Disaster and Emergency Warning Network (DEWN)

South Asia’s first disaster warning system DEWN 2.0 was launched in 2014 to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004. DEWN is essentially an early warning mechanism aimed at minimizing the risk of disaster.

Designed and developed through a partnership between Dialog, Microimage Mobile Media (Pvt.) Ltd. and the Dialog – University of Moratuwa Mobile Communication Research Laboratory, along with the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), DEWN uses the latest mobile communication technology to transmit alerts through a GSM network to issue customized alerts to the public and first responders, warning them of impending natural disasters.

Supported by the robust software architecture of the world standard Common Alert Protocol platform, DEWN offers further connectivity among all key stakeholders – general public, relevant government authorities and media etc. The DEWN app rolled out in 2015, offers a mobile cell-level alert facility, enabling media channels and other authenticated services to pull alerts of potential disasters for dissemination to the public.