Concept Paper on Emergency Communications during Natural Disasters: Infrastructure and Technology

To be carried out by: Broadband Mobile Communications Research Lab (BMCRL), Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok, Thailand Overview of Research Conducted at Present/Expertise: Carrying out research for the next generation Mobile Communications covering the physical layer aspects, especially multiple access techniques, high spectral transmission methods and advanced error control techniques. The data rates in new mobile networks are expected to be in the range of 100 Mbps - 1 Gbps. Given the unreliable nature of the mobile channel and different propagation environments that depend on the carrier frequency, cellular architecture and a host of other factors, there is a strong demand for new methodologies needed in the physical/Radio layer. The research conducted is expected to provide detailed analysis of performance for new multiple access techniques, capacity of multi-user systems, and new transmitter/receiver configurations for a variety of channels. Multimedia research will look in to new methods of image/video compression. Transmission of multimedia content over mobile channels is a challenging task with increased data rates and hostile channel conditions. In addition, aspects of data security are expected to be addressed as security plays an increasingly important role. There is a need to investigate new encryption algorithms given the computational powers of present day computers which may lead to attacks on critical data. More importantly, the development of these algorithms would make sure that there is sufficient know how is available given the proprietary nature of developed algorithms. Context in Disaster Communications: Disaster Warning: Here the main principle is to have sufficient lead time so that people can take measure to prevent or minimize damage. The warning could be provided in terms of a signal appropriately channeled to provide either some visual indication of the impending disaster or in audible form like sirens. The signal has to come from or generated from detection equipment (sensors for earth quake, storm, flood, tidal wave or Tsunami). This then can be picked up by some satellite networks in some dedicated emergency channel and/or through the mobile telephone networks (Base Stations), provided it is sent in the proper format and then broadcast in an emergency channel. At the signal receiver end, there should be sufficient identification to differentiate the warning signal. Once identified, the receiver will then generate the required alarm. The receivers can be distributed over the warning area (here, the idea is automation. No delay in decision making or no answer due to holidays etc.). 1

In some cases, detection equipment is distributed over different geographic areas. In such cases, the signals from different areas can be collected using the same transmission method described above, e.g. the telephone network, to a common receiver who interprets the data and makes a decision whether or not to generate and broadcast a warning alarm. The objective here is to identify the modifications needed in the existing communications architecture and protocols to obtain and transmit the warning signals and the design of the receivers capable of picking up the signal.

A. Disaster Warning Proposed Actions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Signal generation from detection equipment Establishment of methodology for the satellite network to pick up signal Set up a procedure for Terrestrial/mobile networks to obtain the signal Broadcasting the signal Distribution of receivers geographically to obtain the Alarm Identification of the warning signal and Alarm generation

After the Disaster: Disasters can not be prevented. But through proper warnings and disaster-after recovery procedures, the effects can be minimized. The collapse of communications infrastructure is the usual effect of disaster, due to the collapse of antennas, buildings, power etc. But, immediately after the disaster, due to emergency, communications are vital. There are two aspects in this scenario. One is to immediately locate the affected persons and provide emergency assistance. The other is to provide disaster relief during and after the disaster. In both scenarios we have to assume that most of the local communication infrastructure would be unavailable. For example, some base stations may be destroyed. Therefore the main idea is to look into the following issues in detail and to come up with details for suitable implementations. Tracing of survivors- This can possibly be done assuming the availability of a mobile phone with the person(s) affected. In this case, it may be possible to establish a communication link using a) Base stations which are not destroyed - Here the surrounding base stations can be asked to interrogate the mobile stations that they see and provide that information to a central monitoring station.

