A framework for data collection system with sensor networks in disaster circumstances

This paper describes a data collection system with sensor networks and an access network to detect damage in a disaster and to transmit the data to an emergency operation center. The sensor networks collect damage data from various devices installed in a building in advance, detect conditions of people trapped beneath rubble, and inform the location. The networks introduce a unicast-based routing protocol for energy-saving and secure communications. The access network, on the other hand, collects damage assessment information with the sensor networks in disaster sites. It introduces a hybrid network scheme combining ad hoc networks and a cellular network to achieve quick accurate data collection from a large number of nodes. Fundamental validation was carried out on the impact of node density in the sensor networks. In addition, experiments showed the access network is capable of improving reachability sufficiently by a few hops even in a heavy damage.