The Linux Foundation said today it has agreed to house the “internet of things” device firmware effort of Project OWL, which aims to create a mesh network of open source devices called “DuckLinks” that can be used to establish an Internet connection during emergency situations.

One of the worst things about being in a disaster zone is that communication links tend to fall apart, and that can cause major headaches for both first responders and anyone who is in trouble and needs help.

Project OWL, which stands for Organization, Whereabouts and Logistics, says its DuckLinks are Wi-Fi-enabled devices that can be deployed rapidly in disaster areas to help re-establish connectivity and facilitate communications for emergency workers. The water-resistant devices, which can be either solar- or battery-powered, work by creating a local area network that powers up a Wi-Fi captive portal using low-frequency Long-range Radio, or LoRa. LoRa has a range of around 10 kilometers, which is greater than standard cellular networks.

Once connectivity has been established, the DuckLinks create an emergency mesh network that can be accessed by any Wi-Fi device within its range. So both emergency workers and people who need help will be able to use it.

Project OWL is far superior to the alternative. The Amateur Radio Emergency Service typically uses old-fashioned ham radio in such situations, but the disadvantage is that such equipment is pretty rare these days and most people require training to operate it. In contrast, DuckLinks are simple to deploy and anyone with a mobile device can tap into the network once it has been established.

In fact, the DuckLink devices aren’t even necessary. That’s because OWL’s firmware can transform any wireless device into a DuckLink using the ClusterDuck Protocol, which is a mesh network node that hooks up with other enabled devices.

Project OWL also provides cloud-based analytics services through the OWL Data Management Software, which can be used to organize and coordinate an emergency response.

“When developing technologies that can have a direct impact on human life, it’s more important than ever to bring the largest possible global community of developers together working with an open governance model,” Michael Dolan, the Linux Foundation’s vice president of strategic programs, said in a statement. “Project OWL’s technology solution is providing better information and analytics and enabling quicker distribution of resources and care where and when it’s needed most. We’re proud to support such a worthy cause.”

Images: Project OWL