Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239262
S. Dufrane, D. Zimmerle, G. Duggan
This paper discusses how to achieve high PV penetrations for a hybrid diesel-PV micro-grid via the means of a cloud forecasting system. The micro-grid control system utilizes cloud forecasts to forecast PV transients and manage online diesel generation. Simulation results for the test micro-grid showed that an array size of 2 MW achieved an energy penetration of 30.8% with «11.5 annual faults. Additionally, the maximum return on investment was achieved at this array size. With this forecasting system, one could expect to save a minimum of 3.7% more diesel in comparison to a conventional PV-diesel control system.
{"title":"Optimization of photovoltaic penetration for a hybrid diesel and photovoltaic micro-grid via means of a cloud forecasting system","authors":"S. Dufrane, D. Zimmerle, G. Duggan","doi":"10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239262","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239262","url":null,"abstract":"This paper discusses how to achieve high PV penetrations for a hybrid diesel-PV micro-grid via the means of a cloud forecasting system. The micro-grid control system utilizes cloud forecasts to forecast PV transients and manage online diesel generation. Simulation results for the test micro-grid showed that an array size of 2 MW achieved an energy penetration of 30.8% with «11.5 annual faults. Additionally, the maximum return on investment was achieved at this array size. With this forecasting system, one could expect to save a minimum of 3.7% more diesel in comparison to a conventional PV-diesel control system.","PeriodicalId":248924,"journal":{"name":"2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","volume":"23 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116850217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239248
Anna Jiang, A. Bilton
Efficient irrigation water usage is vital for low-income countries to keep up with projected population and income growth. Current weather- and soil-moisture-based smart irrigation controllers are not easily transferable to the economic and technological context of low-income countries and small remote farms. This paper presents the design of a passive automated irrigation controller that uses standard PVC fittings locally available to our community partner in Nicaragua. The actuation of the valve in the controller is driven by the soil water tension (SWT) from unsaturated soil. The key components of the controller are a ceramic tip connected to a tube of water, a rubber membrane, and a piston that acts like a stopper for the irrigation. The piston length is designed with an initial deflection in the membrane, causing it to push back against the inlet to shut off irrigation. A model of the system composed of the Green-Ampt equation for soil-water dynamics, empirical data for the relationship between soil moisture and controller pressure, and finite element model of the membrane is used to design a controller. The initial system consists of a 2″ diameter rubber membrane and a 1″ diameter piston. The initial deflection is 1.6cm to create enough force to stop the irrigation until the SWT reaches −35kPa. The controller costs approximately $CDN130 with PVC parts purchased in Canada with retail prices. The cost is expected to drop when discounts from retail prices are actualized. The design has the potential to greatly reduce water usage in drip irrigation systems.
{"title":"Design of a passive irrigation controller for efficient water use in low-income countries","authors":"Anna Jiang, A. Bilton","doi":"10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239248","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239248","url":null,"abstract":"Efficient irrigation water usage is vital for low-income countries to keep up with projected population and income growth. Current weather- and soil-moisture-based smart irrigation controllers are not easily transferable to the economic and technological context of low-income countries and small remote farms. This paper presents the design of a passive automated irrigation controller that uses standard PVC fittings locally available to our community partner in Nicaragua. The actuation of the valve in the controller is driven by the soil water tension (SWT) from unsaturated soil. The key components of the controller are a ceramic tip connected to a tube of water, a rubber membrane, and a piston that acts like a stopper for the irrigation. The piston length is designed with an initial deflection in the membrane, causing it to push back against the inlet to shut off irrigation. A model of the system composed of the Green-Ampt equation for soil-water dynamics, empirical data for the relationship between soil moisture and controller pressure, and finite element model of the membrane is used to design a controller. The initial system consists of a 2″ diameter rubber membrane and a 1″ diameter piston. The initial deflection is 1.6cm to create enough force to stop the irrigation until the SWT reaches −35kPa. The controller costs approximately $CDN130 with PVC parts purchased in Canada with retail prices. The cost is expected to drop when discounts from retail prices are actualized. The design has the potential to greatly reduce water usage in drip irrigation systems.","PeriodicalId":248924,"journal":{"name":"2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","volume":"80 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126263019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239278
Javier Urquizo, Pritpal Singh, Rubén Hidalgo-León, Pablo Jácome-Ruíz, Guillermo Soriano
This paper describes the design and construction of a portable solar-powered phone booth coupled with a GPRS/GSM module capable of providing reliable communication while being independent of the electrical grid and telephone land-lines. Each phone booth has a pay phone case with electrical and electronic circuits to control the phone booth's operation including its power consumption and its lighting and security systems, which are powered by photovoltaic solar energy. Furthermore, recognizing the need for a reliable and affordable communication system, the GPRS/GSM communication module is designed to connect each pay phone to the available cellular network. As a result, the system was able to operate at different locations, with cellular network coverage and suitable solar radiation. As part of the pilot study, eight phone booths were constructed, installed and tested at ESPOL University's campus (Guayaquil-Ecuador) and have been operating since 2012. The criteria for the location of each phone booth were the geographic location of the students on campus and the available solar radiation at the site. The implementation of the system has demonstrated that it can successfully operate in isolated and temporary locations. The challenges and results of this pilot study will be presented in this paper. In addition, based on the experience gained from this project, further improvements to the system will be described.
