Where Should Sirens be Installed to Reach as Many Residents as Possible? A Planning Tool Developed by the State Data Agency (Statistics Lithuania) is Now in the Hands of Specialists
The State Data Agency (SDA) has developed a siren network expansion planning tool for the Fire and Rescue Department (FRD). This data-driven solution will help municipal and civil protection specialists plan the expansion of Lithuania’s public warning siren network more effectively. The tool enables the modelling of new siren locations by taking into account residents’ declared places of residence, the existing siren network, and state and municipal real estate assets. The aim is to avoid unnecessary overlap in siren coverage and ensure that newly installed sirens reach as many additional residents as possible.
Data-driven decisions for siren network expansion
The interactive map displays the locations of existing sirens and models their coverage areas and overlaps based on available audibility range data. This helps specialists assess the current warning network and identify areas where coverage could be expanded.
Users can create customised siren network expansion scenarios, model the installation of new sirens, and compare different solutions. When siren locations are adjusted, the tool immediately recalculates the estimated number of residents who would be covered and updates the audibility zones. This enables specialists to evaluate the impact of different decisions in real time.
The tool’s capabilities were demonstrated through theoretical modelling carried out by SDA specialists. For example, in the Klaipėda District Municipality, a scenario involving the relocation of four existing sirens and the installation of one new siren increased the estimated population warning coverage from 23 per cent to 32 per cent. This represents an increase of 9 percentage points achieved through a modelled reconfiguration of the siren network.
These results are theoretical and do not reflect infrastructure changes that have actually been implemented. Nevertheless, they demonstrate how data analysis can support the identification of more effective siren placement solutions.
The first SDA solution of its kind developed with the help of artificial intelligence
One of the tool’s most distinctive features is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in its development. By applying AI technologies, analysts from Local Government DataLab developed an algorithm that evaluates population distribution and the coverage of the existing siren network. Based on these data, the algorithm suggests potential locations for new sirens, aiming to reach as many residents as possible who are currently outside the modelled audibility zones.
When planning new siren installations, the tool can also take into account building locations, the number of storeys, and property ownership data. It helps identify suitable buildings for installing new sirens and assess how different location choices would affect the overall coverage of the public warning network.
According to Reda Švelniūtė, geospatial and regional data analyst at the State Data Agency (SDA), one of the greatest achievements in developing the tool was enabling real-time modelling of changes to the siren network.
“When we started developing the tool, we were unsure whether real-time modelling would be possible. However, by combining artificial intelligence with our team’s expertise, we created a solution that allows specialists to change siren locations and immediately see how the number of alerted residents and the coverage areas change. Another important advantage is that specialists from the Fire and Rescue Department (FRD) and municipalities can work in a shared environment, exchange scenarios, and jointly identify the most suitable solutions”, explains R. Švelniūtė.
Siren audibility zones are modelled using available data on siren operating ranges and residents’ declared places of residence. The calculations do not take into account the effects of terrain, buildings, or weather conditions on sound propagation. Therefore, the results are intended to support siren network expansion planning rather than to confirm the actual audibility of sirens at a specific location.
The tool is already being tested by municipal and FRD specialists
On 28 October, training sessions on the use of the new tool were organised for representatives of the FRD and municipalities. Around 60 specialists took part, familiarising themselves with the tool’s functions and its capabilities for modelling siren network expansion scenarios.
The tool is already available within the Local Government DataLab environment, and following the training sessions specialists began testing it in practice. To date, 18 siren network expansion scenarios have been created. Twelve of these were prepared by municipalities, while the remaining scenarios were developed by FRD specialists.
One of the tool’s key features is its shared working environment. Within this platform, FRD and municipal representatives can exchange prepared scenarios, modify them, and evaluate them using the same data and indicators. This creates the conditions for smoother coordination of siren network expansion decisions across different institutions.
“Specialists of the State Data Agency (SDA) have achieved an excellent result. The tool has genuinely exceeded the expectations of the Fire and Rescue Department (FRD) and has undoubtedly laid the groundwork not only for efficient planning of new siren networks, but also for the redesign of existing ones. Municipal and FRD specialists will now use a common tool, apply a unified methodology, and work with the same datasets. Among other benefits, this will help identify potential errors in siren data and reduce the risk of similar errors occurring in the future.
It is also worth considering further development of the tool in the future by incorporating additional layers such as terrain, building height, and daytime/night-time noise levels. These enhancements could potentially improve the planning methodology and produce more accurate results. However, a strong foundation is already in place, as the tool is now one of the products within the SDA’s Local Government DataLab environment”, stated the Fire and Rescue Department.
More efficient use of resources and broader population warning coverage
The new tool enables FRD and municipal specialists to make data-driven decisions on siren network expansion across Lithuania. Until now, municipalities did not have access to an interactive solution that would allow them to independently model siren placement and immediately assess the expected population coverage.
By evaluating different scenarios, specialists will be able to identify priority areas for new sirens and reduce the risk of unnecessary infrastructure duplication. This will support more efficient use of public financial and infrastructure resources and enable better planning of investments.
The siren network expansion planning tool is not the first data solution developed within the SDA’s Local Government DataLab. The platform provides municipal representatives and civil protection specialists with analytical tools designed to address a variety of practical challenges. These tools help assess the adequacy of civil protection infrastructure, identify expansion needs, and model different development scenarios across Lithuanian territories.