Nectec researcher Sutat Patomnuphong said that EECV stands for Education and Emergency Communication Vehicle. The EECV comes with 30 mobile computers, 25 direct telephone lines, a small electricity generator that will provide backup electricity for three days, and a telescopic network with a network system that is able to communicate with people outside the area via satellite, microwave, WiFi and WiMax networks.

It aims to provide help to people living in disaster areas when a catastrophe occurs, with the ability to communicate outside the affected area at speeds of up to 1Mbps.

When a disaster occurs, the mobile unit will enable people to report in the area, while those who are lost can communicate with relatives via satellite signals.

It will also be a centre to register and check for anyone lost in the area.

It will be able to contact the disaster centre through the Internet and mobile phone and provide information to communities in nearby areas so they will able to protect themselves.

Sutat also said that the mobile unit has facilities for training people in rural areas via Rural Wireless Broadband Access. It will be able to provide electronic learning to communities in remote areas, 300 metres to two kilometres from a base station, to help them improve their skills. It can also offer learning to students in remote areas at their own school.

The corporation hopes to develop another such vehicle to support disaster victims and provide education to people in remote areas.

jirapan@nationgroup.com

Jirapan Boonnoon

The Nation