Detect and survive

Emergency crews could be given technology to allow them to communicate and locate each other in smoke-filled or partially collapsed buildings, and even detect survivors by their breathing.

The technology, which is based on ultrawideband (UWB) radio, is being developed in an EU-funded project led by Thales Research and Technology in the UK.

In collapsed or fire-stricken buildings, locating and communicating with rescue workers can be extremely difficult, said David Harmer, project co-ordinator and chief engineer at Thales Research and Technology.

‘The key scenario we’re considering is personnel going into damaged or collapsed buildings, or buildings that are on fire. It could also be in the aftermath of a bomb, where the police might want the forensic people to go in, and it would help them to co-ordinate the search if they can see where everyone is and record where they have gone,’ he said.

Credit card-sized ultrawideband transceivers would be attached to the crew members as they enter collapsed or burning buildings, and used to locate them to within around 20cm. The tags could also transmit data such as details on the crew members’ health or that of their equipment, and images of the disaster scene.