{"title":"Design and implementation of a stand-alone photovoltaic-powered phone booth","authors":"Javier Urquizo, Pritpal Singh, Rubén Hidalgo-León, Pablo Jácome-Ruíz, Guillermo Soriano","doi":"10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239278","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239278","url":null,"abstract":"This paper describes the design and construction of a portable solar-powered phone booth coupled with a GPRS/GSM module capable of providing reliable communication while being independent of the electrical grid and telephone land-lines. Each phone booth has a pay phone case with electrical and electronic circuits to control the phone booth's operation including its power consumption and its lighting and security systems, which are powered by photovoltaic solar energy. Furthermore, recognizing the need for a reliable and affordable communication system, the GPRS/GSM communication module is designed to connect each pay phone to the available cellular network. As a result, the system was able to operate at different locations, with cellular network coverage and suitable solar radiation. As part of the pilot study, eight phone booths were constructed, installed and tested at ESPOL University's campus (Guayaquil-Ecuador) and have been operating since 2012. The criteria for the location of each phone booth were the geographic location of the students on campus and the available solar radiation at the site. The implementation of the system has demonstrated that it can successfully operate in isolated and temporary locations. The challenges and results of this pilot study will be presented in this paper. In addition, based on the experience gained from this project, further improvements to the system will be described.","PeriodicalId":248924,"journal":{"name":"2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","volume":"69 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121594115","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239260
Khalil Ahmed, Sarang Shaikh, A. Shah
Pakistan recently released its first multi-dimensional poverty report in 2016, which underlined the fact that a country with almost 200 million in total population has a 39% rate for poverty, precisely estimating it to detail that around 78 million people are still living below the national poverty line. The poverty has distressed around 55% of the population residing in rural parts of the country. However, it is the rural part that has been contributing a lot in agriculture and possess a high potential for future to help Pakistan, not only to gain a competitive edge in developing a sustainable agriculture, but also alleviating poverty by employing much population of its rural parts and by also providing them with worthful opportunities for their production. Indeed, Pakistan is an Agriculture based economy, and around 44% of the population is directly employed in Agriculture contributing 24% in making up total GDP of Pakistan. District Khairpur in rural Sindh province of Pakistan, has a 27% population living under poverty line but the district also is home to a huge date palm industry. Pakistan the 5th largest producer of Date Palm with above 650 metric tonnes of annual production output and making up to an estimated 9.6% of total date palm production globally. However, the purchasing rates are 565 US Dollars/Tonne, discounting as low as approximately 4.5 times lesser than the highest in the global market. The reasons are manifold, ranging from unawareness on increasing yield output of date palms, in-appropriate post-harvest management, lack of food quality, safety measures and underestimating the probable worth of production by date palm producers. Surely, technologies can help reconciles the necessity for sustainable and profitable food production. Moreover, employing Post-harvest technologies can play the vital role in boosting date palm productivity, therefore, reducing the post-harvest loss augmenting to contribute a sustainable agriculture. It can be done in ways that are social, economically and environmentally sustainable. This paper proposes a study on post-harvesting technology, i.e. Solar-Cum-Gas fired date dehydrators deployed as a testbed project in district Khairpur, Sindh of Pakistan. A comparative analysis of traditional methods and new innovative post-harvesting approach are discussed to conclude social implications of date palm producing farmers and significance of attaining a competitive edge by increasing exports in international markets. Additionally, this paper also proposes recommendations on the need for greater follow-up in tracking the adoption of technologies for sustainable farming systems, poverty reduction through the introduction of sustainable post-harvest technologies and value addition methods to obtain its real perspective worth from produced date palm outputs. Possible opportunities and potential advancements are suggested as a future work to be progressed.
