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应急通信是指广泛运用各种通信资源支持救援所需的通信手段和方法，包括紧急救援，以及在自然或人为紧急情况下的必要通信。由于灾害的特点，有效利用有限的资源提供最佳的通信服务是一个关键问题。与传统通信网络不同，应急通信网络是一个复杂的网络，能够实施应急救援活动，为实现应急救援功能提供首要条件。其网络结构对救援效率有重大影响。在不同的紧急情况下，对应急通信的需求不同，使用的技术手段也不同。应急通信主要具有以下特点：时间和地点的不确定性;容量需求的不确定性;应急通信的及时性高;环境的复杂性;通信网络本身损坏程度的不确定性;以及信息的多样化。
- broadband-narrowband integration
- emergency communication network
- narrowband private network
- satellite network
- space-air-ground-sea integrated networks
1. Introduction
Before a disaster, the emergency communication network can combine the data obtained from different systems to provide a technical platform for early warning, and disaster reduction and prediction, so as to improve the ability to monitor, manage, and control accidents and disasters. After a disaster, the emergency communication network can quickly and reliably restore communication in the disaster area, assist users, be used to rescue workers, support disaster relief headquarters, and realize on-site personnel scheduling, on-site data transmission, and other functions, to promote emergency rescue work. This can provide valuable time and first-hand information for the rescue, so as to save more lives. With the frequent occurrence of natural disasters and the tightening of the international security situation, countries all over the world are strengthening and improving the construction of emergency communication systems and related technology research, and striving to deploy a more reliable and stable emergency communication network.
In the case of damage to public communication network facilities, and a sudden decrease in performance and increase in traffic volume, it is necessary to use a combination of unconventional and multi-communication means to restore communication capability. The important characteristics of emergency communication networks are shown below:
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Ability to work during both a disaster situation and at times of normality.
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Dynamic expansion of the network to provide more coverage.
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准确传输灾害信息，提供综合服务。
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具有高可靠性、高冗余、高安全性、高抗干扰能力。
应急通信系统包括在紧急情况下各种通信技术和方法的集成和应用。因此，应急通信系统应充分利用成熟的通信技术和网络设备，并将它们集成到可扩展可靠的安全通信网络中。通常，应急通信网络使用现有的固定有线网络，移动蜂窝网络，Internet和其他公共通信网络。还将使用专用通信网络，例如集群通信网络，卫星通信网络和短波通信网络。此外，还使用公共媒体网络，如广播、电视和报纸，以及现场监控和救援网络，如传感器网络和自组网。
应急通信网络是涉及多种通信技术的异构网络，其组成是多样的、动态的。近年来，通过对公共事件和自然灾害的研究，发现应急通信平台需要使用现有的公共网络或专用网络进行通信，各级救援单位之间的通信需要互联互通。为了解决各种应急通信平台的互通问题，我国提出了一种基于互联网协议的综合通信系统，用于灾后应急救援通信平台的建设。一些研究人员提出了一种集成了卫星通信、4G 和网状技术的互连通信解决方案。目前，应急无线专用网也在向专业数字集群（PDT）窄带数字集群和B-TrunC宽带集群专网演进。此外，还提出了固定-移动一体化、窄带融合、公私网互补等多系统融合通信技术。鉴于5G通信网络具有高速率、高可靠、低时延、低功耗等特点，以及组网技术的快速发展，无线自组网技术与5G通信技术的融合已逐步进入应急通信领域。未来应急网络将向融合化、普及化、低成本化、移动互联网融合、天-空-地-海一体化网络方向发展。新一代应急通信系统应集成多种通信技术，确保抢险救灾、重大活动等工作提供及时、高效、安全的应急通信服务。
2. 网络分类
应急通信网络为各类突发事件提供及时有效的通信保障，是综合应急保障体系的重要组成部分。对于任何国家来说，建立基于灾害通信骨干的有效应急通信是救灾的重要组成部分。应急通信网络根据不同的标准分为不同的类别。常用的分类标准如下：
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根据传输介质，网络可分为有线通信网络和无线通信网络。
有线通信网络以通信的形式使用有线传输介质。常见的通信形式是固定电话通信、电话线/网线接入互联网和光纤通信。无线通信网络使用无线传输介质。常见的通信形式包括微波通信、移动通信和卫星通信。
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根据属性，网络可分为公网和专用网。
公网是由运营商运营和管理的网络，通过公共用户网络接口连接各专网和用户终端。专用网络是指单位或部门内的网络。目前，专用网络主要使用以太网，异步传输模式（ATM）和各种无线技术。
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根据地理分类，网络可分为局域网 （LAN）、城域网 （MAN） 和广域网 （WAN）。
