Mobile ad hoc network communication for disaster recovery

Mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) can be used for a range of post-disaster circumstances, permitting first-responders to prioritise the use of humanitarian and repair resources in emergency situations caused by extreme weather such as earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, and snow storms. Real-time data and information sharing, using a mobile app, has been expanded from individual point-to-point communication or 'hot-spots' to dynamically built environments, with virtual hub-and-spoke topology, referred to as mobile ad hoc networks. The MANET approach, supported by 'uRep', a mobile app, is illustrated with a scenario of disaster recovery for reporting on the scope of disaster-related damage and communicating the status of the repair effort. The aim of the research presented is to identify how an integrated approach of a mobile app with ad hoc networks can reduce the time needed for critical services to be restored. Additionally, the actual implementation of the mobile app is provided, as the concept motivating the research was adopted by a national utility.