When these massive storms strike, an immediate response is necessary to save lives and bring services back to impacted areas. But responding to these types of disasters – from hurricanes to earthquakes to wildfires – comes with its own set of challenges. When these disasters take down the critical infrastructure in an area, they compromise some of the same systems and networks necessary for powering the disaster response and rescue effort.

Take terrestrial and cellular networks as an example.

Today’s military and government agencies rely on network-enabled tools and platforms to operate. This emergence of network-centric operations means that having access to their full set of mission-critical capabilities requires network connectivity. But what happens when terrestrial networks – like cellular networks – are down? How can these mission-critical capabilities be made available when the networks that deliver them are compromised?

The answer could be found in the satellites orbiting around the Earth. But to take advantage of satellites in disaster response, the government and military will need to plan ahead. Let’s take a detailed look at what satellite networks can deliver to the disaster response effort and explore some of the ways that the government can plan ahead to ensure that they’re available when they’re needed.

The services that can be delivered via satellite
In disaster response situations, operational and situational awareness are essential. Responders need to know where the people are that need help, and they need to know how to reach them. Maps drawn and compiled before a disaster are untrustworthy and unreliable – roadways can be flooded or destroyed. Real-time, up-to-date intelligence is necessary to help responders find areas of need and reach the people in need of assistance.

Many of the same tools being utilized by the military for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) can be utilized to bring this real-time data to the response effort. But high definition (HD) video from drones, and accurate, real-time GIS data (i.e maps) are large files that need high bandwidth connectivity to reach responders in the field.

The same can be said for communications. Response efforts need to be coordinated and responders need to be connected to enable collaboration and planning. When cellular networks are down, the ability for responders to communicate becomes limited to line-of-sight voice/text communication. Providing a high bandwidth network connection expands the communication options to include streaming HD video, enabling responders to connect with people around the globe.

The same connectivity enabling situational awareness and communication can also deliver critical life-saving expertise. For example, real-time video communications can be used in telemedicine, bringing remote doctors and specialists together with local medics/doctors to collaboratively see, diagnose and advise on a survivor’s condition, particularly those in need of specialized medical care.

Telemedicine, and other key support efforts, to these decimated locations can only be enabled by high bandwidth, low latency satellite communications. Satellite connectivity is not dependent on the presence and availability of terrestrial networks, making it the perfect solution for connectivity in disaster response situations.

Finally, today’s newest satellite technologies, like that from Medium Earth Orbit (MEO), are capable of delivering fiber-like connectivity with extremely low latency. The satellite throughputs can deliver fiber-like speeds, meaning that practically any video, data file or voice/text can be delivered out to the edge…but response time is still dependent on preplanning and having deployment kits ready in advance. .

Making satellite possible in disaster situations
Obviously, satellites are not dependent on an existing terrestrial network/infrastructure but communication through the satellites requires some ground equipment, specifically terminals.  These terminals and antennas are necessary to take advantage of any satellite signal, and they may not be readily available in the event of a natural disaster.

That said, there is some precedent in the government to build and distribute transportable terminal “kits” (satellite ground infrastructure) that can be rapidly moved and set-up to establish connectivity in emergencies.

This kitted capability is already in use by the FAA for a program called FTI-SAT, which functions to reestablish communications for airports and radar data in emergency and disaster situations. In this implementation, the kits are deployed and set up rapidly to ensure that airports in disaster areas can be reopened as soon as possible.  This satellite-based communication serves to pass the radar, voice and data that the control tower and planes need to smoothly flow into and out of the airport.

These are kitted capabilities that could also be deployed to areas where natural disasters are predicted, then regional response teams can use them in emergency response situations. If combined with a transportable private LTE cellphone system, a satellite kit would provide the backbone for mobile communications for survivors of, and responders to, the natural disaster.  Much like terrestrial cellular networks, a MEO satellite essentially powers all mobile devices in an area with connectivity through space.

With severe weather incidents increasing in frequency and ferocity, it’s essential to think about the best way to outfit and enable our disaster response and first responders. Communications are key in these situations – but the infrastructure necessary to enable communications is often among the casualties. Using satellite in disaster response situations is a viable and effective solution, and the logistics of doing so are perfectly plausible if the government plans accordingly.

For additional information about the benefits that satellite can deliver in disaster response and recovery operations, click HERE. 

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Considering the recent events of just the past few years, this is an increasingly important role and mission for our military.

Last year’s hurricane season brought three separate “100 year” storms to the Unites States in Hurricanes Maria, Irma and Harvey. This year’s hurricane season has brought us another, already, in Hurricane Florence, which pummeled the eastern shores of the Carolinas – flooding major roads, toppling trees, stranding people in their homes and leading to the deaths of 40 people.

These examples were just within the United States. Many other nations across practically every continent also experienced significant natural disasters in recent history – from monsoons and flooding across Southeast Asia, to an earthquake in Mexico. What’s worse, many of these weather-related natural disasters – such as hurricanes and flood events – are only expected to increase in ferocity and frequency as the global climate changes.

Needless to say, it’s more important now than ever that our military is prepared to respond to these global disasters – helping to save lives, mitigate damage and play key humanitarian roles in impacted areas. To accomplish this effectively on a global stage, the military needs to be able to work seamlessly with our allied nations.

Lessons Learned from INDOPACOM’s 2018 Pacific Endeavor Exercise
This need to communicate effectively with our alliance partners was on display recently when I had the opportunity to attend INDOPACOM’s 2018 Pacific Endeavor in Kathmandu, Nepal.

For those who aren’t familiar, the Pacific Endeavor Exercise is a multinational risk reduction and communications interoperability exercise with the goal of better enabling information sharing and capacity building across more than 20 partner nations. This annual event brings together more than just government organizations, it also gets representatives from the Unite Nations, nongovernmental organizations, academia and private industry into the same room to ensure that communications and collaboration are possible when disaster strikes.

