Wireless ad hoc networks, also known as decentralized
wireless networks, widely used in military situations, having
evolved from the packet radio networks initially funded by
the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Project Agency
(DARPA) in the 1970s. More recently, this communications
approach is being deployed to report and resolve man-made
and natural disaster situations. The term ‘ad hoc’ is used to
describe the absence of any pre-existing infrastructure to
shape or define the network. Each network node serves as a
forwarding mechanism for the network, with overall network
connectivity determining the range and magnitude of the
network. Ad hoc networks are highly democratic, with all
devices having equal status on the network.
Without a fixed infrastructure, with a dynamic topology
supporting mobility, and unlimited potential for scalability,
implementations of mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs)
have been highly adaptable to unstable and unhospitable
environments of the 21st century. Through self-organization
and energy conservation, MANET implementations have a
wide range of applications. This research will focus on the
use of MANETs for man-made and natural disaster relief and
recovery. A companion prototype communications app,
suitable for use with a smartphone, has also been designed.