Ubiquitous robust communications for emergency response using multi-operator heterogeneous networks | Fragkiadakis et al. EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking 2011 2011 13 EURASIP Journal on . http content 2011 1 13 Wireless Communications and Networking a Springerữpen Journal RESEARCH Open Access Ubiquitous robust communications for emergency response using multi-operator heterogeneous networks 1 1 I-1 f -I- 1 2 Alexandros G Fragkiadakis Ioannis G Askoxylakis Elias Z Tragos and Christos VVerikoukis Abstract A number of disasters in various places of the planet have caused an extensive loss of lives severe damages to properties and the environment as well as a tremendous shock to the survivors. For relief and mitigation operations emergency responders are immediately dispatched to the disaster areas. Ubiquitous and robust communications during the emergency response operations are of paramount importance. Nevertheless various reports have highlighted that after many devastating events the current technologies used failed to support the mission critical communications resulting in further loss of lives. Inefficiencies of the current communications used for emergency response include lack of technology inter-operability between different jurisdictions and high vulnerability due to their centralized infrastructure. In this article we propose a flexible network architecture that provides a common networking platform for heterogeneous multi-operator networks for interoperation in case of emergencies. A wireless mesh network is the main part of the proposed architecture and this provides a back-up network in case of emergencies. We first describe the shortcomings and limitations of the current technologies and then we address issues related to the applications and functionalities a future emergency response network should support. Furthermore we describe the necessary requirements for a flexible secure robust and QoS-aware emergency response multi-operator architecture and then we suggest several schemes that can be adopted .
