Re: [gaia] disaster relief communication

[Rex Buddenberg <[e-mail]>]

Dan,

The inverse might be useful too.  What didn't work.

The phone companies have, for several years, cell towers on wheels
known as COWs.  
     If the cell technology in the COW is 3G or earlier, it's not
internet.  If it's 4G (aka LTE), then it arguably is internet (partly
depending on what the backhaul switching is).
     If the emergency installation is a seed of a future permanent
infrastructure, the determinant is probably the user interface.  If
that interface is WiFi or cellphone, then you have a future.  (Since
neither of those technologies were popular in the grey box military,
this isn't always a moot point).  
     The civil and electrical engineering parts of a COW are
independent of the technology -- gotta have electrical power, need an
antenna, more height the better, fuel, need the usual list of other
things, including personnel support.  

I think the meta question, one level up, is whether you are going to
have two infrastructures or one.  EMS folks have not come eagerly to
internet technologies (observation dependent on what country you're in
... mileage may vary).  In US we have two comms systems in parallel --
one for the homeowner to call the PSAP to report a fire and an entirely
different comms system for the dispatcher to roll the fire truck.  We
ought to carefully consider why we have two infrastructures and whether
that is a good idea in the future (I do have my opinions on the
matter.;)

b



On Fri, 2017-10-06 at 18:26 -0400, Dan Bateyko wrote:
> Thanks all for the thoughtful responses. Lee and Jane, hope to meet
> you and whomever else on the listserv at Radical Networks to talk
> more.
> 
> Best,
> Dan
> 
> On Fri, Oct 6, 2017 at 5:48 PM, Lee W McKnight <[e-mail]>
> wrote:
> > Hi Jane, folks
> > 
> > Perfect set - up : ) Since folks asked...my improptu Friday
> > afternoon lecture:
> > 
> > There has been a bunch of academic work around use of social media
> > in disaster response, including the Ushahidi project which we have
> > written about previously.  
> > 
> > That assumes you have a functional Internet, and power grid. So
> > reviews of some latency-insensitive messaging apps in
> > recent Houston flood were very positive. Helped organize the
> > impromptu Cajun Navy for example. In other cases like Boston
> > bombing a few years ago signal to noise ratio was off with people
> > being falsely accused. FBI tracked perpetrators in end not from
> > social media but mainly from store security cameras new site of
> > bombing.
> > 
> > Still, incorporating social media into disaster response is a basic
> > thing these days, even if in US over 50% of 911 call centers are
> > not yet equipped to receive text or images.
> > 
> > General category we have been researching and developing at
> > Syracuse University for some time is 'social emergency response'
> > - which aggregates any functional, and identified, equipment and
> > networks available.  Including for 'worst case scenario' disasters.
> >  So not worrying so much about P.25 interoperability as augmenting
> > around/beyond that, in scenarios like Haiti earthquake, or Puerto
> > Rico today, where cel towers and other infrastructure is knocked
> > out.
> > 
> > In theory and NSF research with software defined/cognitive radio we
> > have shown previously that a lot can be done to augment the reach
> > of emergency response incident commanders communication, and
> > strengthen an information mesh around them for 'Advanced
> > Situational Awareness.'   
> > 
> > More recently we have  a dumbed down but functional and deployable
> > version that uses cloud services to manage devices and rf networks
> > and reach the Internet (text & gps only) via a satphone hotspot,
> > and a couple tethered smart phones, in emergency and/or educational
> > use. A startup company is just starting to produce those in
> > modest volumes. 
> > 
> > Currently we have an Internet Backpack beta being tested by Goma
> > Volcano Observatory in Democratic Republic of Congo, which was
> > tested on top of the world's 3rd most dangerous volcano a month
> > ago, and was already used in emergency response drills in
> > neighboring communities; which also doubles as an instant school
> > network/STEM/Internet of Things kit. 
> > 
> > That is under discussion to spread to another hundred or so schools
> > and hence 100 + more instant community networks in North Kivu.
> > 
> > Following on from that very very bandwidth limited thing, we are
