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The role of GPS-enabled communications infrastructure in disaster management
Rosli Khairon
Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn Bhd (ATSB)
Malaysia
Email: rosli@atsb-malaysia.com.my
Norhizam Hamzah
Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn Bhd (ATSB)
Malaysia
Email: hizam@atsb-malaysia.com.my
Ahmad Sabirin Arshad
Astronautic Technology (M) Sdn Bhd (ATSB)
Malaysia
Email: sabirin@atsb-malaysia.com.my
ABSTRACT
When infrastructure is wiped out after a disaster such as the recent Indian Ocean Tsunami, providing relief efforts effectively and efficiently can prove to be a challenge. For instance, the absence of a functioning communications infrastructure hampers effective disaster management precisely at the time when it is needed the most. Thus it is imperative to have a capability of quickly rolling out of a communications infrastructure with features that make it suited for such disaster management tasks such as assessing damage and needs, coordination of resources, establishing command and control, implementing incident reporting and response systems, enabling effective and efficient distribution of aid, and enabling internal and external crisis communications. The presence of a multitude of governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations means that the infrastructure has to be open and inclusive while still retaining the stated characteristics. In this paper, a novel approach to addressing such seemingly contradictory requirements will be introduced. Among the new built-in capabilities added include the ability to geographically track via GPS available resources in real time and enabling the creation of mini private networks that allow such resources to be deployed in a manner which maximizes efficiency and effectiveness and minimizes duplication.
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