Improving sensor data delivery during disaster scenarios with resilient overlay networks

In this paper, we consider many-to-one communication, in particular Internet-connected sensors and their relation to disaster response. We explore the application of resilient overlay networks to aid these devices, or individuals if we consider participatory sensing, in quickly and effectively routing around geographically correlated failures in the underlying network infrastructure, as would occur during a large-scale natural disaster. We develop a formal model of this system, a heuristic for choosing overlay paths without relying on any knowledge of the underlying network infrastructure, and show its merit through simulations using real Internet topologies.