Simulation as a Tool: Towards Next Generation Crisis Management and Emergency Communication During Blackout Disasters

Abstract

Crisis teams and crisis management must always be able to respond efficiently to disasters. However, Blackout Disasters pose a significant challenge for crisis teams and the affected citizens. Their impact on mobile networks can leave people without any means of emergency communication for an indefinite period, putting them in danger. Therefore, crisis teams must be able to act quickly by assessing the extent to which a power outage affects cellular coverage in disaster-stricken areas. However, the necessary expertise for this is often lacking. This study examines how simulation can enhance crisis management in Blackout Disasters. In an integrative research approach the PPRR-crisis management model is extended with phase-specific simulation use cases. The study demonstrates how simulation, based on digital twins, can model mobile networks, predict failures, assess disaster impact, and support the restoration of authority managed emergency mobile communication networks. First simulation results on a Berlin dataset show that already minor disruptions within the power grid will lead to severe impacts on mobile networks. Knowing this impact before the disaster occurs is an important asset for crisis preparedness and response.