March 2006

Reliable wireless mesh networks developed to aid first responders.

Currently under development by RESCUE researchers at UCSD, CalMesh is an ad-hoc network of small, lightweight, and easily reconfigurable nodes that quickly self-organize to form a reliable wireless mesh network. CalMesh is designed to be rapidly deployed at the site of a crisis to restore the communication fabric crucial to emergency response. It has been used in conjunction with recent drills of the San Diego Metropolitan Medical Strike Team (MMST), a team of local, state, and federal responders who work together to develop and implement response plans for major urban crises and disasters.

Cal-Mesh nodes use popular IEEE 802.11b-based Wi-Fi technology for users to easily set up communication during emergencies. The intelligent gateway nodes communicate with each other using an advanced wireless multihop relaying process. CalMesh nodes can use any of a variety of wired and wireless backhauls, which are integrated with the Always Best Connected system to allow users to seamlessly roam across and aggregate multiple network infrastructures and access technologies to maintain constant and optimal connection to the Internet.

The ruggedized and weatherproof units support feature plug-ins for WLAN 802.11a/b/g, 1xEV-DO & 1xRTT, GPRS/EDGE, UMTS, WiMAX, and GPS inputs. They have multiple antenna ports supporting multi-band wireless communication – 800MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz, 1900MHz, 2.4GHz, 3.5GHz, 5.2GHz, & 5.8GHz operation – with omni-directional or high gain antennas, and Ethernet and serial ports for wired communication with PDAs, PCs, handheld GPS, bullhorns and other peripherals. CalMesh units have a battery life of 12-16 hours from their multimodal power system, which includes a 10Ah 12Vdc NiMH battery pack with built-in charger, as well as input and output power to and from a laptop PC, solar panel, flashlight, battery powered tools, car battery, or other available power sources.

For more information about CalMesh, please contact Manoj Balakrishnan at bsmanoj@ucsd.edu.

RESCUE plans novel use for RFID technology

Responsphere, the technology infrastructure of the RESCUE project, recently received a donation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) equipment that will be used for location based sensing and human positioning, an interesting twist on the traditional usage of RFID.

RFID is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders. An RFID tag is a small object that can be attached to or incorporated into a product or person. RFID tags contain silicon chips and antennas to enable them to receive and respond to radio-frequency queries from an RFID transceiver.

Printronix has generously donated a Gen2 RFID printer that prints labels and encodes the RFID chip.  The company also donated a fixed RFID reader from Alien Technology Corp. for the RESCUE project room.  Additionally, Psion Teklogix is in the process of donating a hand-held RFID reader.

Although RFID is more commonly used in a logistics environment for inventory management, we will use the Gen2 labels and RFID chip to create badges for first responders.  When these badges are interpreted by an RFID reader, they will provide location awareness to the SAMI and DrillSim teams at RESCUE.  In addition, we will place RFID labels (encoded with GPS coordinates) on the ceiling tiles in and around the RESCUE project room.  This pilot project will use a hand-held reader (attached to the RESCUE EvacPack) to stream RFID label information back to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) for individual location awareness.

For more information about RFID at RESCUE, please contact Chris Davison at cbdaviso@uci.edu.