> > discussing building out across the schools and communities in North
> > Kivu - and 5 other Provinces/Conflict Zones becoming Innovation
> > Zones - a 24 Ghz 1G wifi data net for research and education
> > purposes; which is basically same wireless equipment configuration
> > as used in past emergencies (Haiti earthquake, Nepal earthquake) to
> > get a data net up fast in those disaster regions. Chris Sedore,
> > NYSERNET president, is the guy who has been there and done that in
> > past, and we are working in tandem to extend from 1 Internet
> > backpack to hopefully 30% Internet (from 4%) penetration in DRC
> > provinces  quick. May or may not work, but excitement about instant
> > limited solution of Internet backpack has folks ready to listen to
> > our other suggestions. See http://www.iatag.org for short form
> > summary.  A longer form is the 30 in 2020 white paper attached,
> > most recent is TPRC paper version. Liberia and other nations are
> > interested in aspects of model already, even though we have just
> > one Internet Backpack in field and have not digitally transformed
> > any region. Lately.  Liberia will get a couple packs later this
> > month at request of their President, who is focusing more on intant
> > education/community network than disaster response aspects.
> > 
> > To check out what we are talking about (Internet Backpack) with its
> > dual emergency and educatonal/micro-community network
> > functions live - join us Sat. Oct. 21 @ Radical Networks in
> > Brooklyn, in workshops 10:30am - 3:30pm. http://radicalnetworks.org
> > / Courtesy ISOC-NYC/ISOC.
> > 
> > So to summarize, we are discussing and have a modular - innovation
> > zone model - to help regions grow their infrastructure, whether
> > disaster is an emergency incident, or the daily life crisis of
> > living in a province with 4% Internet access. A bit too soon to say
> > model is proven even if we know the Internet Backpack works. 
> > 
> > (And if there is interest and a GAIA opprtunitiy to discuss further
> > in Singapore, remotely, I am up for that; due to my teaching
> > obligations I can't make it in person. For following meeting in
> > London March 2018 I do look forward to attending and eprhaps
> > meeting some of you then.)
> > 
> > thanks,
> > 
> > Lee W McKnight  | Associate Professor |  School of Information
> > Studies
> > Syracuse University
> > 228 Hinds Hall
> > Syracuse, New York 13244  USA
> > +1 [phone]    [e-mail]    ischool.syr.edu
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > From: Jane Coffin <[e-mail]>
> > Sent: Friday, October 6, 2017 4:26 PM
> > To: Dan Bateyko; Arzak Khan; Lee W McKnight
> > Cc: Rex Buddenberg; gaia; Steve Song; Kurtis Heimerl; Arjuna
> > Sathiaseelan
> > 
> > Subject: Re: [gaia] disaster relief communication
> >  
> > Hi Dan –
> >  
> > Adding Lee McKnight from Syracuse.
> >  
> > Lee – what do you think?
> >  
> > Jane
> >  
> >  
> > Internet Society | www.internetsociety.org
> > Skype:  janercoffin
> > Mobile/WhatsApp:  [phone]
> >  
> > From: gaia <[e-mail]> on behalf of Dan Bateyko <dbatey
> > [e-mail]>
> > Date: Friday, October 6, 2017 at 4:58 PM
> > To: Arzak Khan <[e-mail]>
> > Cc: Rex Buddenberg <[e-mail]>, gaia <[e-mail]>,
> > Steve Song <[e-mail]>, Kurtis Heimerl <[e-mail]
> > gton.edu>, Arjuna Sathiaseelan <[e-mail]>
> > Subject: Re: [gaia] disaster relief communication
> >  
> > Hi all, 
> >  
> > Question inspired by this thread:  Could anyone point me to an
> > example of ICT for disaster relief becoming the de facto
> > infrastructure in a region post-crisis? Wondering if there's a
> > "Shock Doctrine" for telecommunication. 
> >  
> > As ever,
> > Dan
> >  
> > On Thu, Oct 5, 2017 at 9:44 AM, Arzak Khan <[e-mail]>
> > wrote:
> > Dear All, 
> >  
> > We at Internet Policy Observatory Pakistan are running an
> > initiative called TOPS (Tactical Operations) activated during
> > disasters across Pakistan. Basically our tactical operations
> > provide the following:
> >  
> > 1) Tactical Operations team uses portable satellite communications
> > equipment to provide voice and data communications for aid workers
> > who rely on these tools to coordinate logistics and deliver
> > lifesaving supplies.
> > 2) Provide vital ICT Support (Internet, Telephone, Sat-phone and E-
> > mail) to first responders and relief organizations.
> > 3) Establish multiple communications center equipped with internet,
> > phone and radio capabilities. In addition, iPOP tactical operations
