This workshop on “High Altitude Platforms as Disaster Recovery Networks and Early Warning Systems” is structured into three comprehensive sections, each led by an expert in the field.

Dr. Deepak Mishra will begin by examining how High Altitude Platforms (HAPs) offer a transformative solution for resilient disaster recovery networks and early warning systems, particularly when terrestrial infrastructure is compromised. He will introduce the technical foundations of HAP-enabled emergency communications, focusing on coverage-aware deployment, optimal altitude selection, and relay- assisted architectures. By leveraging analytical frameworks for UAV hovering localisation, energy- efficient relaying, and semi-Markov traffic modelling, he will highlight strategies to maximise throughput, coverage probability, and long-term operational sustainability. The role of low-power wide- area technologies such as LoRa, including emerging direct-to-satellite and LEO-integrated IoT paradigms, will be examined to enable robust, large-scale connectivity in disaster-affected regions. Hybrid HAP–UAV architectures, cooperative relaying, and energy harvesting mechanisms will be further explored to ensure prolonged network availability under constrained power conditions. These system- level modelling, stochastic geometry, and optimisation-driven design insights will be synthesised into a cohesive framework for scalable, adaptive, and energy-aware aerial communication systems supporting disaster resilience and early warning operations.

The second segment, presented by Dr. Ganesan Thiagarajan, will focus on the foundational engineering principles and practical considerations underpinning HAP-based networks. He will discuss physical- layer aspects, including propagation models, link budget analysis, and spectrum allocation, which are essential for ensuring reliable high-altitude communications. He will also evaluate the economic feasibility of deploying such systems at scale, address hardware requirements for advanced beamforming technologies, and provide insights into system design considerations that influence both performance and cost-effectiveness. This section aims to bridge the gap between theoretical models and real-world deployment scenarios, highlighting the trade-offs and decisions faced by engineers and planners.

The final section, presented by Dr. Sanjeev Gurugopinath, will focus on advanced system-level strategies that integrate multiple cutting-edge technologies. He will explore how HAPs can be seamlessly integrated with communication techniques such as Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) to improve spectral efficiency and connectivity in disaster scenarios. The session will also highlight the role of HAPs and drones acting as relays, enabling flexible and scalable network architectures that extend coverage and enhance resilience when ground infrastructure is compromised. Furthermore, he will discuss the application of joint radar and communicationtechniques for simultaneous tracking and data transmission, which is vital for real-time situational awareness and coordination in emergency response. The workshop will conclude by synthesising these approaches into a unified framework, emphasising their collective potential to deliver robust, adaptive, and effective disaster recovery and early warning solutions.