Pacific Endeavor is unique in that its focus and format changes year over year. In odd years, it’s comprised of tabletop exercises. In even years, it focuses on technical interoperability and testing. Being an even year, technical interoperability was the focus of this year’s event.

SES was on hand to participate in the Industry Day during the event, as well as deliver presentations about the role of satellite in disaster response. To say that our message about satellite in emergency response and preparedness was well received would be an understatement.

Lack of fiber infrastructure in the Pacific serves as opportunity for MEO satellites
What we heard from many of the government participants at this year’s Pacific Endeavor Exercise was that their theater provides unique disaster response and emergency preparedness communications challenges for government and military organizations. The Pacific theater is vast, and mostly a maritime environment. In emergency and disaster situations, terrestrial networks are often compromised. In the Pacific, terrestrial networks don’t have to be compromised – they may not exist in the first place.

Regardless of whether terrestrial networks simply don’t exist, or are compromised by a natural disaster, satellite can be relied upon to quickly and efficiently reconstitute communications between strategic and alliance partners. This is essential in disaster response situations, both for enabling collaboration and coordinating efforts, and for delivering essential intelligence and information to military personnel on the ground.

What was even more exciting for the government leaders and decision makers that we spoke to was what new innovations and technologies in space can deliver for the disaster response and emergency preparedness efforts. Much discussion centered around the emergence of MEO and LEO satellite constellations, including the O3b MEO satellite constellation operated by SES.

These new, advanced satellite constellations are high throughput satellites located strategically closer to Earth than traditional GEO satellites. This means that they’re capable of delivering immense bandwidth at extremely low latency, opening the door for more data and larger files to be distributed to areas impacted by disasters. This is a gamechanger, capable of enabling the distribution of even the largest geo-intelligence files and ISR video files to those that need the most – the boots on the ground.

We’re experiencing previously unheard of natural disasters at an increasingly alarming rate. What were once considered “100 year storms” are no longer only happening every 100 years – they’re happening multiple times per year. When these storms strike, and when other natural disasters happen, our military is often amongst the first to respond. In these situations, it is essential to have communication between our forces and allied nations, a common network where information can be shared, and the geo and intelligence data necessary to help our soldiers make informed decisions for their safety and the safety of those around them.

Military leaders know the importance of shared comms and real time data in these environments. So, it was really no surprise at all to see how excited they were about the innovation that’s occurring in the commercial satellite space. The disasters of the future will see a response from a coalition of allied nations, and those individuals will be informed and collaborate thanks to commercial satellite capabilities.

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Three of those storms – Irma, Harvey and Maria – caused massive damage to the United States.

In addition to the hurricanes that devastated the US gulf coast and territories, severe wild fires have also ravaged the Pacific Northwest, including parts of Oregon and other surrounding states, in August and September, causing significant property damage.

With the potential (and likelihood) for serious and frequent natural disasters in the future, it’s essential to start looking at innovative ways that the government and military can better leverage commercial technologies to enable timely responses to natural disasters.  This includes evaluating and assessing ways connectivity can quickly be restored to areas impacted in disaster response scenarios.

A wide array of tools and resources are available to first responders, everything from rapidly deployable satellite communications systems to unmanned aerial systems (UAS) that can be used for surveillance.

UAS are capable of prolonged flight over impacted areas and can transmit high resolution photographs and sensor data back to decision makers, who can use it to make operational decisions that might enable aid to get to the right place in the most expeditious manner while ensuring the safety of everyone involved.  COMSATCOM solutions can deliver the necessary connectivity for piloting these aircraft, as well as the low-latency connectivity necessary for delivering the intelligence they gather back to those that need it.

The use of these platforms could start to increase thanks in large part to something going on within the Air Force – which in the process of upgrading its UAS fleet from the MQ-1 UAS to the MQ-9. This could lead to MQ-1 resources trickling down to organizations responsible for disaster relief. In fact, this idea was recently floated during a UAS panel at the AFA Conference in September 2017.

When asked about the current plans for the MQ-1, 432nd Wing Commander, Col. Julian Cheater, said, “We’re still recapitalizing a lot of the equipment from the MQ-1s for use on the MQ-9s. [Following that] there will be a considerable amount of the MQ-1s and there’s no real plan at this point. Is there a non-military use for these? For example – a hurricane? Can Homeland Security fly these and use them for those reasons…?”
But even with these tools in place, something has to bring them together and provide the connectivity necessary to power them.

The role of satellite in disaster response
Aside from washing away critical infrastructure, hurricanes and wild fires can also wash away vulnerable terrestrial cellular and network infrastructure, as well. In these environments, satellite and commercial satellite communications services can be the key to keeping a humanitarian response initiative connected and effective. Today’s commercial satellite solutions can deliver high-throughput, fiber-like connections to practically any spot on Earth, providing the connectivity necessary to continually track social media activity of survivors and deliver real-time intelligence to first responders. This is all possible even without existing terrestrial networks, making satellite ideal for places where infrastructure has been compromised.

This hurricane and wildfire season has been downright destructive for the U.S. and the future promises to hold even more destruction, thanks to increasingly frequent and increasingly powerful disasters. Luckily, a new generation of military, civilian and commercial technologies could play a role in making our disaster response and emergency preparedness even better. But without satellite, these network connected and network enabled platforms may not be available for disaster response efforts when we need them.

To learn more about the role that COMSATCOM can play in disaster response and emergency preparedness, click on the resources below:

High Throughput Satellites for U.S. Government Applications

Operational Trial Of A Satellite Communication System For New Jersey’s First Responders

White Paper: Saving Lives And Livelihoods By Satellite

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