Design and Implementation of an Emergency Victim Localization and Rescue Coordination System for Disaster Response

Paulo John Kapembe; Zacharia Mzurikwao; Candida Mwisoba; Joseph Sospeter Salawa

doi:doi:10.11648/j.sdcomput.20260101.13

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Design and Implementation of an Emergency Victim Localization and Rescue Coordination System for Disaster Response

Paulo John Kapembe^*

, Zacharia Mzurikwao, Candida Mwisoba, Joseph Sospeter Salawa

Published in Science Discovery Computers (Volume 1, Issue 1)

Received: 11 August 2026 Accepted: 25 August 2026 Published: 29 September 2026

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Abstract

Communication failure during disasters can significantly delay the identification, localization, and rescue of affected individuals. When conventional communication infrastructure becomes unavailable or unreliable, victims may experience difficulties in communicating their emergency conditions and location to rescue personnel. This study presents the design and implementation of an Emergency Victim Localization and Rescue Coordination System for Disaster Response. The system was developed to provide a simple and accessible mechanism through which victims can submit emergency information and location data using a smartphone-based web interface, while rescue personnel can monitor submitted incidents through a centralized web dashboard. An ESP32 microcontroller is incorporated as the embedded control unit of the system and provides local system monitoring and status indication. The victim interface collects information including the victim's name, contact information, emergency category, description, and geographical location. Location information is obtained through browser-based geolocation services when permission is granted, while a map-based location-sharing option provides an alternative when automatic location acquisition is unsuccessful. Submitted emergency records are stored in a cloud database and synchronized with the rescue dashboard, where responders can view victim information, geographical coordinates, priority levels, and incident status. The prototype was implemented and evaluated through hardware testing, web-interface testing, database communication testing, and end-to-end emergency-reporting tests. The implemented system demonstrated the feasibility of integrating victim reporting, location acquisition, cloud-based data management, and rescue coordination into a single low-cost platform. The developed solution provides a practical approach for improving situational awareness and supporting faster coordination of emergency response activities, particularly in resource-constrained environments.

Published in	Science Discovery Computers (Volume 1, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.sdcomput.20260101.13
Page(s)	20-31
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Emergency Response, Victim Localization, Disaster Management, Rescue Coordination, ESP32, Web Dashboard, Geolocation, Cloud Database

References

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[2]	A. Mohammad and A. Hayajneh, “Drone-Assisted Wireless Communications.”
[3]	T. Minh et al., “Internet of Things (IoT): Wireless Communications for Unmanned Aircraft System,” Technology and Science, vol. 23, 2023, [Online]. Available: www.isres.org
[4]	S. Kumaran, A. Raj, J. Sangeetha, and M. Raman, “IoT-based Autonomous Search and Rescue Drone for Precision Firefighting and Disaster Management.” [Online]. Available: www.ijacsa.thesai.org
[5]	I. López-Villegas, E. A. Martínez-Rios, J. Izquierdo-Reyes, R. Bustamante-Bello, and F. Falcone, “A systematic literature review of emergency communications assisted by unnamed aerial vehicles,” Ad Hoc Networks, vol. 182, Mar. 2026, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adhoc.2025.104063
[6]	“A Practical Approach to Deploying a Drone-Based Message Ferry in a Disaster Situation”.
[7]	P. Pepple, “Autonomous System for Disaster Response & Recovery,” European Journal of Computer Science and Information Technology, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 45–62, Jan. 2025, https://doi.org/10.37745/ejcsit.2013/vol13n14562
[8]	M. Matracia, N. Saeed, M. A. Kishk, and M. S. Alouini, “Post-Disaster Communications: Enabling Technologies, Architectures, and Open Challenges,” IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society, vol. 3, pp. 1177–1205, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1109/OJCOMS.2022.3192040
[9]	G. Askoxylakis et al., “A Rapid Emergency Deployment Mobile Communication Node.”
[10]	“Deployment of Drone-Based Small Cells for Public Safety Communication System _ Request PDF”.
[11]	Sree Lakshmi, Sk. Nasreen, T. Bhargavi, P. Jaswanth Sri, Sk. Seema Afrin, and Sk. Seema Afrin, “Contact Us 31 Mar 2025 INTEGRATED DRONE FOR EFFECTIVE DISASTER MANAGEMENT,” Int. J. Adv. Res. (Indore)., vol. 13, no. 03, pp. 359–366, Mar. 2025, https://doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/20574

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APA Style

Kapembe, P. J., Mzurikwao, Z., Mwisoba, C., Salawa, J. S. (2026). Design and Implementation of an Emergency Victim Localization and Rescue Coordination System for Disaster Response. Science Discovery Computers, 1(1), 20-31. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sdcomput.20260101.13

