Building Occupancy Tracking for Disaster Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Firefighters face challenges in allocating disaster response resources effectively in large buildings with fluctuating occupancy, as they lack critical information about the number of people and special needs individuals present, which hinders timely decision-making during emergencies like fires.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes security card readers and wireless network access points to gather personnel information, generating disaster vulnerability indices based on factors like floor location, exit availability, and special needs, and provides real-time assessments through a processor and database system to effectively deploy responders.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If firefighters make resource allocation decisions without building occupancy information, then decision-making speed is maintained, but resource allocation accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously collecting and storing occupancy data through security card readers and wireless network access points before disasters occur. This pre-gathered information is readily available when emergencies happen, eliminating the need for time-consuming data collection during crises while providing accurate real-time occupancy counts and special needs identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of security card readers, wireless network access points, and a central processing system that mediates between building occupants and firefighters. This intermediary infrastructure continuously monitors and reports occupancy information, enabling firefighters to make informed decisions without directly interacting with or counting occupants during emergencies.
2Measurement precision
If detailed personnel information is collected and processed, then resource allocation accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves multi-functionality by repurposing existing security card readers and wireless network access points for dual purposes: their original security and networking functions plus new occupancy monitoring and disaster assessment functions. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated monitoring systems, reducing overall complexity while providing comprehensive personnel information including location, identity, and special needs data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by having occupants automatically register their presence and characteristics through existing authentication mechanisms. Security card readers and wireless access points automatically capture and transmit occupancy data without requiring manual input or additional occupant actions, eliminating the need for complex data collection interfaces while gathering detailed personnel information.
Data Source
AI summary
The number and identities of people in a building along with personal data that is useful in disaster response planning are determined from a database receiving information from the building's security access card readers and from user information extracted from wireless network access points. This information is used in the event of a disaster alarm to quickly compute vulnerability indicia for each of several locations in a building and each of several buildings in a group.