Empowering Disaster Management: Disaster Science's Success with VyOS

Customer Overview

Disaster Science, through its Bushfire.io platform, is at the forefront of delivering critical, real-time information on natural disasters and community incidents, using advanced technology and data analytics to ensure community safety and preparedness across Australia, Canada, and the USA. Our journey began in response to Australia's worst-ever bushfires in 2019-2020 when our founder was nearly trapped on the NSW south coast. This crisis highlighted a dire need for accurate, near-real-time information to answer essential questions about disaster directions, intensities, and safe evacuation practices. Motivated by this alarming lack of information and driven by a mission to save lives and protect communities, we assembled a team of experts, engineers, and visionaries to develop Bushfire.io. Today, our platform has evolved into a comprehensive resource offering innovative tools like 3D wind overlays and intelligent alerting systems, designed to empower people, emergency services, and businesses to navigate the uncertainties of natural disasters with confidence and resilience.

Challenge

The primary challenge for Disaster Science was establishing a robust internet presence in a colocation with limited access to commercial technical services. They needed a secure, performant, and scalable routing solution capable of handling the urgent demands of disseminating crucial information during emergencies.

Why VyOS

The team considered several networking options including Cisco and Arista hardware, Cisco’s cloud services router, and native Linux setups. VyOS was selected for its ability to meet stringent requirements without the prohibitive costs associated with similar solutions. Key drivers for the decision included:

Performance: Capable of scalability up to 10GbE.
Cost-Efficiency: Met requirements without prohibitive costs.
Validation: Initial tests with the VyOS Rolling Release were successful.
Support: Positive interactions with VyOS personnel solidified the decision.

Implementation

The solution required high availability and essential networking functionalities like NAT and ACLs. VyOS was implemented to handle the rigorous demands of the network. (Implementation details derived from "Solutions Explored" requirements)

Results

VyOS has been instrumental in maintaining uninterrupted service, ensuring performance that consistently exceeds Disaster Science's operational needs. Key outcomes included:

Reliability: Stable ingress and egress traffic data demonstrate the system's reliability.
Service Continuity: Maintained uninterrupted service essential for effective disaster communication.
Community Impact: Allowed Disaster Science to maintain a robust platform, significantly enhancing community safety and ensuring the timely delivery of critical information.

Looking Ahead

The partnership has fortified their infrastructure, enhancing their ability to support community resilience and respond effectively to emergencies. Disaster Science's use of VyOS highlights the essential role of reliable technical solutions in disaster management.