RETRACTED ARTICLE: Multi-UAV Networks for Disaster Monitoring: Challenges and Opportunities from a Network Perspective

Disasters, whether natural or man-made, necessitate swift and comprehensive responses. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, have become indispensable in disaster scenarios, serving as vital communication relays in areas with compromised infrastructure. These UAVs establish temporary networks, facilitating coordination among emergency responders and ensuring timely assistance to survivors. Despite recent advancements in sensing technology, challenges persist in deploying these networks for disaster monitoring applications. This article addresses these challenges by exploring various aspects in the context of multi-UAV networks for disaster monitoring. To provide a clearer motivation for this exploration, we emphasize the critical role that a well-designed network infrastructure plays in enhancing disaster response efforts. We delve into the complexities of formation and control strategies, aiming to optimize the agility and effectiveness of UAV networks. Additionally, we examine communication protocols, data routing mechanisms, and security considerations to highlight the intricacies involved in deploying UAVs for disaster monitoring. This article also underscores the significance of its contributions to the existing literature by providing a survey of the state-of-the art studies and illuminates the potential of leveraging emerging technologies, such as edge computing and artificial intelligence, to bolster performance and security. The article concludes by providing a detailed overview of the key challenges and open issues, outlining various research prospects in the evolving field of multi-UAV networks for disaster response.