{"title":"Contributions of post-harvesting technologies in alleviating poverty: A case study of date palm cluster in Khairpur district, Sindh, Pakistan","authors":"Khalil Ahmed, Sarang Shaikh, A. Shah","doi":"10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239260","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239260","url":null,"abstract":"Pakistan recently released its first multi-dimensional poverty report in 2016, which underlined the fact that a country with almost 200 million in total population has a 39% rate for poverty, precisely estimating it to detail that around 78 million people are still living below the national poverty line. The poverty has distressed around 55% of the population residing in rural parts of the country. However, it is the rural part that has been contributing a lot in agriculture and possess a high potential for future to help Pakistan, not only to gain a competitive edge in developing a sustainable agriculture, but also alleviating poverty by employing much population of its rural parts and by also providing them with worthful opportunities for their production. Indeed, Pakistan is an Agriculture based economy, and around 44% of the population is directly employed in Agriculture contributing 24% in making up total GDP of Pakistan. District Khairpur in rural Sindh province of Pakistan, has a 27% population living under poverty line but the district also is home to a huge date palm industry. Pakistan the 5th largest producer of Date Palm with above 650 metric tonnes of annual production output and making up to an estimated 9.6% of total date palm production globally. However, the purchasing rates are 565 US Dollars/Tonne, discounting as low as approximately 4.5 times lesser than the highest in the global market. The reasons are manifold, ranging from unawareness on increasing yield output of date palms, in-appropriate post-harvest management, lack of food quality, safety measures and underestimating the probable worth of production by date palm producers. Surely, technologies can help reconciles the necessity for sustainable and profitable food production. Moreover, employing Post-harvest technologies can play the vital role in boosting date palm productivity, therefore, reducing the post-harvest loss augmenting to contribute a sustainable agriculture. It can be done in ways that are social, economically and environmentally sustainable. This paper proposes a study on post-harvesting technology, i.e. Solar-Cum-Gas fired date dehydrators deployed as a testbed project in district Khairpur, Sindh of Pakistan. A comparative analysis of traditional methods and new innovative post-harvesting approach are discussed to conclude social implications of date palm producing farmers and significance of attaining a competitive edge by increasing exports in international markets. Additionally, this paper also proposes recommendations on the need for greater follow-up in tracking the adoption of technologies for sustainable farming systems, poverty reduction through the introduction of sustainable post-harvest technologies and value addition methods to obtain its real perspective worth from produced date palm outputs. Possible opportunities and potential advancements are suggested as a future work to be progressed.","PeriodicalId":248924,"journal":{"name":"2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","volume":"25 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"132974859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239252
Jamison A. Olsten, S. Mohagheghi
This paper proposes a solution for small-scale off-grid power by exploiting the temperature gradient that exists in the natural surroundings. Thermoelectric Generators (TEG) are low-power and relatively inexpensive devices that have the ability to produce power based on a temperature differential between a hot side and a cold side. In this paper, solar power or simply the ambient temperature is used to collect the thermal energy needed to create the hot side of the TEG. On the other hand, to create the cold side of the TEG, the earth is used as a heat sink. The advantages of the proposed solution lie in the fact that it is self-contained, fully decentralized, and very easy to install. It does not need to be directly exposed to solar irradiance and can function equally well with ambient temperature (as opposed to similar solar powered modules), does not need a battery (therefore no need for maintenance), and does not need access to electric outlets. As a lightweight, portable, and inexpensive solution, the proposed TEG-based device is ideal for providing small amounts of off-grid power for people in a disaster-affected area who have been left without electricity. The paper presents details on the design of the TEG-based device, and experimental results based on various weather conditions and different design parameters. It is shown in the paper that the proposed device can function both in winter time as well as summer time.
