72 hours to save lives. UAV: our eyes in the sky

When a disaster occurs, the most important issue is preserving human lives. In this context, the first 72 hours after the disaster hits are the most critical, which means that search and rescue (SAR) operations must be conducted quickly and efficiently. The response time of disaster management personnel during a natural disaster is key in saving the lives of those in the affected areas. The most efficient situational awareness is achieved through aerial assessment. Using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), first responders can better understand which structures were affected by the event, the extent of the damage to these structures, the state of the transportation infrastructure, and the potential number of people affected by the event. From their high vantage point, teams of UAVs can provide reconnaissance and mapping support; perform structural assessment; identify stranded survivors and direct them to safe locations; and serve as an ad hoc communications infrastructure to connect mobile devices to the nearest radio access network (RAN). This talk describes a vision for leveraging the latest advances in UAVs in disaster management, supported by wireless sensor network (WSN) technology, to enhance the ability of network-assisted disaster prediction, assessment, and response.