Mobile phone based victim detection and triage mapping

I think I can get Google on board to include this project in their 2010 summer of code initiatives, but the software is not the hardest nut to crack. In my opinion it is pinpointing cell phone signals and their locations given the multipath and chaotic radio paths that mobile phone signals will take from a collapsed building or City, this is the most difficult problem to solve.

The probable best approach is to use cell mast interpolation to detect the time difference between a number of aerial cell masts (mounted in helicopters or light aircraft) and to use the GPS coordinates of this aerial network and the time difference of phone response signals to determine the victim’s locations.

I am interested in getting support for this initiative from business organisations around the world and would welcome your assstance in this regard.

The idea follows: Mobile phone based victim detection and triage mapping Elevator Pitch With 4+ billion mobile phones in use worldwide, future disaster sites should be scanned for the presence of mobile phone signals because the phones will be where the victims are! Getting mobile phone masts and radio direction finding equipment quickly to a disaster site enables a quick radio survey of the site to detect the most viable survival areas. Where mobile phones have been completely wiped out the likelihood of survival is reduced. This quick identification of the most promising survival areas is likely to save lives.

Needs and Benefits To alleviate human suffering and help save lives through the efficient detection of victim locations via the use of mobile phone detection equipment integrated with web disaster management applications at disaster sites.

Approach To provide a Mobile phone based victim detection and triage mapping element to Sahana and similar disaster management software. Aerial and Mobile radio masts detect victim phone location via mobile phones automatic authentication & handover signals aided by aerial and land based RDF ( radio direction finding ) equipment Helicopter and mobile radio masts mimic cell mast switching process to trigger quiescent phones into transmitting. Phones respond with theirID and authentication signals to new cell. Helicopters and light aircraft scan areas triggering quiescent phones into transmitting. Phone transmissions are detected from multiple positions and their locations plotted onto a web map. Uses a mixture of GPS integrated with RDF and cell mast interpolation. Mobile / Aerial cell masts use GPS to fix their relative positions Web Maps are overlaid with phone locations. Phone locations that don t move are visited to see if victims are present Locations are checked using sniffer dogs and life locators and results recorded into web map via rescuers mobile phones. Web map Icons colour change detail that site has been visited and the viability of rescue. Rescuers use their own GNSS equipped mobiles to home in on potential rescue sites and record triage assessments. * Web, Satellite and Mobile phone developments have utility worldwide. * Developments benefit emergency services and citizens in first world and developing countries alike *

The improved positional accuracy and signal strength provided by Galileo is key to providing improved accuracy in triaging a disaster site. S

ustainability None; Governments or Corporate sponsors will need to provide the financial means to develop the technology and systems of detection. Mobile phone RDF plus swarm detection algorithms coupled to internet mapping has the potential to save many more lives in future. Governments or the EU need to provide funds to prove the principle. Best solution is to develop these humanitarian solutions via sponsorship in a Google summer of code project to upgrade Sahana and similar disaster management applications with input and support from Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Apple and other phone manufacturers . There are likely to be more efficient methods of triggering phones into transmitting to maximise location detection than the methods proposed above. These include getting phones to transmit their last GPS location etc in response to an emergency code transmission from the cell mast. These improved methods also need to be assessed and addressed in the Google code summer camp. Existing and Planned Detection Systems All 911 and 112 emergency phone calls will be tracked either by obtaining the GPS coordinates of the caller or by cell mast interpolation. The emergency operator is presented with this locational information (when available) whilst answering. Emergency calls to the Galileo satellite system pinpoint the callers position to a high precision. Avalanche detection of skiers buried under snow using Galileo see http://derstandard.at/1256255822643/Spuerhund-Lawinen-Suchgeraetortet- Handys- Verschuetteter

This proposal expands on the above and looks at the quantity and location of mobile phones within a disaster site via a scatter plot to enable disaster managers to derive inferences on where survivors are likely to be. And moreover, tracks the cell phones of rescuers to check their progression through the disaster site and record areas visited, plus victim and survivor details. The rescuer marks the victims forehead and palm with numbers from phone application and takes a photo (where possible) to identify the victim/survivors found at locations. It needs only a biro to identify the victim/survivor and their location. Henceforward, they are identified and located this eases searches by relatives for victims/survivors and reduces the confusion and bewilderment for future disasters. The system can also pinpoint survivor movements and where disaster controllers need to place food, shelter and medical care. The system can be used by disaster managers to contact and advise survivors who are heading into greater danger i.e. heading into a more severe region of fire, flood , disease or conflict

Kindest regards Joe Rice Managing Director brite-sparks Engineering Limited Strelley Hall Strelley Nottingham, NG8 6PE Office +44(0)115 9061200 Website: www.brite-sparks.com

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18th March, 2010

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