LAN 是一种分布范围从数百米到几公里的通信网络。城域网的传输覆盖区域主要在城市内，分布区域从数百公里到几十公里不等。广域网的传输覆盖区域包括各省、国家，甚至世界，范围从数百公里到几万公里不等。
本节分析了目前主要使用的现有应急通信网络技术：卫星通信、无线自组网、蜂窝通信和无线专用网。
2.1. 卫星网络
卫星通信技术是两个或多个地球站之间的通信方法，使用人造地球卫星作为中继站来转发无线电波。卫星通信系统通常按卫星轨道高度分类，可分为地球同步轨道（GEO）卫星、中地球轨道（MEO）卫星和低地球轨道（LEO）卫星。
卫星通信系统主要由空间、地面和用户段组成，如图1所示。航天段：以通信卫星为主体，用于接收和转发来自卫星通信地面站的信号，实现地球站之间或地球站与航天器之间的通信。地面部分：包括卫星转发器，网关站，卫星控制中心（SCC）和跟踪，遥测和指挥站（TT&C），实现用户之间的通信。用户细分：主要由各种终端用户设备组成，包括安装在汽车、船舶、飞机上的甚小型天线终端（VSAT）站、手持终端和移动终端，以及基于卫星通信的各种应用和服务。
图1.卫星网络通信系统（PLMN：公共陆地移动网络，PSTN：公共交换电话网络）。
卫星通信具有不受地面条件限制、通信覆盖范围广、容量大、可靠性高、传输距离远、独立通信能力强、抗损坏能力强等优点，非常适合应急通信。
2.2. 自组网络
1991年，IEEE正式提出“自组网”一词。自组网技术采用“点对点结构”的移动通信模式，无需基站。与其他网络形式相比，自组网是一种特殊的移动通信网络，无需相关基础设施预设即可快速联网。自组网具有高破坏性、自愈性和自组织性的特点，特别适合在临时或突发突发事件中进行通信。在临时基础上，已经扩展了各种网络：无线网状网络（WMN），无线自组织网络（MANET），车辆自组网（VANET），飞行自组网（FANET）和海上自组网（SANET）。
1. 无线网状网络
WMN是基于无线网络的发展和自组网的扩展而来的新型网络产品。其网络架构如图2所示。WMN的主要优点是：
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WMN是一种多跳网络，自动选择最佳路径，避免因障碍物导致通信故障，从而为不在视线范围内的用户提供服务传输能力。
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WMN具有灵活多样的组网模式，支持动态拓扑组网，为高移动性需求的应用场景提供有效的组网能力，保证用户间连接质量，扩大网络覆盖范围。
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WMN具有自组织、自愈、自平衡能力，网络可靠性强。
Figure 2. Structure diagram of WMN.
As a new form of wireless self-organizing network, WMN can not only effectively combine with emergency communication modes such as satellites and short-wave, but also be used as the extension of mobile communication networks such as 4G and metropolitan area networks such as Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs) to provide more extensive wireless access coverage and comprehensively improve the quality of emergency communication. WMN is mainly used in mine emergency rescue. In recent years, it has also been more widely used in terms of fire protection and earthquake and other disasters.
2. Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET)
MANET is a new type of broadband WMN based on ad hoc networking mode. Its structure is shown in Figure 3. MANET makes use of the routing and forwarding function of mobile terminals to communicate without infrastructure, thus compensating for the lack of network communication infrastructure available. The features of MANET are:
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MANET is a distributed, multi-hop relay wireless broadband system without a center, and provides dynamic routing, strong damage resistance, and good scalability. Its network topology changes dynamically, and it internally uses its own routing protocol to complete wireless communication among nodes through wireless multi-hop forwarding.
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MANET has the advantages of having a low deployment and maintenance cost, large coverage, high rate, strong network robustness and adaptability, and link self-sensing and self-healing. It can not only exist as an independent wireless self-organizing network, but also serve as an effective supplement and expansion of an existing heterogeneous network system.
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MANET can be widely used in military communication private networks, public security private networks, emergency communication private networks, regional broadband private networks, and wireless monitoring private networks.
Figure 3. Structure diagram of MANET.
Due to its significant advantages, MANET is widely used in emergency communications in order to provide effective communications during natural disasters.
