The establishment of disaster communication system through IoT technology convergence

Abstract

Objectives: To present a network-building measure for maintaining network through Internet of Things (IoT) technology convergence when the information and communication infrastructure collapses in a disaster situation. Methods/ Statistical Analysis: Analyzing currently distributed and utilized IoT technology is necessary to remedy the disadvantages of the disaster and safety radio network based on PS-LTE technology through IoT technology convergence and to form the best network available in a disaster situation. The present study derived a new application of the existing technology by analyzing the sensing device technology for implementing IoT, the technology for coverage in shadow areas, and network expansion technology from the perspective of a disaster situation. Findings: IoT means that all things are connected to the Internet and interactively operated by utilizing the computing power and networking capabilities that are embedded in people, things, and the environment. From this point of view, the sensor nodes constituting a smart sensor network and the access point constituting a small cell are only one thing. The similarity of the architecture and required function between the sink nodes of the smart sensor and the access point of the small cell has verified the feasibility of technology convergence of the smart sensor and small cell. In other words, the smart sensor has computing power that the small cell does not have and its own power, which can be stably driven during a disaster. Furthermore, if coverage can be extended through the Wireless Mesh Network (WMN) technology convergence, the application to the field and party communication will be increased in a disaster situation. We designed a Disaster Response Smart Sensor Small-Cell (DR3S) network specialized in disaster situations by taking into account the characteristics of these technologies. Improvements/Applications: Through this study, we derived a network-building measure specialized in disaster situations, DR3S network, through IoT technology convergence. It is expected that the vulnerability of disaster network will be effectively supplemented.