FastPlan: Accelerating Drone-Centric Search Operations for Post-Disaster Relief

 

In the wake of increasingly severe natural and man-made disasters, rapid response is critical. Traditional rescue operations often face delays due to limited manpower, inaccessible areas, and communication breakdowns. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have emerged as a promising supplement for search and rescue missions. However, operational challenges—especially for non-professional pilots—persist.

To address these barriers, researchers from Texas Tech University and collaborating institutions introduced FastPlan: an Android-based mobile framework that automates pre-flight decision-making for drone-based search operations. This blog explores the key innovations, implementation, and findings from their recent study published in Pervasive and Mobile Computing Elsevier, 2025.

The FastPlan Framework: Overview

FastPlan is designed around three core components:

  1. POI Extraction: Leveraging Google Maps APIs, FastPlan identifies Points of Interest (POIs)—e.g., hospitals, stores, and apartments—based on metadata like type, location, and capacity.

  2. Clustering: Using a density-based algorithm, the system groups nearby POIs to reduce redundancy and optimize drone coverage.

  3. Path Planning: Prioritizing areas with higher human presence, FastPlan generates an efficient scan path using density and proximity metrics.

Key Features and Contributions

1. Low-Barrier Entry for Non-Professionals

FastPlan minimizes manual input and complex setup, enabling rescue teams without specialized drone training to deploy UAVs swiftly.

2. Map Integration with Local Databases

A customized POI database for Lubbock, Texas—containing over 2,300 entries—was integrated with public map data. This hybrid approach improves both usability and precision.

📌 Example: The database includes metadata such as: [Name, Latitude, Longitude, Type, Address, Capacity].

3. Adaptive Clustering (Split-and-Merge)

FastPlan’s clustering algorithm adjusts the coverage area size dynamically. Densely populated zones are analyzed more closely, while sparse zones are grouped broadly to save resources.

4. Flexible Path Planning

Three strategies were explored:

  • Density First (DF): Prioritizes POIs with higher human presence.

  • Nearest Neighbor First (NNF): Minimizes drone travel distance.

  • Density + Distance (DD): Balances both for optimal efficiency.

Implementation and Testing

FastPlan was implemented as a functional Android app using Google Maps SDK. The team tested it in three zones across Lubbock (designated LA, LB, LC) with varied POI densities.

Additionally, simulations were conducted using Matlab to model different POI distributions:

  • Scale-Free (SF): Imitating urban hub distributions.

  • Enhanced Cluster Process (ECP): Mimicking decentralized population patterns.

Results and Insights

  • Density-based strategies (DF, DD) were most effective for time-sensitive scenarios, rapidly covering high-priority areas.

  • NNF offered the lowest energy consumption but was slower in critical coverage.

  • The first scan point selection (e.g., based on density vs. proximity) significantly affected performance.

  • The split-and-merge clustering reduced unnecessary drone movements while maximizing area coverage.

Limitations and Future Directions

  • Mobility of POIs (e.g., moving vehicles or people) is not yet supported in FastPlan.

  • The current model operates in 2D; integrating 3D path planning using methods like RRT is a proposed extension.

  • Integration with real-time infrastructure updates (e.g., post-flooding road closures) remains challenging.

Final Thoughts

FastPlan demonstrates that automated, mobile-first drone deployment can significantly streamline search and rescue in disaster zones. Its modular design, usability for non-professionals, and tested performance mark it as a potential breakthrough in emergency technology.

To read the full research article, visit:

References

  1. Lim, S., Lee, I., Choi, G. S., et al. FastPlan: A three-step framework for accelerating drone-centric search operations in post-disaster relief. Pervasive and Mobile Computing, 107 (2025). DOI

  2. Google Maps SDK: https://developers.google.com/maps/documentation/android-sdk



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