Autonomous Sensors for Just in Time Information Gathering in Support of Search and Rescue in the Event of a Building Collapse

Collapses of buildings happen too rarely to justify continuous data collection for security reasons. On the other hand, information is fundamental for the rescue of people trapped in the rubble. The use of autonomous sensors to trigger data capturing only when required is the base of a system that was developed to collect, store, transmit and manage information primary on what happened in each closed space of the building during the collapse. The system comprises monitoring devices installed in each closed space of the building and portable units to be used by the intervention teams. Only when triggered by a collapse each monitoring device stores a sequence of images referring to the situation in the room 5 minutes before the collapse and 10 seconds after; it then stays in the rubbles alert to transmit on demand the data to the USAR team. Evaluation of the system being at the stage of pre-industrial prototype both on a shaking table and in field conditions, as well as hands-on assessment by rescuers, encouraged further implementation.

DANDOULAKI Miranta;  ANDRITSOS Fivos; 

2007-11-08

Inderscience Publishers

JRC34039

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC34039,