Construction of Wireless Network for Information Communication for a Disaster-Affected Island

Recently, in an assessment of the potential damage that may result from a NANKAI linkage-type earthquake, expected to occur in the future, we became concerned about information isolation that may arise in the case of many islands of Seto Inland Sea. Further, when a disaster strikes an island, a vessel and an operation ship (liner) have been utilized for providing the disaster-stricken areas with support services and relief goods. A liner is used every day for transportation between parts of an island, between islands, and between an island and the mainland; therefore, the use of ships does not impose additional manpower cost. In this research, we propose a wireless network system that prevents information isolation of an island during a disaster. First, communication between an island and the mainland is secured by using a ship as a base station or a relay station. Further, two ships are used and experiments involving three approach situations (ships sailing on the same course, ships crossing each other, and ships meeting at some location) are conducted, and evaluations are presented. Next, we investigate the possibility of using a detached island as a shelter and a base station, and evaluate the possibility by visualizing the island on a GIS (Geographic Information System).