3. Vehicular Ad Hoc Network (VANET)
VANET is a new mobile ad hoc network created by applying the principles of MANET to vehicles. VANET is composed of self-organizing vehicles as mobile nodes, and the communication between nodes can be divided into vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-roadside (V2R), and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I). Its network structure is shown in Figure 4. VANET is a wireless communication technology that can be deployed quickly, which simplifies data exchange between vehicles and provides a variety of data services. VANET is expected to enter the application field of disaster communication due to its features of connecting emergency vehicles and road navigation.
Figure 4. Structure diagram of VANET.
In recent years, as automotive technology has advanced, VANET has played an important role in saving drivers’ lives and property by disseminating critical incident information. The important purpose of VANET architecture is to provide efficient and effective emergency and warning alerts for vehicles, so that vehicles can make appropriate decisions without delay to safeguard passenger safety.
4. Fly Ad Hoc Network (FANET)
FANET is a self-organizing wireless network that enables communication between flying nodes, such as UAVs, without a fixed network infrastructure, making it low cost, flexible, and easy to deploy. FANET can be regarded as an extended paradigm of MANET, realizing communication between UAVs and between UAVs and control stations. FANET not only has the inherent characteristics of a wireless ad hoc network, such as multiple hops, self-organization, and centrality, but also has some functions related to UAVs, such as the rapid change in network topology caused by high-speed moving nodes, sparsity of network nodes and network heterogeneity, network node peers, and data relay capability. UAVs have potential advantages in wireless communications because they can transfer data from the air to one or more ground stations, so they can be widely used in disaster areas where communications are completely shut down due to an unexpected disaster.
5. Sea Ad Hoc Network (SANET)
SANET is a wireless multi-hop network composed of nodes (e.g., ships, offshore buoys, and beacons). As shown in Figure 5, connections can be established between these nodes, or with coastal base stations and satellites. SANET has characteristics that are similar to those of other wireless networks: composition made up of mobile nodes; high processing capacity; no energy restrictions; and high data storage capacity. However, there are some differences in many areas, such as power consumption, topology, speed, and deployment changes.
Figure 5. Structure diagram of SANET.
SANET can be used for maritime communications, navigation, and emergency response.
6. Comparison with other ad hoc networks
Ad hoc networks are also known as infrastructure-free networks, non-central networks, multi-hop networks, and self-organizing wireless networks. Ad hoc networks have no fixed infrastructure, and their nodes can be vehicles, mobile devices, aircraft, and ships, which can dynamically maintain contact with other nodes in any way. Ad hoc networks include MANET, VANET, FANET, and SANET. VANET is a subset of MANET, FANET is a subset of VANET, and SANET is a popular type of self-organizing network. Table 1 summarizes the differences between different ad hoc wireless networks. An ad hoc network is an ad hoc wireless network composed of communication nodes that do not depend on the infrastructure, in which each node can act as a host and router. Ad hoc networks have been gradually applied to many key scenarios, such as emergency communication, rescue and disaster relief, and expanding the coverage of existing cellular networks, due to their fast network speed and robustness. Therefore, ad hoc networks are an important part of next-generation wireless communication network systems.
Table 1. Comparison of ad hoc networks.
| Parameter | MANET | VANET | FANET | SANET |
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| Number of nodes | high | high | low | low |
| Propagation model | on the ground | on the ground | in the air | on the sea |
| Topology | ad hoc and random | star with roadside infrastructure and ad hoc among vehicles | star and mesh (with base station, ad hoc among UAVs) | star and mesh (with base station, ad hoc among ships) |
| Topology change | dynamic, unpredictable, and low | average speed | fast | medium |
| Line of sight | not available for all cases | available in some cases | available in most cases | available in some cases |
| Power consumes | low | high | high for mini-UAV, small UAV not needed | high |
| Mobility | low | high | very high | medium |
| Mobility model | random | regular | regular under the condition | random |
| Main functionality | real-time communication | real-time communication | real-time communication | real-time communication |
| Computational power | limited | average | high | high |
| Density | low | high | very low | high |
| Localization | GPS | GPS, DGPS, AGPS | IMU, GPS, DGPS, AGPS | GPS, DGPS |
2.3. Cellular Networks
Cellular mobile communication adopts cellular wireless networking mode to connect terminals and network devices through wireless channels, so as to realize mutual communication between users. After developing the 1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G technologies, cellular mobile communication technology has entered the 5G era, and the development vision of 6G was proposed at the same time. The development trend from 1G to 6G is shown in Figure 6. Modern mobile communication technology can be mainly divided into low frequency, medium frequency, high frequency, VHF, and UHF frequency bands. In these bands, technicians can connect terminal devices in the mobile communication network, using mobile station technology, base station technology, and mobile switching technology to meet people’s mobile communication needs. In emergency communication networks, the most significant advantage of mobile communication technology is the large communication distance, wide coverage area, and low cost. However, in the case of major natural disasters and public safety accidents, the public communication network may be interrupted and unavailable, and seriously affect the rescue effect.
