An Internet Access Solution: MANET Routing and a Gateway Selection Approach for Disaster Scenarios

After natural and man-made disasters, the telecommunication infrastructure is usually severely damaged, thus hampering communication and rescue services. It is impossible for disaster victims to make use of communication devices such as cellular phones, iPads, or their laptops to make a connection with the outside world (Internet). With infrastructure less and decentralized features, the mobile ad hoc network (MANET) can play an important role in improving communication in post-disaster affected areas. Therefore, the important functionalities of a MANET that allow users to create dynamically configurable wireless networks without fixed infrastructure using common devices such as mobile phones is necessary. This paper reports on the development of new techniques for routing selection and gateway load balancing in MANETs. Network fairness, throughput, and packet delays are measured empirically. The proposed mechanisms can reduce network congestion and consequently improve communication in affected areas.