Hastily Formed Networks (HFN): Activities and Opportunities Brian Steckler, Director NPS HFN Center http://www.hfncenter.org Unclassified Information Brief ONR MURI Kickoff 28 JUL 08 Brian Steckler Research Agenda: wireless terrestrial and satellite communications for humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, surveillance, and targeting. Comms interoperability, information sharing, and situational awareness in austere environments. • Information Sciences Dept & Cebrowski Institute, NPS • • • • • • Director, NPS Hastily Formed Networks Center Arrived February 2002 Naval Postgraduate School: Masters, Information Technology Mgmt, 1992-1994 University of Washington: BA Business Administration 1987 U.S. Navy Retired Officer 1976-1995 Industry: • Founder/President Universal Internet 1995-2002, Business class ISP, software engineering and e-commerce solution provider. Today’s Agenda • HFNs Defined • NPS HFN Related Recent Activities • One Illustrative Example HFN • MURI Opportunities/Relevance –network-centric operations –Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HA/DR) HFNs and Network Science • Happening NOW ! – Layered networks: comms, operational/social, financial, logistics – Ad hoc really means AD HOC ! – Evolving in real time, with high stakes – We ought to be informed by real world operations • Visibility and access via NPS HFN work – Opportunities for measurement, analysis and experimentation • Limited understanding of how these networks really work – Structure and function, dynamics, objectives, and constraints ? – A little insight could go a long way…… Is there a network “architecture” for HFNs ? HFN Defined….. • An HFN Consists of Five Elements: – a network of people or technologies established rapidly – from different communities, – working together in a shared “conversation space”, – in which they plan, commit to, and execute actions to – fulfill a large urgent mission. HFN Concept by Dr Peter Denning, NPS Cebrowski Institute Executive Director Aspects of Conversation Space • Physical – communication systems – meeting places – distribution systems • Community – players and organizations • Practices – rules of interaction and coordination Past/Present NPS HFN Activities Net-Centric Ops • Trident Warrior (07-08) – US Navy’s Major Annual Experimentation Exercise • Golden Phoenix (07-08) – DOD/DHS Joint Radio Interoperability Exercise (LA 07, SD 08) • COASTS (07-08) – Coalition Operating Area Surveillance/Targeting Systems Program for wireless field experiments in SE Asia HA/DR • SE Asian Tsunami (Jan-May 05) • Hurricane Katrina (Sep-Oct 05) • USNS Mercy Humanitarian Mission to SE Asia (Summer 06) • USNS Comfort Latin/South America Humanitarian Mission (Summer 07) • Myanmar - Cyclone Nargis (Summer 08) Practical Physical HFN THE HFN PUZZLE… Surrounded by the CivilMilitary Boundary... …..and Improvisation !! http://www.hfncenter.org Comms in Hurricanes, Earthquakes, etc….. • The Problems: – No power – No fiber/copper infrastructure – No push-to-talk comms to speak of – Cellular svc mostly jammed / overwhelmed – SatPhone svc mostly jammed / overwhelmed – Not enough satellite eqpt suites available – No Internet access (web, email, VOIP) – No technical people resources available HFNs - A Viable Comms Solution….. • The HFN Puzzle Pieces – SATCOM Internet Reachback – 802.11 (WiFi) and 802.16 (WiMax) – Broadband Internet, Web, Email – Voice Over IP (basic dial-tone) – Skype (free internet phone) – Groove (collaboration solution) Network Infrastructure Hancock Medical Center Law Enforcement EOC Relief Distribution Center Bay St Louis Fire & Police Station Waveland Police Station Relief Distribution Center NPS DET 1 NETWORK Tachyon Satellite 802.16 Wireless 802.11 Wireless 223rd ENG BATT DET Cooperative Operations and Applied Science & Technology Studies (COASTS) 2008+ • Assessment of emerging C4ISR technologies applicable to maritime, littoral, law enforcement, first responder, and security missions: Sensors for tracking targets in littoral scenarios • Quickly configurable, secure, low cost, test bed for assessment of specific technologies, components and/or systems solutions (COTS wireless networks) • Real-time, net-centric information management for improved situational awareness • Various UAV platforms for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission suitability • Investigate/match participant mission needs with integrated C4ISR solutions in domestic, bi-lateral and multi-national environments Cooperative Operations and Applied Science & Technology Studies (COASTS) 2008+ Scenarios • Phase 1: Humanitarian Assistance – Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTAF), Royal Thai Navy (RTN) & NPS • Phase 2: Force Protection / Base Security – RTAF & NPS • Phase 3: Oil Pipeline Security – RTN & NPS Ongoing NPS HFN Research • HFNs that Enable or Enhance….. – Noncombatant Evacuation Ops (NEO) Tracking – Patient / Victim / Body Tracking Systems • What will we do if we have 500,000 or 1 million victims ?! – Comms from Ship to Ship and Ship to Shore - US and International CanEMIO, weHA/DR, makeTactical sense of the inherent including Operations • Voice Radio Interoperability – DoD, DHS/FEMA/Nat’l Guard, Others • More US / International HA/DR Opportunities: Can we develop explanatory models? – Upcoming missions on US Warships & Hospital Ships in PACOM and AFRICOM AOR’s, Joint US/Coalition Partner Navy Exercises, the Next Real-World Disaster • complexity in these network systems? Ultimate objective: design of robust Smaller Form Factor Comms Suites, VSAT Internet Reachback, Alternate networks andAwareness operations Power Sources, Shared Situational (Focus on POWER, LIFT, COMMS) • Mobile device integration into HA/DR and/or Homeland Defense Applications • Working More Effectively at the Civil Military Boundary QUESTIONS ? Brian Steckler, Director, NPS Hastily Formed Networks Center http://www.hfncenter.org steckler@nps.edu or 831.656.3837