Advancing technologies to seamlessly locate, track, and inform first responders while operating indoors.
The ability to locate, track, and inform first responders while indoors under difficult conditions remains a 'Holy Grail' sought by public safety. Law enforcement officers enter buildings every day, often alone and in peril, without the benefits of indoor tracking. Firefighters continue to die or become seriously injured each year because they are lost, disoriented, or difficult to locate in emergency situations.
Point Cloud City Awards
Point clouds are a collection of spatial 3D data points defined by a given coordinates system (typically x,y,z coordinates). A point cloud is made up of tiny data points in the three dimension world to ultimately reflect a physical space. They are collection from a scanner, e.g. LiDAR in a 3D coordinate system, and used to create 3D models such as architecture or virtual reality applications. PSCR awarded three applicants to the Public Safety Innovation Accelerator Program Point Cloud City funding opportunity totaling over $750,000.
The City of Memphis, Enfield Fire Dept. No. 1, and Hancock County, Mississippi were each awarded funding to create annotated point clouds and 360 degree imagery datasets collected from a variety of building types in their local area. Follow their progress.
Research Projects
RF Localization and Mapping Using Randomized Interference Sampling
This project focuses on augmenting the sensing capabilities of radiofrequency (RF) based technologies applied to indoor localization and mapping for public safety services. The goal is to quickly create an image of the internal structure of an unknown building, e.g. its floorplan, from a standoff position prior to the entry of first responders.
Future of Preplanning
Two and three-dimensional maps are critical for indoor tracking, yet access to these maps for first responders is scarce. The goal of this project is to demonstrate a way for first responders to capture their own maps and models that will enable accurate tracking indoors. PSCR is exploring the use of mobile 3D LiDAR and 360-degree imagery systems to survey buildings and generate indoor maps along with many other valuable outputs for first responders' routine preplanning operations.
Indoor Measurement
Difficulties measuring indoor Localization and Tracking Systems (LTS) makes it difficult for public safety to determine whether commercial indoor LTS meet their requirements. Testing requires significant planning time, and expenses to execute and typically requires predetermine landmarks to register location, which is unrealistic for active users like first responders. This project intends to conduct testing and measurement activities for indoor LTS to address these challenges and improve the accuracy of ultra-wideband localization systems. Learn more about the Localization and Tracking System Testing Consortium.
Location Based Services Portfolio Mission: Demonstrate that indoor mapping, tracking, and navigation capabilities that first responders can depend on are within reach.
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Location Based Services Portfolio Vision: Position PSCR to transition the innovative technologies, approaches, and research capacity created in this portfolio to products, standards, and public safety systems.