Possible Challenges and Appropriate Measures for a Resilient WMN-Based Disaster Network

A wireless mesh network (WMN)-based disaster network shall provide an emergency communication infrastructure in case of a catastrophe destroyed any existing communication infrastructure. Since the hardware of the disaster network is deployed in an environment affected by the outcome of a catastrophe, events such as aftershocks and/or outbreaking fires are likely to occur and may destroy the hardware of the disaster network. To maintain its provided functionality and thus its usability, the network requires to be resilient to these and other events which are affecting the network infrastructure. To achieve a resilient network, the normal state of the network as well as possible challenges affecting the normal state need to be defined in prior. This scientific work deals with the derivation and definition of the required normal state of the WMN-based disaster network, as well as the definition of possible challenges resulting from environmental-based events. Since each possible challenge is influencing the network infrastructure of the WMN-based disaster network, possible measures for preventing and/or reducing the impact of each challenge are defined. In addition, emergency corrections capable of resolving the influences of an occurring challenge are defined

High Throughput WMN for the Communication in Disaster Scenario

The Wireless mesh network (WMN) is a popular network architecture used to support disaster recovery operations. However, few research works have addressed the capacity problem of such a network. This is due to the assumption that the communication network in disaster scenario is built to support services with a low rate requirement like delay tolerant messages. At the same time, the demand for higher data rates has increased in recent years due to the digitalisation of rescue operations and the use of new services (e.g. VoIP, drones and robots). Therefore, the capacity of the WMN is becoming a central issue in the design of future WMNs. This paper proposes a Layer 1 cluster-based network to solve the throughput bottleneck in the WMN. The proposed architecture is evaluated by several real world measurements. The obtained results are compared with the theory. The proposed solution shows a throughput improvement compared to a single-radio WMN and a multi-radio WMN using the CoMTaC channel allocation strategy

Energy-efficient placement of virtual network functions in a wireless mesh network

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers via the DOI in this record In the context of service provisioning, the integration of Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) enhances the flexibility, scalability, and programmability of telecommunication networks. However, this integration introduces challenges, particularly in optimizing the placement of Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) within the NFV Infrastructure (NFVI). Existing studies have predominantly focused on well-connected, mains-powered ecosystems like datacentres and cloud networks. In contrast, the aim of this paper is to identify a solution that distributes and deploys a Wireless Mesh Network (WMN) as the backbone for a disaster management communication and service infrastructure. Given the mobility of mesh routers in such scenarios, these devices are often battery-powered. Consequently, the placement of VNFs directly impacts the energy consumption in the network and, subsequently, its lifetime. The proposed solution for the energy-efficient placement of VNF is formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem. This context introduces different approaches and proposes a heuristic algorithm to optimize the placement of VNFs. The evaluation results indicate that the proposed algorithm outperforms prior alternatives in various scenarios. Notably, it surpasses established methods like the Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II), commonly used to solve similar problems. This research signifies a significant advancement in addressing the specific challenges associated with NFV integration in wireless mesh networks, particularly in disaster management contexts

Haem Polymerization Inhibitory Activity and Cytotoxicity of Six Medicinal Plants Used in Cameroon for the Management of Malaria

Malaria was successfully treated with both natural and synthetic products. However, recent progress in battling malaria has stalled due to drug resistance. Therefore, the search of novel antimalarials capable of reversing or evading resistance is much needed and this could be achieved through ethnomedicinal approaches. Six medicinal plants were screened for their antimalarial activity using the β-hematin inhibition (BHI) assay and their effect on the proliferation of three cancer cell lines (A549, MCF7 and PC3) was assessed by the MTT assay. Amongst the twenty-seven extracts screened, Pseudospondias microcarpa bark showed significant BHI activities with IC50 values of 2.5 ± 0.1 and 4.0 ± 0.2 µg/mL for DCM and MeOH extracts, respectively, while having no cytotoxic effect on A549, MCF7 and PC3. The current results support the ethnopharmacological use of P. microcarpa in the treatment of malaria, and it could constitute a useful source of potent antimalarial compounds

Distributed NFV Orchestration in a WMN-Based Disaster Network

This publication deals with distributed NFV orchestration in a WMN-based disaster network. The NFV orchestrator defined by ETSI is designed as a central unit and therefore includes the possibility of a single point of failure. Due to the environment of a disaster, a WMN node hosting this centralized orchestrator might get destroyed at events such as aftershocks resulting in a breakdown of the NFV infrastructure as it cannot be maintained and orchestrated anymore. To eliminate this aspect, requirements for a distributed NFV orchestration are defined. The requirements are categorized into architectural and orchestration specific aspects and are derived from the characteristics of a WMN and the conditions of a disaster environment. A concept for realizing a distributed NFV orchestration in a WMN-based disaster network according to the defined requirements is presented. The architecture consists of five logical layers with each layer fulfilling a specific functionality