DENTON (UNT), Texas — An interdisciplinary team with the Center for Integrated Intelligent Mobility Systems at the University of North Texas is researching ways to make disaster-relief operations more efficient by establishing a smart and connected ecosystem for the first-responder community. Led by College of Engineering professor Kamesh Namuduri (electrical engineering), the research team includes associate professor Maurizio Manzo (mechanical engineering), associate professor Ila Manuj (supply chain management) and clinical associate professor Dipakkumar Pravin (information technology and decision sciences) in the G. Brint Ryan College of Business.

CIIMS is an interdisciplinary research center at UNT that is paving the way for the future of transportation and mobility by creating solutions for the complexities of devices such as autonomous ground vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles. Affiliated center researchers study the technology itself as well as data and policies affecting its development.

At the core of this latest research project — funded by a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation — is better understanding of how information is shared between different teams and agencies working on disaster-relief operations. Agencies can include local and neighboring police and fire departments, EMTs and federal agencies, such as FEMA or the National Guard. “Disasters such as hurricanes can have catastrophic impact on lives and emergency response operations,” Namuduri said. “Our goal is to make those response efforts faster and more efficient.”

Manuj and Dipakkumar are focusing on current communications on the ground at the individual and organizational level. Efficient communication, coordination, information acquisition and sharing, and decision-making are required to quickly allocate resources. Previous reports from agencies, such as FEMA and the National Emergency Communications Plan, suggest that current technologies in place cannot meet the desired levels of performance set by the Department of Homeland Security. “Understanding interactions, such as information acquisition and resource allocation, during large-scale operations will enable the most effective integration of advanced technologies into these operations,” Manuj said.

At the same time, Namuduri and Manzo are studying what types of technology can aid in disaster-relief operations and other rescue efforts. One example is a deployable communication system hosted by drones. “One thing that’s common during natural disasters is cell towers cease functioning or are overloaded,” Namuduri said. “We could substitute a nonfunctioning cell tower with an aerial base station during the relief operations.” An aerial base station — more commonly known as a flying cell tower — is a cellular base station airlifted by a drone.

Drones also could host a variety of devices, such as cameras and infrared and chemical sensors, which could survey the area and assess the extent of damage as crews work or search for stranded victims.

Manzo is developing sensors first responders could wear during operations to track their vital signs, which would be sent back to a command center. The sensors could be equipped with cameras to get a closer look at emergency scenes as well. “We want to enhance the efficiency of first responders while also ensuring their safety,” Manzo said. “We’re also keeping in mind the challenge of the added weight of a wearable device on firefighters.”

To address that, the team is collaborating with the City of Denton Fire Department, the U.S Office of Emergency Management, FEMA, the Emergency Planning Advisory Council and UNT Police. The team will gather information on how the agencies respond to disasters by running emergency drills with them. They’ll also conduct interviews and distribute questionnaires to learn what technology first responders would like to have. “Our commitment to preserving human life and enhancing rescue operations profoundly resonates in this project,” Manzo said. “Even a faster response by just a few seconds can save more lives.”