Optimizing Operational Communication with AI in Disaster Situations
Natural disasters, major events, and other critical security situations require fast, stable, and powerful communication. However, digital broadband networks quickly reach their limits in the event of partial failures or in less well-developed regions. This is where the AI4Emergency research project steps in: developing and testing AI-supported communication technologies based on gigabit-capable 5G mobile networks to reliably connect emergency response organizations, even under extreme conditions.
During operations, precise situational assessments must be made in a very short amount of time, and different units, such as drones, vehicles, and emergency services, must be coordinated. Intelligent network configurations, such as network slicing and guaranteed bit rate, are designed to ensure the reliable functioning of data-intensive applications. AI solutions designed to help reduce information overload and enable informed decisions include those for analyzing drone videos, voice interactions with chatbots, and decision support. Mobile 5G repeaters are also intended to enable the establishment of local network infrastructures in damaged or isolated areas.
These developments are based on modeling real-world operational processes, from situation assessment and tactical coordination to infrastructure security. These processes are translated into technical load models, which dynamically and efficiently control video transmissions, voice services, and AI services, even under high-load conditions. Simulations and realistic validation scenarios ensure the solutions are both practical and scalable.
Role of Salzburg Research
Salzburg Research is responsible for the technical analysis of the network requirements of AI-supported applications in safety-critical scenarios. Structured load models are created based on defined application processes to map typical communication patterns, such as voice, video, data traffic, and AI services. Relevant network parameters are then derived from these process models and synthetic application data. In this way, Salzburg Research plays a key role in ensuring the effective design and optimization of robust 5G infrastructures.
AI4Emergency is funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and the Federal Ministry of Housing, Urban Development, and Regional Planning (BMVIT) as part of the “Broadband Austria 2030: GigaApp” program.
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