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Submitted by Mike Grenville on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:57 |
The first two prototypes of a system to provide connectivity in emergency situations has successfully tested by UNICEF that includes an FM radio station, WiFi and mobile messaging.
Developed internally by UNICEF Division of Communication and combining off the shelf products, it is being developed to augment relief work done in the first two weeks of an emergency when such technologies are often difficult or impossible to use.
There are many reasons to focus on providing communications quickly in disaster situations and the system is designed to work within UNICEF’s ‘build back better’ policy of helping families and communities recover from emergencies. Families are often seperated and there is an urgent need to help field workers quickly and effectively register children.
While the components of the Bee are intended initially to facilitate crisis-response operations, they are eventually to be left behind and integrated into the community’s monitoring, evaluation, education and health programmes.
Included in the first prototypes are webcams, radio transmitters and ultra-low-power computers. These components are run with open-source software designed to support the efforts of field workers and partners, and to be locally adapted for ongoing use.
Ease of Transportation
The Bee system allows UNICEF to establish, replicate and move infrastructure with ease – like a queen bee supporting various workers engaged in building the capacity of the community.
One challenge for the designers was creating a system that can be easily transported by a single person. With this lightness and agility in mind, the first prototype of the Bee is a kiosk that folds into itself. The second is a self-contained, hardened case that can be checked as carry-on luggage on a commercial flight. "Something that can be brought in in a box and set up in an hour or two and work" said UNICEF engineer Seth Herr.
Power and Connectivity
In many emergency and field settings, access to both power and connectivity are limiting factors to communication. The Bee has been built in a modular fashion, allowing it to be charged with solar power (with a run time of 38 hours), a car battery or a conventional power source.
The Bee is also able to connect to global telecommunications networks using a satellite receiver or a mobile phone, or through its built-in, long-distance WiFi capacity. Any other device near the Bee units can then share that connectivity. Thus PDAs, laptops and mobile phones can be used even if the traditional infrastructure in the area has been destroyed.
The team have also developed a RapidSMS open-source tool that can build forms, capture data, and take the pulse of a community through text messages. The data gathered is collected on the internet, and can be used by health workers, communities, and country offices.
Bee Future
Because the system uses off-the-shelf components it can be easily replicated and by using open-source in all its software, hardware and design, there will be no restrictions on its use and no licensing fees for the software.
After this initial testing, the second round of development will occur in South Africa during the end of this month and the beginning of September. UNICEF will be working with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in Pretoria to develop further prototypes and test them in the field.
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