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ACS Style

Kapembe, P. J.; Mzurikwao, Z.; Mwisoba, C.; Salawa, J. S. Design and Implementation of an Emergency Victim Localization and Rescue Coordination System for Disaster Response. Sci. Discov. Comput. 2026, 1(1), 20-31. doi: 10.11648/j.sdcomput.20260101.13

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AMA Style

Kapembe PJ, Mzurikwao Z, Mwisoba C, Salawa JS. Design and Implementation of an Emergency Victim Localization and Rescue Coordination System for Disaster Response. Sci Discov Comput. 2026;1(1):20-31. doi: 10.11648/j.sdcomput.20260101.13

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@article{10.11648/j.sdcomput.20260101.13,
  author = {Paulo John Kapembe and Zacharia Mzurikwao and Candida Mwisoba and Joseph Sospeter Salawa},
  title = {Design and Implementation of an Emergency Victim Localization and Rescue Coordination System for Disaster Response},
  journal = {Science Discovery Computers},
  volume = {1},
  number = {1},
  pages = {20-31},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sdcomput.20260101.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sdcomput.20260101.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sdcomput.20260101.13},
  abstract = {Communication failure during disasters can significantly delay the identification, localization, and rescue of affected individuals. When conventional communication infrastructure becomes unavailable or unreliable, victims may experience difficulties in communicating their emergency conditions and location to rescue personnel. This study presents the design and implementation of an Emergency Victim Localization and Rescue Coordination System for Disaster Response. The system was developed to provide a simple and accessible mechanism through which victims can submit emergency information and location data using a smartphone-based web interface, while rescue personnel can monitor submitted incidents through a centralized web dashboard. An ESP32 microcontroller is incorporated as the embedded control unit of the system and provides local system monitoring and status indication. The victim interface collects information including the victim's name, contact information, emergency category, description, and geographical location. Location information is obtained through browser-based geolocation services when permission is granted, while a map-based location-sharing option provides an alternative when automatic location acquisition is unsuccessful. Submitted emergency records are stored in a cloud database and synchronized with the rescue dashboard, where responders can view victim information, geographical coordinates, priority levels, and incident status. The prototype was implemented and evaluated through hardware testing, web-interface testing, database communication testing, and end-to-end emergency-reporting tests. The implemented system demonstrated the feasibility of integrating victim reporting, location acquisition, cloud-based data management, and rescue coordination into a single low-cost platform. The developed solution provides a practical approach for improving situational awareness and supporting faster coordination of emergency response activities, particularly in resource-constrained environments.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Design and Implementation of an Emergency Victim Localization and Rescue Coordination System for Disaster Response
AU  - Paulo John Kapembe
AU  - Zacharia Mzurikwao
AU  - Candida Mwisoba
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AB  - Communication failure during disasters can significantly delay the identification, localization, and rescue of affected individuals. When conventional communication infrastructure becomes unavailable or unreliable, victims may experience difficulties in communicating their emergency conditions and location to rescue personnel. This study presents the design and implementation of an Emergency Victim Localization and Rescue Coordination System for Disaster Response. The system was developed to provide a simple and accessible mechanism through which victims can submit emergency information and location data using a smartphone-based web interface, while rescue personnel can monitor submitted incidents through a centralized web dashboard. An ESP32 microcontroller is incorporated as the embedded control unit of the system and provides local system monitoring and status indication. The victim interface collects information including the victim's name, contact information, emergency category, description, and geographical location. Location information is obtained through browser-based geolocation services when permission is granted, while a map-based location-sharing option provides an alternative when automatic location acquisition is unsuccessful. Submitted emergency records are stored in a cloud database and synchronized with the rescue dashboard, where responders can view victim information, geographical coordinates, priority levels, and incident status. The prototype was implemented and evaluated through hardware testing, web-interface testing, database communication testing, and end-to-end emergency-reporting tests. The implemented system demonstrated the feasibility of integrating victim reporting, location acquisition, cloud-based data management, and rescue coordination into a single low-cost platform. The developed solution provides a practical approach for improving situational awareness and supporting faster coordination of emergency response activities, particularly in resource-constrained environments.
VL  - 1
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Author Information

Paulo John Kapembe

Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Mbeya University of Science and Technology, Mbeya, Tanzania

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0003-5385-3410
Zacharia Mzurikwao

Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Mbeya University of Science and Technology, Mbeya, Tanzania

Contact Email
Candida Mwisoba

Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Mbeya University of Science and Technology, Mbeya, Tanzania

Contact Email
Joseph Sospeter Salawa

Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Mbeya University of Science and Technology, Mbeya, Tanzania

