Mobile Device Location Tracking for Emergency Search Prioritization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for identifying individuals in an area of interest during emergencies, such as search and rescue operations, are time-consuming and inefficient, often placing emergency workers in peril and delaying the understanding of the number of people involved, leading to secondary searches.
Innovation Solution
A system that collects and provides location information of mobile communication devices within an area of interest, using communications providers to establish the number of persons present and gather situational reports, enabling quicker identification of trapped individuals and providing them with instructions and updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a logical search pattern (grid search) is used to identify persons in an emergency area, then the search process is systematic and covers the entire area, but the time required to identify persons increases significantly and emergency workers may be placed in peril searching areas with no persons
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of persons in the emergency area by analyzing mobile device location data before emergency workers begin their physical search. This preliminary action provides a head start by identifying which areas contain persons, allowing workers to prioritize their search efforts and avoid wasting time in areas with no persons.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer between the emergency area and the search workers. This intermediary system collects and analyzes mobile device location data, then provides processed information to guide the search workers. The intermediary prevents workers from directly searching every area systematically, instead enabling them to search only the most relevant areas identified by the system.
2Reliability
If emergency workers search through the entire area systematically, then all areas are covered, but it may take hours or days to ascertain how many people are present, leading to secondary search events
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary layer between the emergency area and the search workers. This intermediary system collects and analyzes mobile device location data, then provides processed information to guide the search workers. The intermediary prevents workers from directly searching every area systematically, instead enabling them to search only the most relevant areas identified by the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the mechanical manual search process with an automated information system. Instead of workers physically searching every area to count persons, the system automatically collects mobile device location data, processes it to identify persons in the area, and provides this information to workers. This substitution dramatically reduces the time required to ascertain the number of persons while maintaining accuracy.
3Reliability
If a grid search pattern is used to ensure complete coverage of the emergency area, then no area is missed, but the first areas searched may have no persons while persons in lower priority areas are delayed or missed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of persons in the emergency area by analyzing mobile device location data before emergency workers begin their physical search. This preliminary action provides a head start by identifying which areas contain persons, allowing workers to prioritize their search efforts and avoid wasting time in areas with no persons.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies different search priorities to different areas based on the presence of persons. Instead of treating all areas equally in a systematic grid pattern, the system identifies areas with persons and assigns them higher priority, while areas without persons receive lower priority or are skipped. This local differentiation optimizes the search process by focusing resources where they are most needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for establishing an approximate number of persons in an area of interest comprises providing a request to one or more communications providers that cover an area of interest. The request is for a listing of any mobile communication devices located within the area of interest. The listing of any mobile communication devices located within the area of interest is utilized to establish an approximate number of persons in the area of interest. In response to receipt of information that indicates a mobile communication device on the listing has departed the area of interest, the listing is updated to show the mobile communication device is clear of the area of interest.