Evaluating data communications in natural disaster scenarios using opportunistic networks with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Communications between rescue teams and command center of search and rescue operations in disaster areas are frequently affected by geographical obstacles and infrastructure disruptions. One way to overcome such problems is to use Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) as mobile nodes of a Delay/disruption Tolerant Network (DTN), in order to support communications. This paper investigates and evaluates the performance of most popular DTN routing protocols through simulations based on real flight traces of an UAV over two scenarios of natural disaster caused by heavy rains and landslides. Obtained results allow the verification of proper routing protocols and the cost/benefit relationship between number of UAVs and DTN performance.