Acronym: SAVE ME
Project Title: System and actions for vehicles and transportation hubs to support disaster mitigation and evacuation
Duration: 36 months (01/10/2009-30/09/2012)
Description: SAVE ME aims to develop a system that detects natural (i.e. earthquake, fire,…) and man-made (i.e. terrorist attacks) disaster events in public transport terminals / vehicles and critical infrastructures (i.e. tunnels, and bridges) and that supports quick and optimal mass evacuation guidance, to save the lives of the general public and the rescuers, giving particular emphasis to the most vulnerable travellers (i.e. children, elderly and disabled). To achieve this, it develops a common ontological framework for hazard recognition, classification and mitigation, innovative algorithms on human behaviour under stress, panic and strong emotions, standardised interface elements for intuitive human guidance, a holistic disaster mitigation strategy and intelligent agents algorithms for guidance personalisation. It employs a Wireless Sensor Network for emergency detection, environmental awareness and travellers’ position and movements monitoring, as well as a fault tolerant communication network infrastructure. It integrates simulator model data with real time data from these sensors, to reach enhanced crowd behaviour models and uses them in a Decision Support System, to supervise the overall disaster mitigation operation. Thus, it supports the infrastructure operator, guides the rescue team through PDA and the trapped travellers by environmental displays and audio systems, as well as personalised guidance in their mobile phone to the nearest safe and free exit, taking into account their profile (i.e. disability, agility, language, etc.). It also develops appropriate training curricula, content and tools for operators, rescuers and the general public; guidelines to the infrastructure / vehicle operators and designers and standardisation proposals to the policy makers. All project developments are thoroughly and iteratively tested and optimised by lab tests as well as two in pilot sites, at a metro station in Newcastle (UK) and the Gotthard tunnel (Switzerland).
Objectives: The SAVE ME main objectives that were initially set and have been actually satisfied are as follows:
- 1. To identify the actual problems and needs of all travellers and stakeholders in dealing with various physical disaster or terrorism events.
- 2. To devise specific use cases and application scenarios, covering all the project application areas (metro terminal, platform and vehicle and tunnel) for all types of emergencies considered (earthquake, fire and terrorist attack).
- 3. To specify the systems and their modules for in-time detection and to develop the needed sensors (for detection, localisation, and situation awareness), as well as the appropriate telecommunication infrastructure.
- 4. To investigate all users' behaviour (including emotions and stress) during panic situations, leading to the development of appropriate interfaces to inform the public, avoiding the cause of havoc and stress (including vulnerable travellers).
- 5. To develop algorithms, based on intelligent agents, for personalisation of the information provision to the needs of each user (e.g. simple visual information for elderly users, or sound notification for visually-impaired users).
- 6. To develop a decision support system (DSS), based upon dynamic and closed-loop simulation and modelling tools, with real time data.
- 7. To offer support to the infrastructure operators.
- 8. To offer guidance to the rescue crew through personal digital assistants (PDAs);
- 9. To offer guidance to the public through their mobile devices, as well as through public terminals and announcements.
- 10. To develop training programmes (methodology, curricula and tools) for the infrastructure operators, the emergency units’ personnel and the general public, to optimise their performance during emergencies.
- 11. To install and test the SAVE ME system in two pilot sites (in the underground station and metro vehicles of NEXUS in Newcastle in the United Kingdom and the Gotthard tunnel in Switzerland), in order to evaluate its reliability, usability, usefulness, efficiency and market viability.
- 12. To develop concise exploitation and dissemination plans for the successful and efficient adoption of SAVE ME products.
- 13. To contribute to the standardisation activities that are being undertaken by national, European and International bodies, on infrastructure properties and evacuation aids.
HIT key role and responsibilities: HIT is Partner in the project.
Contact person:
Dr. Maria Panou
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
+30 211 1069 550