Serval

[Gregory Foster]

I just checked in on the Serval Project to see what they've been up to (Serval provides telecom-independent mesh networking support between mobile devices, beginning on Android; here's their recently refined mission statement and priorities).  The very alpha Serval Maps project caught my attention as something for PLOTS to keep an eye on.  Here's the fellow's thesis where he explored the challenge of providing "collaborative mapping services on mobile devices in an infrastructure independent manner," building out a prototype Android application that was recently integrated into the Serval project.  Here's a report on an exercise of Serval Maps and Rhizome by the New Zealand Red Cross:
http://servalpaul.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/at-kiwiex-2012-part-1.html

I mainly wanted to ensure the Serval project is in your awareness, as I have some ideas about its usefulness for PLOTS but I suspect y'all will have clearer vision.  A strong use case I can present would be in a protest mapping context where we've deployed Serval-enabled Android devices in the air participating in a local mesh with ground observers.  The Serval Rhizome mesh file distribution system could then be used to replicate generated imagery amongst observers, increasing data redundancy and opening up options for near-real-time broadcast.  Worth noting there are likely some upper bounds on the amount of data that can be efficiently shuttled around a serval mesh; also worth noting they support a store-and-forward protocol for asynchronous routing, supporting digitally divided and disaster contexts.

Dr. Paul Gardner-Stephen appears to be the primary motive force behind the project.
http://twitter.com/servalpaul
http://servalpaul.blogspot.com.au/

gf

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Gregory Foster || gfo...@entersection.org
@gregoryfoster <> http://entersection.com/

[Christina Xu]

Paul is a(nother) past Awesome Foundation winner and I have all his contact information if you'd like an introduction!

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Christina Xu

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