Title: Internetworking and wireless ad hoc networks for emergency and disaster relief services

Authors: Andre Oliveira, Zhili Sun, Philippe Boutry, Diego Gimenez, Antonio Pietrabissa, Katja Banovec Juros

Addresses: TEKEVER, Rua das Musas 3.30, 1990-113 Lisboa, Portugal. ' Centre for Communication Systems Research, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, GU2 7XH, UK. ' ASTRIUM SAS, 31 Rue des Cosmonautes, Z.I. du Palays, 31402 Toulouse Cedex 4, France. ' ISDEFE, C/Beatriz Bobadilla 3, 28040 Madrid, Spain. ' Dipartimento di Informatica e Sistemistica (DIS), Universita di Roma 'La Sapienza', Via Ariosto 25, 00185, Roma, Italy. ' Administration for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief of the Republic of Slovenia, Vojkova 61, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract: The flexibility of mobile wireless ad hoc networks (MANET) and global coverage of satellite communications presented an ideal combination to provide emergency and disaster relief services. This paper presented the concept of a hybrid MANET-satellite network developed in the on optimising hybrid ad hoc and satellite networks (MONET) project funded within the EU 7th Framework Programme (FP7). It was considered to be a natural step of providing local and remote connectivity in a highly mobile, dynamic and often remote environment for emergency and disaster relief services, such as forest fire fight, mountain rescue and coast rescue. These composite networks raise significant challenges including: optimising network resources and link availability; providing quality of service (QoS) and quality of experience (QoE); minimising costs and maximising energy efficiency, taking into account its impact on both the MANET and satellite segments.

Keywords: ad hoc networks; satellite networks; hybrid networks; routing; optimisation; resource management; internetworking; mobile ad hoc networks; MANETs; mobile networks; emergency relief services; disaster relief services; satellite communications; remote connectivity; local connectivity; network resources; link availability; quality of service; QoS; quality of experience; QoE; energy efficiency; emergency management; disater management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSCPM.2011.039737

International Journal of Satellite Communications Policy and Management, 2011 Vol.1 No.1, pp.1 - 14

Published online: 11 Mar 2015 *