Session: 14-01-01: General Topics on Risk, Safety, and Reliability I

Paper Number: 145062

145062 - System for Emergency Assistance, Response, & Communication Hub:search 

  

Abstract

This paper is about the design of an innovative centralized management system known as System for Emergency Assistance, Response, and Communication Hub (SEARCH). It is designed to enhance emergency response efforts and facilitate efficient communication during emergencies.  This system is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and can be deployed for communication, rescue and monitoring purposes.

 The system comprises several key components aimed at ensuring effective communication infrastructure, and ongoing monitoring capabilities. The communication hub is equipped with advanced technologies such as satellite communication, radio transceivers, and internet connectivity. They enable seamless communication between rescue teams, emergency responders, and affected communities, even in remote or inaccessible areas. SEARCH includes a dry dock facility for the maintenance and repair of marine vessels used in rescue operations. The system  ensures that the rescue boats and other watercraft are always in optimal condition, ready to be deployed at a moment's notice. The  distinguishing feature of the SEARCH design is seamless integration of autonomous marine vessels, aerial vehicles, and UHF/VHF/VHF/HF/HF HAM radio stations within a single hub contained in portable cabins, complete with solar panels. These portable units function as dynamic command centres, ensuring operational flexibility in diverse environments.  SEARCH works as not only as a disaster management tool but also contributes to educational initiatives and environmental monitoring across various sectors. Its scope spans monitoring water and air quality, observing coastal erosion patterns, assessing mangrove health, and supplying crucial coastal data to coastal regulatory zone (CRZ)officials upon request. SEARCH assumes the role of an educational hub catering to a diverse audience, including academics, industry professionals, district administrators. The paper examines both theoretical results and experimental  studies for  reliability analysis  in networked mechatronic and industrial cyber physical systems. The results demonstrate  efforts to  promote cross fertilization and the opportunity to demonstrate  methods of design analysis and synergistic identification of optimum components and systems that can be used to identify and finalize critical parameters that can operate in  safe performance limits. These unique design features that include network automation were experimented in a coastal area that face environmental challenges. Detailed experiments were carried out in the West Coast region of India that gets seasonal monsoons and is bounded by Arabian Seas on one side and urban area bounded by rivers. This paper provides an example of international collaboration.  SEARCH provides unique training and educational experience for students in two academic institutions, one in USA and other in India.

 

Keywords: SEARCH, UAV, autonomous marine vessels, HAM

Presenting Author: Devdas Shetty University of the District of Columbia, Washington DC

Presenting Author Biography: Dr. Devdas Shetty is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Dean of the School of Engineering and Appplied Sciences at the University of the District of Columbia, Washington DC, USA. He has published four books and more ythan 250 technical papers. He is also a Fellow of ASME

Authors:

Pruthviraj Umesh National Institute of Technology, Karnataka, Surathkal, India
Kv Gangadharan National Institute of Technology, Surathkal, Karnataka, India
Devdas Shetty University of the District of Columbia, Washington DC