Figure 6. Development trend from 1G to 6G.
With the advent of MIMO technology and D2D communication, 5G is widely used in disaster management. 5G networks will integrate a variety of promising technologies, such as software-defined networks (SDN), software-defined wireless sensor networks (SD-WSN), coordinated multi-point processing (CoMP), MIMO, network function virtualization (NFV), and centralized radio access networks (CRANs). D2D communication in cellular networks supports direct communication between near-end mobile devices without the need for base stations (BSs) and core networks, and can be used to extend network coverage and enable infrastructure free connectivity. Therefore, D2D communication has become an indispensable candidate technology for next-generation wireless networks and an effective alternative to cellular communication during a disaster.
2.4. Wireless Private Networks
In the case of natural disasters and public security and other emergencies, due to the interruption of public communication networks or the inability to use public communication networks because of security reasons, it is often necessary to restore or supplement on-site communication in a short time using private networks. According to the technology used, emergency private wireless networks can be divided into five stages, namely, analogue cluster/conventional, narrowband digital cluster/conventional, 3G cluster, 4G broadband cluster, and 5G evolution. With digital wireless communication technology, digital cluster and conventional digital technology have been developed rapidly. PDT in China, Tetra and Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) in Europe, and P25 technology in the United States represent the narrowband digital cluster. As public network communication is evolving from 4G to 5G, digital cluster private networks are also gradually evolving in the direction of broadband multimedia. 5G applications in the emergency industry will use 5G and artificial intelligence (AI) as the main approach and vigorously develop related applications.
Wireless private networks, represented by digital trunking wireless communication systems, have the characteristics of high confidentiality, high reliability, and low service cost. They are mainly used in specific fields such as public security, fire protection, rescue services, and the petrochemical industry. Private network mobile communication systems include interphones, non-central digital systems, and trunking communication systems. An interphone is a two-way communication tool that is suitable for real-time communication, emergency dispatching, and collective cooperation. If natural disasters destroy the public network infrastructure, thereby preventing communication, the role of interphones will be more obvious. A trunked mobile system is a special dispatching communication system that is part of the advanced development stage of the private radio dispatching network. The system can dynamically, automatically, quickly, and optimally distribute the limited channels to all users of the system, so as to make maximum use of the channel frequency resources of the whole system. To date, an 800 MHz wireless trunking mobile communication system has been gradually established in various cities in China. Trunked mobile communication networks can be divided into two types: Public Access Mobile Radio (PAMR) networks and Private Mobile Radio (PMR) networks. To date, the commonly used standards in digital private communication include DMR, Digital Private Mobile Radio (DPMR), and PDT. The DMR standard adopts Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) technology, supports single call, full call, group call, and selective call modes, and also supports direct mode communication without a base station. DPMA is a narrowband (6.25 KHz) Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) technology that can provide various forms of voice/data applications. The PDT standard adopts TDMA multiple access mode and is based on the Chinese public security market. It not only supports low-cost single base station system communication, but can also achieve efficient regional coverage. While satisfying basic business requirements, it also adds innovative functions such as simulcast and dynamic frequency resource management. In earthquakes, wind disasters, fires, and other emergency events, the private communication network can quickly access the rescue dispatching platform, to realize flexible networking, efficient command and dispatching, high-quality voice and data transmission, and other functions.
LTE is a long-term evolution technology based on 3GPP. LTE networking has the following advantages: it has a fast wireless network communication rate and high throughput, which can provide strong support for extensive services; with a slight delay, it can meet most application scenarios having high real-time requirements; and the LTE base station can be conveniently deployed and used to supplement the existing wireless communication infrastructure. LTE is mainly applied in private networks, such as for emergency communication, smart construction sites, and forest fire prevention. In critical areas, the 4G-LTE broadband cluster is used for signal coverage, and the high bandwidth of the LTE system is used to realize video and high-speed data interaction and other services.