b) In the absence of active base stations, it might be possible to devise a scheme to transfer the local cellular layer to a higher layer, possibly consisting of a satellite. For this scheme to be possible, layered architectures should be considered. In addition, most important aspect would be how a regular mobile phone could be detected by a satellite. It is proposed that methodologies for this must be investigated. This may include having high power emergency channels available in the satellite, add-on extendable antennas for the mobile phone, hardware/software reconfiguration in the mobile etc. In the cases where adding the satellite feature to each regular mobile phone is too expensive, we can consider an alternative network architecture. In this architecture, a small subset of local users, e.g. police and town officials, carry mobile phones that are satellite capable. The other mobile phones are modified so that they can communicate with these satellite capable phones, forming an ad-hoc network when the base stations are all destroyed. This alternative architecture enables cost sharing of the satellite communication links among multiple users in the same area. In addition, the cost of modifying a mobile phone to be ad-hoc network capable is expected to be less than the cost of modifying a phone to be satellite capable. Tracking: It would be extremely helpful, if the position of the affected persons can be located. Possibility of location by GPS should be investigated. The underlying assumption is that the power available in the mobile phone is limited and how the communication must be established under adverse conditions. B. Post-Disaster Communications Tracing of Survivors Proposed actions (availability of a mobile) 1. Establishment of a procedure for the surviving Base stations to interrogate mobile stations in the vicinity 2. Collection of those information in a central station 3. In the absence of Base stations Establishment of a procedure for the mobile to be detected by a satellite OR Integration of the mobile to a network with satellite capable equipment Ad Hoc Net work

4. Location Identification

Communications for Emergency Management: This would be to investigate a last mile wireless high-speed communications system to support emergency management. The system will utilize surviving network infrastructure to provide network connectivity to emergency management field workers for applications such as Geographic Information System (GIS) access and audio/video conferencing. The issues to be looked at are designing the system architecture, developing and/or integrating radio, link, network, and application-level hardware and software, and exploring GIS applications. An important element of the work is rapid deployment, so equipment must be portable, easily configured, and able to access remote databases and GIS engines. It may be also an opportunity for Radio Local Area Network (RLAN) technology. Low power requirements, low cost, portability, point- to-point, point-to-multipoint and multicast capabilities, coupled with high bandwidth, make RLANs an excellent technology for "on- the-spot" emergency communications. C. Communications for Emergency Proposed actions 1. Design of a system architecture for integrating surviving infrastructure 2. Establishment of a broadband wireless communication system 3. Provision of services required for the field workers

Sustainability: It is expected that this project will generate interest among the authorities dealing in disaster situations through dissemination of information through website, publications etc. The lab will therefore can work in long term expertise development in this area which can provide the required knowledge to local scenarios. This will help in attracting good quality students to work in this crucial area as there have been several large scale disasters recently. The ability to manage communications would be a great advantage to the South/South East Asian Region.

System Illustrations of Emergency Communications Pre-Disaster Communications: Disaster Warning Prior to a disaster, the main function of emergency communications is disaster warning. We outline the main steps in the disaster warning process below. 1. Sensors employed in the field transmit local environmental information at regular intervals to the data processing center. For example, seismic sensors transmit earthquake related information that can be used for warnings about earthquakes and/or tsunamis. The communications can be done via wireline, wireless, or satellite transmission. Fig. 1 illustrates communications from sensors to the data processing center.
satellite

wireless

satellite receiver sensor data processing center (24-hr monitored)

wireline sensors in the field

Fig. 1: Data transmission from sensors to the processing center

2. The sensor data processing center, which we assume to be monitored by humans 24 hours a day, analyzes the sensor data and makes a decision whether or not disaster warnings should be issued. Note that this decision is done by humans and not automated. 3. If the decision is to issue warnings, then the warning information will be distributed with no human involvement beyond the data processing center. The warnings can reach the individuals in the disaster area via wireless or wireline transmission, or by the use of visual/sound alarms. Fig. 2 illustrates communications from the data processing enter to individuals in disaster related areas

satellites

sensor data processing center (24-hr monitored)

wireless (radio, SMS, etc.) wireline (cable TV, Internet, etc.) visual/sound alarms

related disaster area

disaster area

individuals

Fig. 2: Transmission of disaster warnings

Our technical contributions will involve how the warnings can be distributed through existing communication infrastructure with only slight modifications of the existing systems, and with no human intervention required. For example, if the warnings are distributed using SMS messages in cellular systems, we may be able to use the control channels as communication channels in case of emergency. A part of our study is to investigate in detail how to do so.