Contact Email

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APA Style

Kapembe, P. J., Mzurikwao, Z., Mwisoba, C., Salawa, J. S. (2026). Design and Implementation of an Emergency Victim Localization and Rescue Coordination System for Disaster Response. Science Discovery Computers, 1(1), 20-31. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sdcomput.20260101.13

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ACS Style

Kapembe, P. J.; Mzurikwao, Z.; Mwisoba, C.; Salawa, J. S. Design and Implementation of an Emergency Victim Localization and Rescue Coordination System for Disaster Response. Sci. Discov. Comput. 2026, 1(1), 20-31. doi: 10.11648/j.sdcomput.20260101.13

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AMA Style

Kapembe PJ, Mzurikwao Z, Mwisoba C, Salawa JS. Design and Implementation of an Emergency Victim Localization and Rescue Coordination System for Disaster Response. Sci Discov Comput. 2026;1(1):20-31. doi: 10.11648/j.sdcomput.20260101.13

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@article{10.11648/j.sdcomput.20260101.13,
  author = {Paulo John Kapembe and Zacharia Mzurikwao and Candida Mwisoba and Joseph Sospeter Salawa},
  title = {Design and Implementation of an Emergency Victim Localization and Rescue Coordination System for Disaster Response},
  journal = {Science Discovery Computers},
  volume = {1},
  number = {1},
  pages = {20-31},
  doi = {10.11648/j.sdcomput.20260101.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sdcomput.20260101.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.sdcomput.20260101.13},
  abstract = {Communication failure during disasters can significantly delay the identification, localization, and rescue of affected individuals. When conventional communication infrastructure becomes unavailable or unreliable, victims may experience difficulties in communicating their emergency conditions and location to rescue personnel. This study presents the design and implementation of an Emergency Victim Localization and Rescue Coordination System for Disaster Response. The system was developed to provide a simple and accessible mechanism through which victims can submit emergency information and location data using a smartphone-based web interface, while rescue personnel can monitor submitted incidents through a centralized web dashboard. An ESP32 microcontroller is incorporated as the embedded control unit of the system and provides local system monitoring and status indication. The victim interface collects information including the victim's name, contact information, emergency category, description, and geographical location. Location information is obtained through browser-based geolocation services when permission is granted, while a map-based location-sharing option provides an alternative when automatic location acquisition is unsuccessful. Submitted emergency records are stored in a cloud database and synchronized with the rescue dashboard, where responders can view victim information, geographical coordinates, priority levels, and incident status. The prototype was implemented and evaluated through hardware testing, web-interface testing, database communication testing, and end-to-end emergency-reporting tests. The implemented system demonstrated the feasibility of integrating victim reporting, location acquisition, cloud-based data management, and rescue coordination into a single low-cost platform. The developed solution provides a practical approach for improving situational awareness and supporting faster coordination of emergency response activities, particularly in resource-constrained environments.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Design and Implementation of an Emergency Victim Localization and Rescue Coordination System for Disaster Response
AU  - Paulo John Kapembe
AU  - Zacharia Mzurikwao
AU  - Candida Mwisoba
AU  - Joseph Sospeter Salawa
Y1  - 2026/09/29
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sdcomput.20260101.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.sdcomput.20260101.13
T2  - Science Discovery Computers
JF  - Science Discovery Computers
JO  - Science Discovery Computers
SP  - 20
EP  - 31
PB  - Science Publishing Group
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.sdcomput.20260101.13
AB  - Communication failure during disasters can significantly delay the identification, localization, and rescue of affected individuals. When conventional communication infrastructure becomes unavailable or unreliable, victims may experience difficulties in communicating their emergency conditions and location to rescue personnel. This study presents the design and implementation of an Emergency Victim Localization and Rescue Coordination System for Disaster Response. The system was developed to provide a simple and accessible mechanism through which victims can submit emergency information and location data using a smartphone-based web interface, while rescue personnel can monitor submitted incidents through a centralized web dashboard. An ESP32 microcontroller is incorporated as the embedded control unit of the system and provides local system monitoring and status indication. The victim interface collects information including the victim's name, contact information, emergency category, description, and geographical location. Location information is obtained through browser-based geolocation services when permission is granted, while a map-based location-sharing option provides an alternative when automatic location acquisition is unsuccessful. Submitted emergency records are stored in a cloud database and synchronized with the rescue dashboard, where responders can view victim information, geographical coordinates, priority levels, and incident status. The prototype was implemented and evaluated through hardware testing, web-interface testing, database communication testing, and end-to-end emergency-reporting tests. The implemented system demonstrated the feasibility of integrating victim reporting, location acquisition, cloud-based data management, and rescue coordination into a single low-cost platform. The developed solution provides a practical approach for improving situational awareness and supporting faster coordination of emergency response activities, particularly in resource-constrained environments.
VL  - 1
IS  - 1
ER  -

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