1. Georgia Bullen!
georgia@opentechinstitute.org!
@georgiamoon / @redhookwifi!

2. Creating digital networks is mostly a social
process.!

5. Key Aspects: Social & Technical Infrastructure !
•
Main network anchors are trusted
community organizations.!
•
Solid relationship with technical
support provider from outside of
the community.!
•
Community-led design process
emphasizes local needs and
enhances engagement.!
•
Rapid prototyping of applications
designed for the local area
network. !

6. Technology!
• Ubiquiti Routers!
– Nanostation!
– Picostation!
• Commotion!
– Ad Hoc Network Platform!
– OpenWRT!
– OLSRd Routing Protocol!
!
!
!
!
!
5
1
4
2
3
https://code.commotionwireless.net/projects/commotion/wiki/Newbie_How_It_Works !

7. Mesh networks are distributed, noncentralized, and self-healing.!
Hub
and
Spoke
Network
Mesh
Network

8. February 2012 – 1st Mesh Node!
WAP + Internet Gateway!

9. March 2012 – 2nd Mesh Node !
Out of Range of Node #1, No Internet Gateway!
Local Server with applications!

10. Community Collaborative Design Workshops, Photo: Becky Kazansky!

11. A resident working with Tidepools, a local Mapping Application, Photo: Becky Kazansky!

12. Local Application Development!

13. Red Hook Initiative: !
Recovery & Communication Hub!

14. RHI Status!

16. February 2013!

17. February 2013!

18. 2013

21. Site Surveys!

23. Potential Partners!
Businesses
Non-­‐Profits
Schools
Parks
ExisAng/
Agreed
to
host

24. Broadband Adoption!
FCC Form 477 Data !
NYC Department of City Planning PLUTO Data!
NYC Department of City Planning Buildings Data
!

31. October 2013!

32. August 2013!

33. http://redhookwifi.org!
powered by Tidepools (http://tidepools.org)!

34. Lessons Learned!
• Social relationships are paramount.!
!
• The most challenging investment is in the initial organizing
and design phase before any value is realized. !
!
• Community-designed applications add value to a local
network, even at a small scale. !
!
• Having relationships and anchor wireless nodes in place prior
to a disaster facilitates rapid network deployment through: !
– Already-established relationships with key community
stakeholders.!
– A heightened level of technological literacy in the community.!
– Pre-positioned wireless network equipment in the neighborhood.!

35. What’s Next?!
texting
sensors
outreach
apps

36. Additional Materials!

37. Cost of the Network!
•
•
•
•
•
•
Donated labor from local residents and technologist. !
Institutional support from RHI and OTI. !
Hardware (~$50 to ~$85 each router). !
Installation (3-5 work hours for two people per site). !
Bandwidth (donated by RHI, Brooklyn Fiber, and FEMA). !
Training program for local residents to maintain and expand
network as part of a municipal employment program. !

38. Modular mesh wireless tile
People in or
next to the tile
area can extend
the network by
installing their
own routers.
1/2 to 3/4 mile
(1 unit) Internet Gateway
Connection to the global Internet or point of presence
(point-to-point wireless or fiber-optic backhaul, white
space device, etc.)
(5 to 10 units) Gateway distribution layer
Point-to-point or -multipoint directional mesh
wireless nodes.
(25 to 100 units) User-facing access points
Omnidirectional mesh wireless nodes mounted on
lightpoles, building exteriors, rooftops, or windows.
Wired connection
Wireless connection
The bandwidth delivered to the end user can be up to 50 Mbps, but is
dependent on available bandwidth at the gateway connection. There are
various models for determining how many users can share a given
connection. Each user-facing access point can support up to 25
simultaneous connections, but speed will depend on available
bandwidth at the gateway, interference, and other factors. Engineering
study is required to determine the technical feasibility of each tile.
Community participation is key in determining rooftop anchor sites and
pilot "early adopter" candidates.
Hardware = approximately $25,000
Installation labor = approximately $75,000 to $150,000

39. More Information!
http://redhookwifi.org!
http://rhidigitalstewards.wordpress.com!
http://oti.newamerica.net!
http://commotionwireless.net!
http://commotionwireless.net/tags/red-hook!
http://tidepools.co!
!