D

ITU-T SG 5 encouraged to take advantage of resources produced in ITU-D Case study libraries

• http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/study_groups/SGP_2006-2010/events/Case_Library/index.asp

ITU-D Questions• Question 10-3/2, Telecommunications/ICT for rural and

remote areas• Question 22-1/2, Utilization of telecommunications/ICTs

for disaster preparedness, mitigation and response• Question 25/2, Access technology for broadband

telecommunications including IMT, for developing countries

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Need for coordination in Q22:

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Q23 Coordination Requirements“Using ICTs to enable Countries to Adapt to Climate Change”

ITU-T SGs 9, 13, 15 and 16 ITU-D and ITU-R SGsStandardization bodies, forums and consortia:

ISO, ETSI ,UNFCCC, UNEP, FAO, UN-REDD Programme (avoiding forest degradation), UN-Water and UN-Habitat on sustainable water supplies,

Cooperation with UNFCCC is particularly important for the assessment of the

environmental impacts including ICT projects and the assessment of the environmental impacts of ICT in countries or groups of countries

Any Others?Need to consider best practice from elsewhere

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Work underway in ITU-D

ITU-T SG 5 encouraged to take advantage of resources produced in ITU-D ITU-D Questions- as for Q22 plus

• Question 7-3/1, Implementation of universal access to broadband services

• Question 19-2/1, Implementation of IP telecommunication services in developing countries

• Question 9-3/2, Identification of study topics in the ITU T and ITU-R study groups which are of particular interest to developing countries

• Question 24/2, Question on ICT and climate change International standards may be required in some of these topic

areas These could be produced in Q23/5

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Need for coordination in Q23 (Adaptation):

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Summary of issues to consider in Contributions to Q22Rural Communications

Examples of potential new standards (handbooks) Power supply (affordability and reliability)

• Providing power and power backup

• Avoiding environmental hazards How to cope with

• Difficult terrain

– Access and transportation challenges

– Wireless signal transmissions

• Lack of skilled manpower to install and maintain networks

• Sparsely populated and scattered population clusters Measures designed to

• Reduce cost

• Improve availability and reliability

• Enable weather monitoring at low additional cost 50

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Summary of issues to consider in contributions on Q23 (Adaptation) What new standards (handbooks) are needed in the areas of

ICTs to enable adaptation to climate change Submarine cable networks to monitor the global

environment/ecosystem ICTs to disseminate information on natural and man-made disasters Food security, water transportation, water management and supply Dissemination of information to enable farmers to better forecast

crop yields and production Monitoring deforestation and forest degradation Waste management reducing raw materials and CO2 Energy supply and use of renewable sources Education and raising awareness on climate change E-health as diseases spread due climate change

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Final CommentsNext meeting of ITU-SG5 is

27 April-05 May 2011 Geneva For ITU-T members and invited guests/observers Will appoint Rapporteurs and Associate Rapporteurs for

Q22 and Q23 at this meeting

Next meeting of this JCA is 10:00-13:00, 6 May, Geneva and online Open to all

Please contribute to the new (and existing) questions Consider the gaps in standards as top priority Deadline 14 April (for 27th April meeting)

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Ahmed Zeddam (Chair) Dave Faulkner (Climate Associates Ltd, UK)

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