A system includes nodes deployable across an area and self-forming a mobile ad-hoc network. The nodes include (1) imaging circuitry for capturing an image of a local sub-area based on a triggering event, (2) image-transfer circuitry for partitioning a captured image into sub-images or image segments and transmitting them to other nodes, (3) image-transmission circuitry for transmitting a sub-image from another node on an uplink to a relay such as a satellite. The relay (1) receives transmissions of respective sub-images, in parallel on independent channels, from the nodes via respective uplinks, and (2) retransmits the sub-images to the remote location via a downlink. A central control station at the remote location (1) receives the sub-images from the relay via the downlink, (2) re-creates the captured image by combining the received sub-images, and (3) utilizes the re-created image in a monitoring or control operation of the central control station.

A computer-implemented method comprises receiving a data stream that includes a series of code words that encodes a respective series of pixel data according to a first entropy coding lookup table, and processing the data stream to determine if there is a match between a first code word and a consecutive second code word, and a code word entry in a second entropy coding lookup table. The method also includes, if there is a match, decoding the first code word and the second code word using the second entropy coding lookup table. Further, the method includes, if there is not a match, decoding the first code word using the first entropy coding lookup table.