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Five Key Enablers for Communication during and after Disasters

Mohammad Shehab, Mustafa Kishk, Maurilio Matracia, Mehdi Bennis, Mohamed-Slim Alouini

Abstract

Civilian communication during disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and military conflicts is crucial for saving lives. Nevertheless, several challenges exist during these circumstances such as the destruction of cellular communication and electricity infrastructure, lack of line of sight (LoS), and difficulty of localization under the rubble. In this article, we discuss key enablers that can boost communication during disasters, namely, satellite and aerial platforms, redundancy, silencing, and sustainable networks aided with wireless energy transfer (WET). The article also highlights how these solutions can be implemented in order to solve the failure of communication during disasters. Finally, it sheds light on unresolved challenges, as well as future research directions.

Five Key Enablers for Communication during and after Disasters

Abstract

Civilian communication during disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and military conflicts is crucial for saving lives. Nevertheless, several challenges exist during these circumstances such as the destruction of cellular communication and electricity infrastructure, lack of line of sight (LoS), and difficulty of localization under the rubble. In this article, we discuss key enablers that can boost communication during disasters, namely, satellite and aerial platforms, redundancy, silencing, and sustainable networks aided with wireless energy transfer (WET). The article also highlights how these solutions can be implemented in order to solve the failure of communication during disasters. Finally, it sheds light on unresolved challenges, as well as future research directions.
Paper Structure (10 sections, 5 figures, 1 table)

This paper contains 10 sections, 5 figures, 1 table.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Selected Literature
  3. Outline
  4. Aerial platform
  5. Wireless Energy Transfer
  6. Satellites
  7. Redundancy and Disaster Anticipation
  8. Silencing
  9. Open Challenges
  10. End Line

Figures (5)

  • Figure 1: Examples of infra-structure affected by disasters
  • Figure 2: An illustration of the proposed five key enablers for communication during disasters.
  • Figure 3: Aerial platforms and WET solutions during disaster scenarios.
  • Figure 4: Satellite charging time for different payloads
  • Figure 5: Typical base station silencing setup in post-disaster scenarios: while the disaster area is characterized by non-functioning BS, the silencing area presents BSs which transmit power is suppressed or completely turned-off, and everywhere else the BSs are still functioning.