Design and implementation of a Witness Unit for opportunistic routing in tsunami alert scenarios. (December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Santos, Rodrigo; Mosse, Daniel; Znati, Taieb; Comfort, Louise
• Is Part Of: Safety science. Volume 90(2016)
• Page Start: 75
• Page End: 83
• Publication Date: 2016-12
• Subjects: Tsunami alert -- Opportunistic networks -- Evacuation; Industrial accidents -- Periodicals; Accident Prevention -- Periodicals; Safety -- Periodicals; Travail -- Accidents -- Périodiques; 363.11
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ssci.2015.09.014
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0925-7535

Abstract

Highlights: We present a Witness Unit (WU) design to support evacuation after tsunami alert. We present an heuristic allocation algorithm for WU placement. We introduce an alternative information dissemination network alternative. We provide hardware and software guidelines for the WU implementation. Abstract: Some earthquakes generate tsunamis in the ocean or coastal regions. An early alert is essential for the coastal population to prevent loss of human life. The propagation of the alert is made through a range of communication means: radio, television, sirens, landlines and cell phones, social media including Twitter, and, if electrical power and communications utilities are blacked-out, through an alternative opportunistic network. In this article, a special device, named Witness Unit (WU), designed to work with a satellite network is presented as an alternative communications means in a temporarily degraded disaster environment. A greedy heuristic algorithm for the placement and deployment of the WUs is introduced and its interaction with emergency managers and citizens is discussed.