{"title":"A low-power thermoelectric generator for off-grid power in the aftermath of natural disasters","authors":"Jamison A. Olsten, S. Mohagheghi","doi":"10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239252","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239252","url":null,"abstract":"This paper proposes a solution for small-scale off-grid power by exploiting the temperature gradient that exists in the natural surroundings. Thermoelectric Generators (TEG) are low-power and relatively inexpensive devices that have the ability to produce power based on a temperature differential between a hot side and a cold side. In this paper, solar power or simply the ambient temperature is used to collect the thermal energy needed to create the hot side of the TEG. On the other hand, to create the cold side of the TEG, the earth is used as a heat sink. The advantages of the proposed solution lie in the fact that it is self-contained, fully decentralized, and very easy to install. It does not need to be directly exposed to solar irradiance and can function equally well with ambient temperature (as opposed to similar solar powered modules), does not need a battery (therefore no need for maintenance), and does not need access to electric outlets. As a lightweight, portable, and inexpensive solution, the proposed TEG-based device is ideal for providing small amounts of off-grid power for people in a disaster-affected area who have been left without electricity. The paper presents details on the design of the TEG-based device, and experimental results based on various weather conditions and different design parameters. It is shown in the paper that the proposed device can function both in winter time as well as summer time.","PeriodicalId":248924,"journal":{"name":"2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","volume":"26 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115867612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239259
Eric D. Rasmussen, Jeffrey F. Williams
The advent of old diseases in new places, of newly-emerging infectious diseases not seen before, and of highly resistant organisms, has complicated disaster response and the management of displaced populations. One method for addressing that developing risk is to attack pathogens before they become life-threatening infections using area and wound decontamination and disinfection techniques. Current methods for disinfection, however, can contribute to the development of resistance, prove toxic to tissues, and damage the environment. We review here an emerging technology based on hypochlorous acid (HOCl), with emphasis on a novel pure and stable form (Brio HOCL™), that inactivates viruses, bacteria, endospores, and fungi, is safe for human tissues (including eye, lung, and skin), is environmentally benign requiring no toxic waste disposal or hazardous material management, and yet is capable of degrading the infectivity of highly-resistant prions at a Log Reduction Value (LRV) of >5, equating to roughly a 99.999% elimination.
{"title":"Stabilized hypochlorous acid disinfection for highly vulnerable populations: Brio HOCL™ wound disinfection and area decontamination","authors":"Eric D. Rasmussen, Jeffrey F. Williams","doi":"10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239259","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239259","url":null,"abstract":"The advent of old diseases in new places, of newly-emerging infectious diseases not seen before, and of highly resistant organisms, has complicated disaster response and the management of displaced populations. One method for addressing that developing risk is to attack pathogens before they become life-threatening infections using area and wound decontamination and disinfection techniques. Current methods for disinfection, however, can contribute to the development of resistance, prove toxic to tissues, and damage the environment. We review here an emerging technology based on hypochlorous acid (HOCl), with emphasis on a novel pure and stable form (Brio HOCL™), that inactivates viruses, bacteria, endospores, and fungi, is safe for human tissues (including eye, lung, and skin), is environmentally benign requiring no toxic waste disposal or hazardous material management, and yet is capable of degrading the infectivity of highly-resistant prions at a Log Reduction Value (LRV) of >5, equating to roughly a 99.999% elimination.","PeriodicalId":248924,"journal":{"name":"2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","volume":"150 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134173421","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239282
Zacakry Minshew, A. El-Shahat
The fundamental roots of micro-grids are different types of renewable energy sources. There are two broad and distinctive control set ups for power systems. They are centralized and decentralized (hierarchical) controls. In market models of micro-grids there are normally groups of electricity sources and loads that operate in synch with a centralized grid or macro-grid. This paper studies the functionality and ideas of micro-grids. Then implementing Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model for the proposed micro-grid in very precise manner is established. It proposes general simulation modeling for micro-grid using MATLAB, Simulink and (ANN). Its goal is to connect between the most important parameters in DC-Microgrid and price. This modeling approach proposes general Modeling and simulation at more probable situations for variable values at each bus. The ANN model for the proposed range of Different parametric characteristics is presented for Extended Analysis on IEEE 14-Bus Test System. Finally, algebraic equations for the ANN model are deduced in order to optimize them in the future for optimal micro-grid's performance. The training, testing and validating data for this ANN model is extracted from a real micro-grid to connect between numbers of units at each DG source (Distributed Generation), Loads, Minimum/ Maximum Power, Marginal Loss Factor and Time (Hour) over 24 hours as inputs, with Cost ($), Saving ($), Revenue ($), Profit ($) as outputs. So, it helps the humanity to understand more about renewable energy sources and techniques. Moreover, it presents an excellent model to predict the price and saving with this trend in power systems especially from the side of humans or customers. The work is useful for creating sustainable business model for energy access to energy deprived population. The paper's presentation includes examples and comparisons for approach's validity. Now, there is a running real-time validation for the work via OPAL real-digital-simulator.
