A Satellite-Based Emergency Communications System
- Paper number
IAC-05-B3.3.05
- Author
Prof. Otto Koudelka, Graz University of Technology, Austria
- Year
2005
- Abstract
Space technology is indispensable in case of natural or man-made disasters. In particular communications, navigation, meteorological and remote sensing satellites can provide vital information for decision makers to assess critical situations. For instance, when the normal communications infrastructure is disrupted due to a catastrophy, satellite communications systems are able to re-establish basic as well as broadband connections within short periods of time. Satellite phones and small satellite dishes (flown in by helicopter) can be put into operations very quickly. Meteorological and remote sensing satellites deliver data about weather conditions and situation photographs. Satellite images and situation maps may be transmitted in real-time to emergency centres as well as aerial photographs. Emergency teams are able to communicate with coordinating emergency centres via satellite. On-line video transmission from the disaster site may provide additional information for optimising the utilisation of relief resources. Joanneum Research has been developing an emergency communications platform using a VSAT system as a backbone to establish connectivity to an emergency centre. The VSAT terminal deployed at the disaster site acts as a base station for emergency teams equipped with PDAs as communications terminals. The interconnection to the local base station is provided by WLAN technology. Remote sensing images can be delivered to them, and situation photos may be sent to the emergency center. VoIP is used for the voice services. The paper describes the system architecture, the supported services and adresses some initial succesful demonstrations of the system.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-05-B3.3.05.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.