3. Summary of Network Development Status
3.1. 370M Narrowband Private Networks
The 370M narrowband private network was the first narrowband wireless communication network used for emergency command in China. When major disasters occur, there are often “three noes”, of no power, no network, and no road. In this case, the narrowband private wireless network significantly improves the capability of ensuring communication. China adopted the domestic PDT standard with independent intellectual property rights to build a 370M emergency command wireless communication network, as well as a public network cluster and emergency communication equipment at the rescue site, to meet the demand of daily wireless command scheduling and sudden emergency communication, and finally connect the 370M PDT communication system of the national emergency management department to the Internet. The PDT communication system is deployed as a combination of fixed and mobile networks, with mobile base stations as the main part and fixed base stations as the auxiliary for digital cluster networking. It can be applied in fire protection, earthquake, and other fields to provide communication support for emergency rescue.
3.2. Mobile Satellite Networks
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) divides satellite communication services into three categories: fixed-satellite service (FSS), mobile satellite service (MSS), and broadcasting satellite service (BSS). The traditional emergency satellite communication is mainly an FSS system, which uses a C/Ku high orbit satellite to construct the VSAT satellite communication system. However, in recent years, the MSS system has played an increasingly important role in major natural disasters, especially within 72 h of the disaster. When the ground network cannot be used, the rescue organization needs to use the MSS system to understand the real-time messages in the disaster area, so as to organize effective rescue activities.
At present, most communication satellites in the world are mainly GEO satellites, which have wide coverage and a relatively stable location. However, with the increasingly crowded orbital space and the development of cellular communication, multiple access, spot beam, and other small satellite technologies, LEO satellites have gradually been application in space-based communication systems; these satellites have short transmission delay, small path loss, and more effective frequency reuse. A number of countries have successively launched large-scale LEO satellite systems.
Inmarsat was the first global mobile service satellite communication system in the world. The user link uses the L-band to provide low speed digital voice, data communication, facsimile, and telegraphy services. Inmarsat’s first to fourth generation satellite user links all adopted the L-band, while the Inmarsat fifth-generation satellites use the Ka-band, based on DVB-S2 technology, and support broadband services having uplink of 5 Mbit/s and downlink of 50 Mbit/s.
Iridium utilizes on-board processing, on-board switching, and interplanetary link technologies, and uses TDMA multiple access for direct communication between handheld terminals and satellites, providing users with voice, data, paging, fax, and other services. “Iridium NEXT” mainly aims at IP broadband networking and the scalability and upgrading of load capacity, which will enable it to meet the complex needs of future spatial information applications.
Starlink adopts a new connection protocol that is more lightweight than IPv6 and supports P2P. It is a decentralized network similar to blockchain. Satellites can accurately understand the longitude and latitude of each user’s physical location and reasonably distribute their data links. Starlink’s second generation system will employ inter-satellite laser links to provide seamless network management and service continuity. Starlink users access the Internet by converting the satellite signal into a Wi-Fi signal through a Wi-Fi router.
The Oneweb system has set up more than 50 gateway stations around the world, and its user link adopts the Ku-band. The user terminal can be used as a local Internet access point, and users can access the Internet through 3G, LTE, Wi-Fi, or satellite links.
The BeiDou satellite system is an active satellite positioning and communication system independently developed by China. It is the third satellite navigation system covering the world after the Global Positioning System (GPS) of the United States and the Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS) of Russia. BeiDou satellites can not only provide rapid positioning and timing services for ground users worldwide, but also enable short digital message communication, which is one of the means of ensuring communication in an emergency.
The Hongyan global satellite constellation communication system is planned to be composed of 300 low orbit small satellites and a global data service processing center, with all-time two-way communication capability under complex terrain conditions. It will provide users with global real-time data communication and comprehensive information services. The Hongyan constellation will integrate a number of satellite application functions. Its satellite data acquisition function can realize large-scale regional information collection and meet the needs of monitoring data information transmission in the fields of oceanography, meteorology, transportation, environmental protection, geology, and disaster prevention and reduction. According to the existing information, it is expected that the system will include a communication network of 60 artificial satellites by 2023. By 2025, the second phase will be completed, and a mobile satellite communication and network access system having space-air-ground-sea integration will be built.
The Hongyun project is a “star chain plan” independently developed by China. It is expected that 156 satellites will be launched into orbit 1000 km above the ground. The project is committed to building a satellite-borne broadband global mobile Internet that can provide integrated services for communication, navigation, and remote sensing for all types of users around the world. Because of its extremely low communication delay, extremely high frequency reuse rate, and real global coverage, the Hongyun project can meet the needs of China, underdeveloped Internet areas, and large-scale user units to share broadband Internet access. At the same time, it can also meet the application requirements of high real-time information interaction, such as in emergency communication, sensor data acquisition, industrial Internet of Things, and remote control of unmanned equipment.
