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Alphatron Asia specialises in distributing radar components and transmission equipment to the marine, medical, broadcast and satellite industries, and in providing management and control solution for complex networks. In 2012, it was named as one of the Singapore Enterprise 50 award winners.
It has been searching for some time for a low-cost earthquake detection technology for deployment in one of its projects in Thailand. “After months of futile search for a suitable technology, we are very pleased to have it found the right technology from IPI’s technology marketplace” said Mr Lawrence Low, Managing Director of Alphatron Asia.
The “Earthquake Early Warning Detector” sensor invented by Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) works by detecting the P-wave that travels faster than the more destructive S-wave generated at the onset of an earthquake. This triggers an alarm which gives its users 30 seconds to a minute to take safety measures. “It is estimated that about 500,000 earthquakes occur each year. While most of them are minor and cannot be felt by people, some major ones can cause widespread destruction and fatalities such as the Japan earthquake in March 2011. This low-cost and small-sized sensor is therefore ideal for use in homes and for wide deployment in public places with alarm systems.” Said Vinayak Prabhu, inventor from NYP.
IPI in collaboration with NYP evaluated the suitability of the technology for Alphatron Asia’s needs and facilitated a discussion between the company and NYP. IPI coordinated with NYP to seal the technology commercialisation agreement between Alphatron Asia and NYP.
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About Alphatron Asia:
Alphatron Asia has been developing remote network management solutions in Singapore since 2009 under the Alphaview brand-name ( http://www.alphaview.net ), after acquiring the Intellectual property of Highstreet Networks Inc, USA, a venture capitalist funded software company. It builds remote asset management applications like fuel consumption monitoring for ships, broadcast transmitter and video quality monitoring solution for TV stations, as well as satellite earth-station monitoring and control systems. It has subsidiary offices in Shanghai, China and Busan, South Korea, and the Japan office will open in 2013.
Sub Title
Alphatron Asia found a breakthrough low-cost earthquake early warning technology through IPI’s marketplace, enabling rapid deployment for public safety in Thailand.
Impact Title
Transforming Public Safety with Early Earthquake Detection
Sub Title
Transforming Public Safety with Early Earthquake Detection
Sub Heading
Enabling affordable earthquake detection for public safety.
At a glance
Technology Marketplace
IPI Service
Earthquake Early Warning Detector
Key Technology
Nanyang Polytechnic
Technology Provider
Thailand
Deployment Market
Add Impact
The adoption of the low-cost earthquake early warning detector enables rapid alerts, giving users 30 seconds to a minute to take safety measures before destructive seismic waves arrive. This advancement significantly improves disaster preparedness and response for communities in earthquake-prone regions.
Enhanced Public Safety
By accessing innovative technology through IPI Singapore, Alphatron Asia expanded its portfolio to include advanced public safety solutions. The collaboration supports the company’s growth into new markets, such as Thailand, and strengthens its reputation as a provider of cutting-edge management and control solutions.
Market Expansion
Sub Title
Alphatron Asia partnered with IPI Singapore to access and commercialise a low-cost earthquake early warning sensor, enhancing public safety capabilities for deployment in Thailand.
The challenge
Alphatron Asia faced difficulties in finding a cost-effective earthquake detection solution suitable for large-scale deployment. Existing technologies were either too expensive or failed to meet the technical requirements for public safety applications in the region.
Sourcing Affordable Technology
With the increasing frequency and severity of earthquakes, the need for an effective early warning system became critical. The lack of accessible solutions hindered both Alphatron Asia’s project ambitions and broader efforts to protect vulnerable communities.
Urgent Public Safety Needs
The challenges title
The Challenge
The challenges description
Alphatron Asia, a leader in advanced network management and control solutions, was seeking a reliable and cost-effective earthquake detection technology for deployment in a public safety project in Thailand. The company’s goal was to enhance disaster preparedness and response by providing early warnings that could help mitigate the devastating effects of earthquakes.
Despite its extensive experience in distributing high-tech equipment and developing remote asset management applications, Alphatron Asia faced significant challenges in sourcing a suitable earthquake detection solution. The available technologies in the market were either prohibitively expensive or did not meet the specific requirements for wide-scale, affordable deployment in public spaces and homes. Months of searching yielded no viable options, leaving the company at an impasse as the need for an effective early warning system became increasingly urgent, especially in light of recent catastrophic earthquakes in the region.
The lack of accessible, low-cost solutions posed a barrier not only to Alphatron Asia’s project ambitions but also to broader public safety initiatives. The company needed a technology that could be easily integrated, rapidly deployed, and scaled to protect communities vulnerable to seismic events.
The Solution Title
The Solution
The Solution Description
IPI Singapore evaluated the suitability of an innovative earthquake early warning detector technology developed by Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) for Alphatron Asia’s needs and facilitated direct discussions between the company and NYP. By leveraging its technology marketplace and network, IPI coordinated the process that led to a technology commercialisation agreement between Alphatron Asia and NYP.
The “Earthquake Early Warning Detector” sensor, invented by NYP, operates by detecting the P-wave generated at the onset of an earthquake, which travels faster than the more destructive S-wave. This early detection triggers an alarm, providing users with 30 seconds to a minute to take safety measures. The sensor’s low cost and compact size make it ideal for deployment in homes and public spaces, supporting large-scale public safety initiatives. Through IPI’s facilitation, Alphatron Asia was able to access and adopt this advanced technology, overcoming previous sourcing challenges and enabling the company to move forward with its project in Thailand.
Testimonial Section
Testimonial title
Client Perspective
Testimonial description
"After months of futile search for a suitable technology, we are very pleased to have it found the right technology from IPI’s technology marketplace"
Testimonial Name
Lawrence Low
Testimonial Designation
Managing Director, Alphatron Asia
Testimonial title
Technology Provider Perspective
Testimonial description
"It is estimated that about 500,000 earthquakes occur each year. While most of them are minor and cannot be felt by people, some major ones can cause widespread destruction and fatalities such as the Japan earthquake in March 2011. This low-cost and small-sized sensor is therefore ideal for use in homes and for wide deployment in public places with alarm systems."
Testimonial Name
Vinayak Prabhu
Testimonial Designation
inventor from NYP
Business impact Heading
Business Impact
Business impact title
Enabling Scalable, Affordable Earthquake Early Warning
Impact scores
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Countries with Subsidiaries
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Seconds of Early Warning
Overview
Alphatron Asia specialises in distributing radar components and transmission equipment to the marine, medical, broadcast and satellite industries, and in providing management and control solutions for complex networks. Founded in Singapore, the company has developed remote network management solutions under the Alphaview brand since 2009, with subsidiary offices in Shanghai, China and Busan, South Korea, and plans for a Japan office.
Slug
low-cost-earthquake-early-warning-detection-system-for-public-safety
