Enhanced crowdsourcing for disasters through ham-radio operators

Abstract

This paper describes an enhanced crowdsourcing that may be the only alternative when everything else fails in a disaster. This scheme requires radio operators that can work not only together with other communications media (such as the Internet and wireless phones), but they can also work on their own, if the other media either fail or do not exist in the area. In order to increase the number of such radio operators, a scheme for accelerated radio education and training is required. This paper describes the structure of such a course, its delivery, demonstrations, workshops, and examination that lead to a government-issued Radio Operator's Certificate. The course has evolved over the last 25 years.