{"title":"DC micro — Grid pricing and market model","authors":"Zacakry Minshew, A. El-Shahat","doi":"10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239282","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239282","url":null,"abstract":"The fundamental roots of micro-grids are different types of renewable energy sources. There are two broad and distinctive control set ups for power systems. They are centralized and decentralized (hierarchical) controls. In market models of micro-grids there are normally groups of electricity sources and loads that operate in synch with a centralized grid or macro-grid. This paper studies the functionality and ideas of micro-grids. Then implementing Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model for the proposed micro-grid in very precise manner is established. It proposes general simulation modeling for micro-grid using MATLAB, Simulink and (ANN). Its goal is to connect between the most important parameters in DC-Microgrid and price. This modeling approach proposes general Modeling and simulation at more probable situations for variable values at each bus. The ANN model for the proposed range of Different parametric characteristics is presented for Extended Analysis on IEEE 14-Bus Test System. Finally, algebraic equations for the ANN model are deduced in order to optimize them in the future for optimal micro-grid's performance. The training, testing and validating data for this ANN model is extracted from a real micro-grid to connect between numbers of units at each DG source (Distributed Generation), Loads, Minimum/ Maximum Power, Marginal Loss Factor and Time (Hour) over 24 hours as inputs, with Cost ($), Saving ($), Revenue ($), Profit ($) as outputs. So, it helps the humanity to understand more about renewable energy sources and techniques. Moreover, it presents an excellent model to predict the price and saving with this trend in power systems especially from the side of humans or customers. The work is useful for creating sustainable business model for energy access to energy deprived population. The paper's presentation includes examples and comparisons for approach's validity. Now, there is a running real-time validation for the work via OPAL real-digital-simulator.","PeriodicalId":248924,"journal":{"name":"2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","volume":"30 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134287775","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239288
Kimberley Hawtin, P. Gardner-Stephen
Existing ad-hoc wireless communications systems are based around Wi-Fi communications, owing to the ubiquity and cost-effectiveness of Wi-Fi; no other open wireless communications channel offers the capabilities and benefits of mass-production consumer markets. However in some situations even long-range directional Wi-Fi links are not suitable. For example Pacific nations spread over island groups and archipelagos may have tens to hundreds of kilometers between population centers, coupled with a lack of areas of high elevation required to facilitate the longest range Wi-Fi links. In contrast, HF (High-Frequency) radios can facilitate communications over thousands of kilometers. We describe proof-of-concept integration of existing HF radio systems with the Serval Mesh, creating the opportunity to provide two-way secure text messaging and related communications services between communities separated by hundreds of kilometers, using heterogeneous radio links, without user configuration. Significantly, this proof-of-concept operates between Codan and Barrett HF radios, demonstrating that cross-vendor interoperability is possible, despite the incompatibilities that can arise between vendors in the HF space. The potential of this proof-of-concept was acknowledged by strong interest from the UN World Food Programme in seeing the integration of existing HF radio systems and the Serval Mesh to support humanitarian field operations.
