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    D2D communication based disaster response system under 5G networks : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Computer and Electronics Engineering, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2023-12-14) Ahmed, Shakil
    Many recent natural disasters such as tsunamis, hurricanes, volcanoes, earthquakes, etc. have led to the loss of billions of dollars, resources and human lives. These catastrophic disasters have attracted the researchers’ attention onto the significant damage to communication infrastructure. Further, communication within the first 72 hours after a disaster is critical to get help from rescuers. The advancement of wireless communication technologies, especially mobile devices and technologies, could help improve emergency communication systems. The next generation of mobile networks and technologies such as Device to Device (D2D) communication, the Internet of Things (IoT), Blockchain, and Big Data, can play significant roles in overcoming the drawbacks of the current disaster management system for data analysis and decision making. Next-generation cellular 5G and 6G network will provide several complex services for mobile phones and other communication devices. To integrate those services, the 5G cellular network will have the capabilities to handle the significant volume of data rate and the capacity to handle traffic congestion compared with the 4G or 3G cellular network. D2D communication technology, one of the major technologies in the 5G network, has the capability to exchange a high volume of traffic data directly between User Equipment (UE) without additional control from the Base Station(BS). D2D communication is used with other cell tiers in the 5G heterogeneous network (HetNet). Thus, the devices can form a cluster and cooperate with each other. As a result, the system tremendously increases network capacity as devices inside the cluster reuse the same spectrum or use an unlicensed spectrum. It will help to reduce the network’s traffic load and achieve significant throughput. D2D communication also has the ability to increase area spectral efficiency, reduce device power consumption, outage probabilities and improve network coverage. All of these characteristics are vital parameters for public safety and emergency communication applications. IoT paradigm is another promising technology with exciting features such as heterogeneity, interoperability, and flexibility. IoT has the capability to handle vast amounts of data. This huge amount of data creates Data security and data storage problems. Though, there are many technologies used to overcome the problem of validating data authenticity and data storage. Out of them, the Blockchain system is one of the emerging technologies which provides intrinsic data security. In addition, Big data technology provides data storage, modification, process, visualisation and representation in an efficient and easily understandable format. This feature is essential for disaster applications because it requires quickly collecting and processing vast amounts of data for a prompt response. Therefore, the main focus of this research work is exploring and utilising these emerging technologies (D2D, IoT, Big Data and Blockchain) and validating them with mathematical modelling for developing a disaster response system. This thesis proposes a disaster response framework by integrating the emerging technologies to overcome the problem of data communication, data security, data analysis and visualisation. Mathematical analysis and simulation models for multiple disaster sizes were developed based on D2D communication system. The result shows significant improvement in the disaster framework performance. The Quality of Services (QoS) is calculated for different scales of disaster impact. Approximately 40% disaster-affected people can get 5-10 dB and approximately 20% users get 20-25 dB Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio (SINR) when 70% infrastructure is damaged by a disaster. The network coverage increased by 25% and the network lifetime increased by 8%-14%. The research helps to develop a resilient disaster communication network which minimises the communication gap between the disaster-affected people and the rescue team. It identified the areas according to the needs of the disaster-affected people and offered a viable solution for the government and other stakeholders to visualize the disaster’s effect. This helps to make quick decisions and responses for pre and post-disaster.
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    Niho taniwha : communicating tsunami risk : a site-specific case study for Tūranganui-a-Kiwa; an exegesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Design at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2018) Repia, Harmony
    For some people living in Tūranganui-a-Kiwa, tsunami are recognised as a natural hazard that could threaten the entire East Cape region at any time. However for most, an ethnographic study of local residents reveals high levels of complacency within the Gisborne urban community when it comes to being aware and prepared for tsunami risk. A recent study by Dhellemmes, Leonard & Johnston (2016) was conducted along the East Coast of the North Island of Aotearoa to explore the changes of tsunami awareness and preparedness between 2003–2015. Results from this study revealed coastal communities including Tūranga had low levels of tsunami awareness and high expectations of receiving a formal warning before evacuation (Dhellemmes, et al. 2016). As a result Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS) with the Joint Centre for Disaster Research (JCDR) have identified that the population needs to respond with urgency to natural warning signs (one being an earthquake) rather than assuming an official warning will come through formal Civil Defence channels. There is also a need to raise tsunami awareness by understanding what influences tsunami preparedness in communities. The tangata whenua of Tūranganui-a-Kiwa hold various bodies of knowledge that can contribute to our society and future risk management. Māori oral traditions are often mapped to the whenua and anchored in our genealogies, which King, Goff & Skipper (2007) explains enables the transfer of knowledge down through the generations. The method of acknowledging the contextual location of Tūranga is crucial in understanding the community’s need to raise tsunami awareness for their own iwi, hapū and whanau. This process proposes that by allowing the community to share responsibility for their response to an unfolding crisis, it opens up new opportunities to raise awareness. This design-led research explores how Human-Centred-Design (HCD) methodology underpinned by Mātauranga Māori principles can contribute new ways of designing novel tsunami communications for Tūranganui-a-Kiwa. This project intends to create a site-specific work based on an extensive community-based design.