5G and UAVs for Mission-Critical Communications: Swift Network Recovery for Search-and-Rescue Operations

We introduce a new approach for Search-and-Rescue Operations (SAROs) to search for survivors after large-scale disasters, assuming the wireless communication network cells are partially operational and exploiting the recent trend of using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) as a part of the network. These SAROs are based on the idea that almost all survivors have their own wireless mobile devices, called User Equipments (UEs), which serve as human-based sensors on the ground. Our approach is aimed at accounting for limited UE battery power while providing critical information to first responders: 1) generate immediate crisis maps for the disaster-impacted areas, 2) provide vital information about where the majority of survivors are clustered/crowded, and 3) prioritize the impacted areas to identify regions that urgently need communication coverage.