Post-Disaster Communications: Disaster Recovery After the disaster such as an earthquake or tsunamis, we expect that some or all communication infrastructure in the disaster related areas are destroyed. The main function of emergency communications is to set up communication networks so that survivors can establish a contact or can be located by the rescue teams through common electronic devices such as cellular phones. We outline three possible strategies for setting up emergency communication networks below. 1. In the case that some base stations of cellular networks remain after the disaster, we can utilize the remaining base stations. However, for emergency communications, we will need to change the transmission scheme (e.g. different frequency band, higher power, etc.) for larger coverage areas. In addition, a local police station may be equipped with a radio base station that can also be used to set up the emergency network. For emergency communications, the mobile phone units must be able to operate in the emergency mode with a compatible transmission scheme. Fig. 3 illustrates emergency communications based on surviving base stations from the cellular phone systems.
coverage area

base station

individual (a) before the disaster

remaining base station

destroyed base station

individual

(b) after the disaster

remaining base station

destroyed base station

police base station

individual

(c) after the disaster with police base station

Fig. 3: Emergency network based on the remaining cellular base stations as well as police base stations, if any.

2. The above strategy based on using the remaining base stations may not be applicable when all base stations are destroyed. In this case, one possibility is to use satellite communications for each survivor. For this scheme to be possible, a regular mobile phone needs to be able to communicate with a satellite. The modifications of existing systems may include having high power emergency channels available in the satellite, add-on extendable antennas for the mobile phone, and hardware/software reconfiguration in the mobile units, and so on. Fig. 4 illustrates emergency communications based on a direct contact between each survivor and a satellite.

satellite base station coverage area

destroyed base station individual (a) before the disaster (b) after the disaster individual

Fig. 4: Emergency network based on direct satellite communications.

3. In the cases where adding the satellite feature to each regular mobile phone according to Fig. 4 is too expensive, we can consider an alternative network architecture. In this architecture, a small subset of local users, e.g. police and rescue officers, carry mobile phones that are satellite capable. The other mobile phones are modified so that they can communicate with these satellite capable phones, forming an ad-hoc network when the base stations are all destroyed. Fig. 5 illustrates emergency communications based on the use of ad-hoc networks.

satellite base station coverage area destroyed base station satellite link ad-hoc network link individual (b) after the disaster

individual (a) before the disaster

Fig 5: Emergency network based on an ad-hoc network

We note that the above three strategies can be used in conjunction. Below are the lists of various technical issues as well as their relationships in a flow chart diagram.

Emergency Communications

Pre-Disaster (A)

Post-Disaster (B)

Warning

Existing System GPRS Send MMS, SMS

New Architecture Automated

Methodology for Connection to Satellite or Terrestrial Mobile

Warning Signal Generation

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Format for Broadcasting

Geographical Distribution of Receivers In remote areas existing sophisticated network cannot be guaranteed (GPRS, Computer access)

Identification of the warning signal and Alarm generation

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Issues under consideration for (A): Physical/Network Components Sensors Communication Link establishment under adverse weather conditions - typical network connections could become unreliable easily Network Architecture of the system Satellite coverage/ Terrestrial coverage Alarm format Channel configuration in Satellites/ mobiles Requirement of emergency channel Classification of warning depending on the receiver type Alarm activation

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Post_Disaster (B)

Use of surviving Base Stations

Detection of Mobile by satellite

Integration of the mobile to Ad Hoc Network

Collection of Information

Location Identification

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Issues under consideration for (B): Physical/Network Components Architecture options Hierarchical Organization of Cellular Layers Organization of surviving network in a dynamic situation Mobile Ad Hoc networks Low Power Coding & Modulation Techniques Establishment of Basic Communication Links Establishment of High Speed Communication Links for Management Propagation Conditions under adverse conditions Cooperative Network Components (Mobile Stations)

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