Mode of Communication during Emergencies

Challenge Statement:

In current day lifestyle, communication is one of the most important aspects. We are continuously on the phone every day. Can we imagine a day when we can’t talk to others on phone or use data? In the world, there are several unreachable places even though mobile communication became a commodity for most places.

During calamities, we will become helpless, i.e. in situations like floods, cyclones, earthquakes. There is chaos everywhere, people what to know if their loved ones are safe? If there is any help they could require? The situation of the calamity. Some people might be struck and are in desperate need of help but cannot get it in touch which anyone. Generally, in such calamities, cell towers are very much impacted. They are high rise and probability that they have fallen off is high. For telecommunications companies to restore the network, it takes around three to four days. But these first few days are crucial for help and rescue activities. Now there is no means for people in the affected area of calamity to communicate. This brings us to my favorite challenge – “How can you create a Mode of Communication during Emergencies?”

Solution:

One of the solutions for Mode of Communication during Emergencies can be Suitcase-Sized Portable Cell Tower. It would be operated with a battery for overcoming electricity short comes during emergencies. Even emergency personnel responding to a crisis might have one less thing to worry about while on the job: their cell phone connection. As the telecommunications network would take 3 to 4 days to recover. These Suitcase – Sized Portable Cell towers running on battery can be used. They can be used by a community or the rescues team personnel. Device can provide both Voice capabilities. Main attributes for this device are the flexibility, compatibility and coverage. Set-up time would only be 30 minutes and easy for customers to usage. It would give a coverage of 3 kilometers and would use interconnectivity between different cell towers to transmit the signals. Its capacity would be to take 15 simultaneous calls and the mode of communication would be Global System for Mobile communication i.e. 2G to reduce battery usage.

Story Board:

Story Board depicts a specific use case of the challenge “Mode of Communication during Emergencies”. In the before scenario, when the cell towers are not working, and a person is struck in floods can’t ask for help. The After scenarios depicts the use of Suitcase-Sized Portable Cell Tower and how the person could communicate and get rescued.

Look – alike – Prototype:

The look alike prototype in the picture above shows the compact suitcase that will fit the equipment. It also includes a black box, which has both the equipment and the battery. It also shows a signal transmitter. All the together are the prototype for Suitcase-Sized Portable Cell Tower.

1 Day Experiment:

For testing the feasibility of the prototype, we will do a 1-day experiment. For this experiment we use cell on wheels which is currently available in market for temporary usage basis during big events like cricket matches.

What hypothesis will it test?

If a person in real time in no coverage area struck at a place can communicate with the emergency rescue team using the portable cell towers

What will you do? 

• Select a place with no telecommunications coverage. If an area with signal coverage is chosen, we can’t trace if it is through the portable cell tower or outside network
• Place cell tower on wheels with at place with a distance of three kilometers
• Switch on the cell tower on wheels and ensure the set-up is done on time
• Check if the mobiles in the area are able to get signals
• Make simultaneous calls to check ability and the bandwidth to with stand multiple calls
• Make calls within the portal tower network and also the outside network to check the feasibility of communicating with help or rescue team outside the bandwidth area

Cost of experiment:

For testing this we need cell on wheels from a telecommunications operator. Even though they are not available for individual usage, they can be obtain for testing an emergency scenario which is use-full for both parties. Cost depends on relationship with operator. After having a conversion with a colleague in Vodafone Germany, it is feasible to obtain Cell on Wheels for testing

How will you measure success?

Success of the experiment can be measure by below attributes

• Is phone Connecting to Network through portable cells towers in a general network less area
• Ability of making phone calls to inside and outside of this network provided by portable cell towers
•  Can simultaneous calls can be made from this network area?
• Ability of making clear voice calls. Is the person on the other end able to understand have a conversation with person in emergency area?