The Tiantong-1 satellite mobile communication system is a satellite mobile communication system independently developed and constructed by China. It is also an important part of China’s space information infrastructure, and solves the problem of seamless signal coverage in a particularly complex environment. The Tiantong-1 01, Tiantong-1 02, and Tiantong-1 03 satellites were successfully launched in 2016, 2020, and 2021 respectively. After the Tiantong-1 03 satellite was launched into orbit, it was networked in orbit to the Tiantong-1 01 and Tiantong-1 02 satellites. The Tiantong-1 satellite mobile communication system will achieve regional coverage in the Asia-Pacific region. It has the advantages of strong reliability, strong real-time performance, strong confidentiality, wide coverage, and long communication distance. It can provide stable and reliable voice, short message, video, and other mobile communication services, and improve the service level of satellite communication and emergency communication support capacity. The Tiantong-1 satellite system is a narrowband mobile satellite communication system. In case of natural disasters, the emergency communication capability of Tiantong-1 can play a significant role.
3.3. Hybrid Networks
Emergency communication networks are typical complex networks, involving a variety of communication technologies. Their network composition is diverse and changes dynamically. As a new type of self-organizing wireless network, WMN can not only effectively combine with emergency communication methods such as satellites and short-wave, but can also be used as an extension of mobile communication networks and metropolitan area networks to provide more extensive wireless access coverage and comprehensively improve the quality of emergency communication.
Under 5G with high bandwidth and low delay, WMN has more technical advantages, improving the synthesis, application, and systematization. The unique advantages of the ad hoc network enable it to occupy a position in the field of emergency communication. In the future, ad hoc networks will have an ideal space for improvement in miniaturization and portability. In the application of emergency communication, the integration of mesh networks with other private network communication and satellite communication systems will also be the focus of future development. Future development will also include the integration of 5G with satellite networks, 5G with UAV integration, and the space-ground convergence network.
3.4. 5G Networks
5G network technology includes network slicing technology, ultra-dense heterogeneous network technology, and multi-access edge computing technology. In emergency rescue work, the network slicing technology can be used to realize the interconnection of various devices, thus comprehensively improving the efficiency of emergency rescue command and promoting the development of rescue work. With the support of 5G network technology, all regions need to speed up the construction of emergency rescue communication equipment, especially that used for the network control center, satellite ground station, and converged communication platform. At the same time, it is also necessary to use emergency communication equipment to expand network coverage and promote the development of emergency rescue work.
4. Future Development Directions
With the rapid development of network technology and information technology, future emergency networks will develop in the direction of intelligence, integration, popularization, and low cost. This will mainly introduce network intelligence and integration, and lead to the development trend of space-air-ground-sea integration networks.
Due to limitations in the radio spectrum, service geographic coverage, and operating costs, 5G ground communication networks alone cannot provide high-quality and reliable services at any time and in any place. This is especially the case in remote areas such as oceans, forests, and deserts. In order to provide truly ubiquitous wireless communication services on a global scale, it is necessary to develop an integrated space-air-ground-sea network to achieve global connectivity. The rapid development of wireless, broadband, fusion, and three-dimensional network technology provides the construction foundation for the integration of the space-air-ground-sea network with information sharing, interconnection, and unified command. Integrated use of big data, cloud computing, AI, satellite communications, multimedia communications, mobile communications, and other advanced technologies, and integration of space-based, air-based, ground-based, and sea-based platforms, can be used to construct the space-air-ground-sea integrated emergency communication network architecture. This architecture can realize the overall emergency resource planning and collaborative services of multiple platforms. The network architecture is shown in Figure 7. The integrated space-air-ground-sea network is based on a ground network, extended by air-based and sea-based networks, and connected and supplemented by a space-based network; thus, it covers the natural space including space, the sky, the ground, and the ocean. The air-based network consists of satellites, which can be divided into GEO, MEO, and LEO satellites. The space-based network is composed of aerial platforms such as near-space airships, airplanes, UAVs, and hot-air balloons. The ground-based network is mainly composed of LANs and cellular mobile networks, including all wired and wireless network facilities on the ground. Currently, this mainly relies on 5G network technology. The sea-based network consists of coastal base stations, surface ships, buoys, etc.
Figure 7. System topology of the space-air-ground-sea integrated emergency communication network.
This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/rs15061595
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