Network Structures and Resources for Emergency Communications

Abstract

The aftermath of a major emergency is heavily dependent on communications. Existing communications networks may fail as a direct or indirect consequence of the emergency and these studies suggest that this leads to a requirement for temporary communications networks, usually within the emergency ground. Such networks are likely to have a high dependence on radio technology in order to maintain their portability. Major emergencies are unpredictable and dynamic in their resource requirements; consequently it is often not possible to develop permanent fixed networks that will cope with every form of major emergency. Emergency services in the United Kingdom each have their own radio networks which are adequate for everyday operations; but during a major emergency there is seldom a capability for inter-working between these networks or the ability to construct temporary networks using resources shared by the services. The primary incompatibility lies with the radio equipment itself which varies between the various services, or even between different regional groups of the same service. This thesis will identify reasons why existing communications networks may fail during a major emergency and hence justify the need to develop schemes for the implementation of temporary communications networks. It will also propose that a solution to the primary incompatibility of radio equipment might be solved by the development of radio equipment that is common throughout the emergency services but is programmable to the needs of the particular using service.