ResQNet

ResQNet is an offline-first emergency communication system designed for disaster situations where internet or telecom networks fail.

Problem Statement

During disasters such as floods, earthquakes, cyclones, or large-scale network outages, conventional communication systems often fail. Mobile networks may become congested or unavailable due to damaged infrastructure, power outages, or sudden spikes in communication demand. In such situations, individuals within the same geographic area—such as apartment complexes, campuses, relief shelters, or neighborhoods—struggle to coordinate, share updates, or request help. This communication gap can significantly delay emergency response and community coordination. While telecom infrastructure may take time to recover, devices within the same local area often still have the ability to connect to each other through local networks such as Wi-Fi or hotspot connections. There is currently a lack of simple, open-source solutions that allow communities to establish local communication channels independent of internet connectivity during such emergencies.

Proposed Solution

ResQNet is an offline-first emergency communication platform designed to enable real-time communication between devices connected within the same local network. The system allows users to communicate even when the internet or cellular networks are unavailable. The application operates by allowing one device to host a local server while other nearby devices connect through a shared Wi-Fi network or hotspot. Once connected, users can exchange messages, send emergency alerts, and share safety status updates within the local cluster. ResQNet focuses on providing community-level communication resilience, allowing people in the same physical vicinity to coordinate quickly during critical situations.

Impact

ResQNet improves community-level coordination during emergencies by enabling real-time communication even when conventional networks fail. It allows individuals in the same location to quickly share updates, request assistance, and organize responses during disasters or network outages. As an open-source system, the platform can be extended and adapted by developers and communities to support disaster preparedness, relief shelters, and emergency response environments. The project demonstrates how decentralized communication tools can strengthen resilience in situations where traditional infrastructure becomes unreliable.

Features

The initial prototype focuses on essential functionality that demonstrates the concept of resilient local communication: Local Network Communication Devices connected to the same Wi-Fi or hotspot network can communicate without requiring internet access. Real-Time Messaging Users can send and receive messages instantly within the connected network. Emergency Broadcast Alerts A dedicated alert feature allows users to send urgent notifications to all connected devices simultaneously. Safety Status Updates Users can mark their status as “Safe” or “Need Help”, allowing others in the network to quickly assess community well-being. Local Message Logging Messages are stored locally to maintain communication records during the session.

Conceptual Mesh Extension

While the initial implementation focuses on communication within a single local cluster, the architecture is designed with the possibility of future mesh-inspired extensions. In such systems, intermediary nodes can relay messages between clusters, enabling broader communication networks even when centralized infrastructure is unavailable. For the prototype stage, a simplified relay concept may be demonstrated to illustrate the feasibility of multi-node communication.

Tech Stack

Backend Node.js Express.js Socket.io (for real-time communication) Frontend HTML/CSS or React for user interface Data Storage Lightweight local storage using JSON or SQLite Development Tools GitHub for version control VS Code for development

System Architecture

ResQNet follows a local server-client architecture: One device hosts the communication server. Nearby devices connect through the same local network. Messages are transmitted via WebSockets. The server broadcasts messages and alerts to all connected clients. This allows the system to operate without cloud services or internet connectivity.

Target Use Cases

Flood and cyclone response Disaster relief shelters Apartment or neighborhood coordination Campus emergency communication Temporary network outages

Expected Impact

ResQNet helps communities maintain communication during emergencies by: Enabling faster coordination Allowing quick safety updates Providing a communication fallback when telecom networks fail Demonstrating the potential of decentralized communication tools

Open Source Vision

ResQNet is designed as an open-source project so developers and communities can extend it for real-world disaster response scenarios and resilient communication systems.