Instrumenting Drones (UAVs) in Disaster Management

Resumen

The roles played by Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) or drones in various military and
commercial applications testify their necessity in today’s world. Recent advances in wireless
communication technology, electronics, hardware & software, and other supporting
technologies have led drone technology to a maturity level that it can be trusted with civil
application domains such as disaster management. Time is of critical essence in disaster
scenarios. Drones can speed up processes in various disaster management phases by providing
an alternative platform with aerial support and a level of autonomy over traditional approaches.
UAVs can perform pre-programmed missions of the affected regions, landscape mappings, and
infrastructural analysis. Due to its multivariate applicability, current research shows a
propensity towards the development & enhancement of current drone capabilities to augment
their roles in disaster management. This paper identifies major overlapping areas in disaster
management phases where drone technology can be effectually utilized. Drones are of multiple
types with respective features and limitations. Information about different types of drones with
their respective capabilities and limitations is also provided. To quantify disaster impacts, a
mathematical model is provided. Finally, an illustration of a self-developed drone prototype
development project targeted towards surveys and search & rescue missions, along with the
importance of “Hardware in the Loop (HIL)” simulation analysis reports are presented.