Getting emergency alerts to small and isolated communities
Project overview
The Serval Project at Flinders University is integrating a low-cost satellite broadcast system into the Serval Mesh, that will allow emergency alerts and information to be quickly and affordably distributed in areas lacking cellular coverage.
Countries
Australia
Vanuatu
Organisations
Flinders University
Partners
Othernet Inc.
Area of funding
Humanitarian Innovation
Grant amount
49819
Start date
07
January
2017
End date
07
June
2018
Project length (in months)
17.2
Funding calls
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Focus areas
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Topics
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Status
Closed
Project solution
This project offers [specific solution or intervention] to tackle [challenge]. By implementing [strategies, tools, or innovations], the project aims to achieve [desired outcomes]. The approach is designed to [specific actions or methods] to bring about meaningful change in [community, region, or issue area].
Expected outcomes
This project aims to achieve [specific outcomes], such as [measurable results, improvements, or changes]. The expected impact includes [benefits to the target community, advancements in research or innovation, or long-term effects]. By the end of the project, we anticipate [specific changes or milestones] that will contribute to [broader goals or objectives].
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What is the humanitarian need?
Early warning systems for tsunami, cyclone and other hazards typically require cellular or internet services. This means that many smaller and more isolated communities are unable to receive such alerts or other useful information, contributing to their vulnerability in the face of natural hazards. A related problem is the provision of information into difficult and evolving situations, such as refugee camps, where conventional connectivity may be absent or overwhelmed.
What is the innovative solution?
We are solving the problem of getting emergency and other information to communities living beyond the edge of a reliable cellular service by combing the Serval Mesh off-grid mobile communications system with Outernet’s innovative satellite broadcast service and <;$100 and <;1KG satellite receiver, to create the world’s first system that will allow affordable and scalable emergency alert and information dissemination, that can potentially service every small or isolated community with this need.
Importantly, the operating cost is proportional to the number of alerts/information dispatches per year, not the number of serviced communities. It is this, combined with the low-cost (estimated US$1K per system), small size (<;20KG and 0.1 cubic metres) and potential for local assembly of the hardware that help to makes this solution uniquely scalable and sustainable.
What are the expected outcomes?
We expect to create a functioning proof-of-concept system that can receive emergency alerts and related information via the Outernet satellite broadcast service, and distribute that information among a remote community via the Serval Mesh off-grid mobile communications system.
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Project delivery & updates
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Latest updates
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