{"title":"Self-configuring heterogeneous HF/UHF/Wi-Fi disaster communications networks","authors":"Kimberley Hawtin, P. Gardner-Stephen","doi":"10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239288","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239288","url":null,"abstract":"Existing ad-hoc wireless communications systems are based around Wi-Fi communications, owing to the ubiquity and cost-effectiveness of Wi-Fi; no other open wireless communications channel offers the capabilities and benefits of mass-production consumer markets. However in some situations even long-range directional Wi-Fi links are not suitable. For example Pacific nations spread over island groups and archipelagos may have tens to hundreds of kilometers between population centers, coupled with a lack of areas of high elevation required to facilitate the longest range Wi-Fi links. In contrast, HF (High-Frequency) radios can facilitate communications over thousands of kilometers. We describe proof-of-concept integration of existing HF radio systems with the Serval Mesh, creating the opportunity to provide two-way secure text messaging and related communications services between communities separated by hundreds of kilometers, using heterogeneous radio links, without user configuration. Significantly, this proof-of-concept operates between Codan and Barrett HF radios, demonstrating that cross-vendor interoperability is possible, despite the incompatibilities that can arise between vendors in the HF space. The potential of this proof-of-concept was acknowledged by strong interest from the UN World Food Programme in seeing the integration of existing HF radio systems and the Serval Mesh to support humanitarian field operations.","PeriodicalId":248924,"journal":{"name":"2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","volume":"105 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133876450","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239256
Matthew Johnson, Jose Santillan, M. Walsh, S. Figueira
Mobile devices have been helping to empower underserved communities around the world. From bringing information on health and farming to substituting expensive devices, cellular phones and apps have proved to be powerful tools in poverty alleviation and disaster relief. The Mobile Lab at Santa Clara University focuses on developing mobile solutions for social benefit and, in this paper, we describe the use of cellular phones and cloud services for automatizing libraries in African villages.
{"title":"SCAN — Automatizing libraries in African villages","authors":"Matthew Johnson, Jose Santillan, M. Walsh, S. Figueira","doi":"10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239256","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239256","url":null,"abstract":"Mobile devices have been helping to empower underserved communities around the world. From bringing information on health and farming to substituting expensive devices, cellular phones and apps have proved to be powerful tools in poverty alleviation and disaster relief. The Mobile Lab at Santa Clara University focuses on developing mobile solutions for social benefit and, in this paper, we describe the use of cellular phones and cloud services for automatizing libraries in African villages.","PeriodicalId":248924,"journal":{"name":"2017 IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC)","volume":"54 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"116312815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2017-10-01DOI: 10.1109/GHTC.2017.8239230
Watcharachai Kongsiriwattana, P. Gardner-Stephen, Matthew Lloyd
In early 2017, Cyclone Debbie caused widespread damage and disruption to electricity supply and other infrastructure in Queensland and New South Wales. This placed considerable strain on citizens and responders alike, as they sought to find ways to keep their mobile telephones charged. Despite the advance warning of the cyclone, news reports suggest that considerable portions of the population were not prepared for the extended duration of power loss that occurred, and in some cases continued for weeks or months. Through analysis of eleven years of finegrained data from the Queensland electricity network covering the years 2005 through 2016, it becomes apparent that widespread and long-lasting blackouts are not uncommon in this region. In this paper we use a simple mobile phone battery life prediction model to predict the number of mobile phones that would be flat on an hour-by-hour basis over the eleven years. This data clearly demonstrates that it is not feasible to extend mobile phone battery life so as to prevent battery depletion in such events, and that the policy focus should therefore be on ensuring that alternative means of recharging are easily available. It also demonstrates the likely impact that time-of-day has on the exhaustion of mobile telephone battery life. From the Queensland data and mobile phone battery life models we infer an initial model of the number of lives lost per year due to the inability to call emergency services due to flat mobile telephone batteries. While this model is still unrefined, it suggests that flat mobile telephone batteries result in a comparable number of deaths per year in Queensland alone, as Australia's infamously deadly wildlife cause for all of Australia. Finally, we explain how market forces mean that mobile telephone battery life cannot be expected to increase over time to solve this problem, and that alternative means of recharging mobile telephone batteries are therefore required.
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