> > team also provides free phone calls to people living in temporary
> > camps and shelters.
> > 4) Establish dedicated communication center for women enabling them
> > to communication and reconnect them with displaced family
> > members.                   
> > We have been working jointly with Provincial Disaster Management
> > Authorities on various missions during floods, earthquake and other
> > man made disasters. You can learn more about it http://ipop.org.pk/
> > initiatives/tops/
> >  
> >  
> > Internet Policy Observatory Pakistan | iPOP Tactical ...
> >  
> > ipop.org.pk
> >  
> > Internet Policy Observatory Pakistan tactical operations team can
> > establish satellite based communications system so government
> > agencies, humanitarian organizations ...
> >  
> >  
> >  
> > I would be happy to share further insight in to out planning and
> > deployment if needed. 
> >  
> > Best,
> >  
> > Arzak Khan 
> >  
> >  
> > 
> > From: gaia <[e-mail]> on behalf of Kurtis Heimerl <khe
> > [e-mail]>
> > Sent: Tuesday, October 3, 2017 6:14 PM
> > To: Rex Buddenberg
> > Cc: gaia; Steve Song; Arjuna Sathiaseelan
> > Subject: Re: [gaia] disaster relief communication
> >  
> > I want to support Steve's request here; as someone who has dabbled
> > in Disaster Relief it feels like there's an opportunity to do
> > impactful work in the space but I don't know of any good places to
> > get grounded in the current state of the art. Can we have any part
> > of the upcoming GAIA meeting be focused on exploring this topic?
> > Any domain experts in Singapore we can invite?
> >  
> > On Tue, Oct 3, 2017 at 11:04 AM, Rex Buddenberg <buddenbergr@gmail.
> > com> wrote:
> > Suggest that there are two (at least) genres that need to be merged
> > --
> > treated together.  Emergency services (reach to fire/ ambulance/
> > police/ ...) is the other genre.  In a disaster, expect a push to
> > build
> > out both.
> > 
> > Emergency services communications is one of the bastions of non-IP
> > technologies.  P25 is an example of a protocol heavily pushed by
> > various emergency services agencies. But it's non-routable.  Much
> > of
> > the development has been colored by the perceived need to jam
> > whatever
> > comms link is concocted into the narrowband Land Mobile Radio
> > channels
> > (25kHz and less).  
> > 
> > The economics is that the two genres end up costing twice for the
> > infrastructure.  This is true both for permanent infrastructure and
> > quick-build into disaster areas.  
> > 
> > Warning: this is an area of acrimonious debate, often sadly lacking
> > in
> > facts.  But it is a debate that needs to be joined.
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > On Tue, 2017-10-03 at 17:40 +0100, Arjuna Sathiaseelan wrote:
> > > Hello Steve,
> > >
> > > the IEEE global humanitarian technology conference is a good
> > venue to
> > > look at for the latest research/deployment experience papers:
> > >
> > > last year: http://sites.ieee.org/ghtc/event-2016/call-for-papers-
> > 2016
> > > /
> > >
> > >
> > > this looks like a good journal to keep an eye on when the papers
> > get
> > > published: http://ieeeaccess.ieee.org/special-sections-closed/mis
> > sion
> > > -critical-public-safety-communications-architectures-enabling-
> > > technologies-future-applications/
> > > regards
> > >
> > > a decent survey paper:
> > > http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/87438/5/Survey_of_wireless_communi
> > cati
> > > on_technologies_for_public_safety.pdf
> > >
> > > regards
> > >
> > > On 3 October 2017 at 17:25, Steve Song <[e-mail]>
> > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Hi all,
> > > >
> > > > Are there any particularly good web resources and/or academic
> > > > papers that
> > > > profile the range of disaster relief technologies / solutions
> > both
> > > > planned
> > > > and currently in use?
> > > >
> > > > Many thanks... Steve
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > [phone]
> > > > [e-mail]
> > > > http://nsrc.org
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
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> > > > [e-mail]
> > > > https://www.irtf.org/mailman/listinfo/gaia
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > 
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> >  
> > 
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> > 
> > 
> > 
> >  
> > --
> > Dan Bateyko
> > http://dbateyko.me/
> > 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Dan Bateyko
> http://dbateyko.me/