Techmapping is a platform focused on rescue.
Phase 1: Discovery
Use drones (unmanned aerial vehicle) to get an aerial view of the disaster area. The images captured by the drones will be used to create a map. The drones could be equipped with infrared, thermal and night vision cameras to spot people. The spotted people will be mapped as “easy to rescue”, who will receive help soon. Equipment such as Synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) could be implemented to the drones to provide photographic-like images through clouds, rain or fog, and in daytime or nighttime conditions. This phase can start at day and night time.
In the case that the communication infrastructure (3G/4G)/ is still working, the pictures could be uploaded in real time to the cloud (a service on the internet) to build the map using 3G/4G connectivity on the drones. If the communication infrastructure is down, the pictures can be stored and downloaded after the route.
Once the map has been built, the drones can be programmed to flight on virtual paths to cover the entire damage zone. It will maintain the map updated and also will monitor new people detections, as well as the direction where the people might be moving to, before being contacted on the second phase.
Request to Facebook the profile names and last location of everyone that used the social network on that geographical area during 12 hours before the disaster was declared. Geolocation information will be mapped with the images captured by the drones. This information will be classified as possible “last known location” that might be useful in certain scenarios (e.g. earthquakes). Profile names will be used to locate people in the third phase.
Phase 2: First responders
Use aerostatic balloons to serve as visible devices to let the people affected by a disaster find a place where they can get any kind of help. These balloons could use (LED) artifacts (such as big arrows) that will point to the direction where they can receive help. LED’s are resistant and require low energy. The LED artifacts will point to the location where the help can be reached. The artifacts will synch the direction by geolocation.
According with the kind of disaster, vehicles such as motorcycles, boats or quadracopters could be used to carry and provide first aid kits/food/clothes (according to the disaster) and wearable devices (miniature electronic devices that can be worn), that will serve as sensors and communication devices, to the “easy to rescue” people. The wearable devices will be able to monitor the health conditions, to monitor their location on the map, to be able to send a rescue team (if needed) and/or to provide them with instructions. All these vehicles could be targeted to the areas located on the map in short time.
In the case that the communication infrastructure (3G/4G)/ is still working, the vehicles will provide information to the cloud (location, sensors activity, communication, etc.) using this infrastructure. If the communication infrastructure is down, the vehicles (including the aerostatic balloons) will provide a VANET, which will be used to send the information to the cloud. The wearable devices will be able to communicate on this network too.
A database can be filled in, immediately, with the information of the people that has received any kind of help either by the first response vehicles or at the help location (e.g. hospitals, refugees, etc.) using the VANET.
Phase 3: Locating trapped people
Using the information on the map (facebook geolocation, heat spots, and areas where the vehicles contacted the “easy to rescue” people) will help to find areas where no help has been provided.
Using the profile names provided by Facebook, a search engine could be used to find out the last information posted by the people who have not received any help and were located in the disaster area. There might be information regarding where they were planning to go in order to find an approximated area where they might be.
The vehicles, and search/rescue teams can be deployed as scouts to these areas in order to look for trapped people.
In the case of earthquakes, thermal images cameras through walls could be used to detect trapped unconscious or weak people.
Results:
• Air view mapping
• Network communication provided by central and in motion vehicles.
• Visual location for help spots that everyone could see.
• Provision of real needs, meanwhile people is rescued.
• Real time information handled on the map relating multiple information sources.
• Mapping areas where people might be trapped
• Real time statistics.