The Nine Element HFN Puzzle

Introduction

Disaster responders must communicate. They must pool their knowledge and interpretations of the situation, understand what resources are available, assess options, plan responses, then decide, commit, act, and coordinate.


This module will help you better understand the tools, configurations and human skills necessary to set up an effective and efficient, on-location, communications network in response to emergency sitiuations.


Click here to view the interactive Flash version of the HFN puzzle.

Click here to view a list of relevant terms and definitions (Solar Power Glossary).

The Nine Element HFN Puzzle

1. Power: HFN power sources, generators, solar, wind, crank, etc.

Typically normal power grid electricity sources are unavailable after a disaster. Alternate power sources are then required, and usually must be lifted in. One common alternate power source are fossil fuel generators, such as gasoline and diesel gensets. However these can be problematic as it can be challenging getting fuel to the disaster zone. Alternate power sources that do not require manual fuel delivery include:

  • Solar
  • Wind
  • Crank (bicycle or hand cranking systems—small capacity)

Other power generation options:

  • Hydrogen Fuel Cell, or HFC (but requires delivery via heavy gas bottles)
  • Modified automobile alternator/generator technologies (using the natural power generation capabilities of automobiles on station to generate power—but again requires fossil fuel delivery or availability).

In view of the need for outside elements for each of these to work (sunlight for solar, actual wind for wind generators, physical labor for crank, fuel for HFC and gasoline/diesel generators, etc) it is advisable to have multiple power generation options available. There is typically never enough power generation capacity in a major disaster zone. Planning should include power sources for worst-case contingency and for replacement of as much of the normal power grid as practical or possible.

2. Applications and communications:

Assuming emergency responders have computers, Internet access, or cellular service there are critical user applications necessary for any disaster response such as basic email, web access, file transfer abilities, (FTP), cell phones with simple messaging systems (SMS) for text based chat.

Other critical user applications are collaboration and online communication tools. There are multiple programs that can serve, some are listed here:

  • Video-teleconferencing and visual situational awareness apps such as VSee web based VTC
  • Voice over IP apps such as Skype, Vonage, etc.
  • Shared desktop apps such as Groove Virtual Office, Microsoft NetMeeting, etc.
  • Chat programs such as Navy Knowledge Online Chat, AOL Instant Messaging, etc.
  • Disaster Relief specialized web sites, online apps, or standalone apps such as ReliefWeb, Sahana, Virtual Emergency Operation Center (Virtual EOC),USPACOM’s APAN Info Web, etc.
  • Higher end VoIP systems such as Cisco’s Call Manager integrated with flyaway kits for standalone VoIP telephony (Cisco 7920 or 7960) and VoIP Videoconferencing (Cisco 7980)
  • These systems integrate software with handsets and global calling through corporate PBX systems—ideal when cellular service is out and Internet infrastructure is in place via HFN (TCP/IP based telecomms).
  • GIS mapping tools such as Google Earth Pro, GeoFusion, etc.

3. Environmental Needs Support: Temporary shelter, water purification, RVs and trailers, etc.

It is essential to provide for the basic needs of personnel to support their relief work. Basic needs address shelter and safety (Mazlow) and include:

  • Shelter systems for medical, personnel, network operation centers, etc.
  • Water purification, field pumping and generation systems
  • RVs and trailers for personnel and network infrastructure management functions
  • Hygiene systems (sinks, showers, hazmat decontamination, etc.)
  • Power and lighting for operations area or NOC—for security and basic daily operations

4. WiMax: 802.16 (OFDM) and related technologies.

WiMAX is also known as 802.16 or OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) and is normally a terrestrial broadband point-to-point wireless bridge technology. Key distinction is that it is a bridging technology—does not route TCP/IP traffic as a router would, it only passes it from point to point.

WiMAX works well in a High Availability/Disaster Recover (HA/DR) environment as it is inexpensive, easy to deploy, very reliable, and readily available on the market. Simple systems are available that consist of a radio, antennas, and power source on each end. Many have radios and antennas integrated and mount both at high point in the area and the Internet connection inside, usually called “outdoor units” (ODU) and “indoor units” (IDU). In disaster zones the WiMAX antennas must be positioned as high as possible (on hilltops, tops of tall buildings, surviving water or cellular towers, etc) as WiMAX is a “line of sight” technology.

Further pertinent info:

  • The distances for WiMAX point-to-point links are up to 50 miles with proper antennas and amplifiers.
  • Data throughput can be as high as 54 megabits per second, depending on terrain, distance between points, antenna/amplification and other factors.
  • Most common frequencies are 5.8 and 2.4 GHz.
  • They are typically deployed side-by-side with SATCOM (Internet reachback) and WiFi (802.11). WiMAX is most useful in hub/spoke topology to link multiple WiFi clouds in a disaster zone, thus sharing limited SATCOM reachback equipment among multiple WiFi clouds.
  • Recent development in commercial sector is that WiMAX will soon be a point-to-multipoint (or access point to end user) system—similar to how WiFi is today with a few wireless access points (APs) covering large areas and client machines connect to these APs for access to the “cloud” and the Internet.

5. SATCOM/Internet: VSAT, BGAN, deployment, and related information.

Satellite communications (SATCOM) provides options for Internet reachback when the normal terrestrial infrastructure (copper/fiber from telco’s) is destroyed. SATCOM can be rapidly deployed (less than an hour usually) and while it is a costly way to get Internet access, versus wired technologies, it is usually the only option in disasters.

With SATCOM you will get:

  • Internet access speeds ranging from 128 kbps to 20-30 mbps
  • The typical frequencies for HA/DR which are Ku and L band.

Most common types of systems are VSAT (very small aperture terminal) and BGAN (broadband global area network). Systems range from the size of a large laptop (BGAN) to 1-3 meter dishes (VSAT). They can be set up on the ground, building rooftops, tops of RVs, etc., but require clear line of sight to satellite in the sky. Newer VSAT systems are packaged in 2-3 cases, each weighing less than 70 lbs for easy airline luggage check-in option.

6. WiFi Mesh (WLAN): WiFi Mesh technologies and deployment.

WiFi (also known as 802.11) creates wireless clouds at Internet access speeds of 10 mbps or more in large areas (up to several square miles or more) with a few strategically positioned wireless access points (APs). This same technology as is used in airports, coffee shops, etc, for public access to the Internet wirelessly.

WiFi enables:

  • Mobile operations for laptops, PDAs, hand held VoIP phones, remote sensors for situational awareness, etc.
  • Ability to put multiple APs integrated in an area, thereby increasing the footprint of the wireless cloud by using technology known as “wireless mesh”

Once you have the wireless mesh, any/all Internet apps can be used (email, web, VoIP, videoconferencing, etc) as the client machine moves around an area—as the client roams between the APs with seamless handoff of connection.

7. Voice Communications technologies: VoIP, Skype, LMRoIP, and related technologies.

Voice communications applications and technologies include:

  • Voice Over IP hardware/software solutions
  • Internet based such as Skype
  • Land Mobile Radio over IP (LMRoIP) to integrate different push-to-talk radio systems together with a touch of a button on a touch-screen
  • Cellular systems—rapidly deployable local area only…or capable of integrating back with normal cellular infrastructure as it comes back up
  • Videoconferencing systems—web based (aka VSee) and proprietary point to point or multipoint (aka Tandberg, Picturetel, etc)

8. NOC, security and system management:

The network must have both local and remote network management facilities and personnel. In austere environments you often need mobile facilities (trailers, tents, RVs, or a local building you can adapt to the need). You must worry about force protection, power, fuel, physical access from FEMA, etc.There is a need to tie in to the local Emergency Operation Center physically and/or for command and control (C2) purposes. Security of the network (virtual/physical) must always be considered. For example:

  • Do you open the wireless meshed network up to the general public, and if so how will this affect available bandwidth?
  • Should you set up separate C2 cloud versus gen’l public cloud?
  • How do you monitor, manage and control the limited expensive and scarce bandwidth?

9. Personnel skill sets: Network engineers, climbers, help desk, management, etc. Click to learn about these and other essential skill sets.

Key personnel skill sets include:

  • Basic electronics and electricity. Access to basics of electrical wiring, use of multi-meter, etc, is extremely important both for safety and functionality reasons.
  • Push to talk radio expertise. Basic familiarity with HF, UHF, VHF, etc, were somewhat lacking on the Katrina trip. The surprises we encountered with traditional methods of voice comms (satellite and cell phones, UHF radios, etc) should not have been surprises, especially if a proper Advance Survey is conducted.
  • Social interaction expertise. Since almost all HA/DR responses involve working with non-government organizations (NGOs), other host nations, etc, it is critical to have personnel who understand issues at the civil-military boundary mentioned in the introduction to this puzzle.

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