A low cost, mobile e-nose system with an effective user interface for real time victim localization and hazard detection in USaR operations

Abstract

An e-nose system for Urban Search and Rescue operations is presented. The tool's purpose is the detection of trapped victims in building rubble and air related hazards when entering confined and poorly ventilated spaces. The e-nose system presented here is intended to be used during the Assessment, Search and Rescue (ASR) level 4 of a USaR operation and is part of the sensor payload of a remotely controlled robot that enters collapsed building structures. The system is tested in realistic conditions to verify its functionality. The system includes a user interface to present the findings in a simple and concise manner and aid in the execution of a search. End-users were included in the requirements phase of the research/design and in its final validation in realistic conditions. A heuristic algorithm/logic is programmed to generate the simplified output based on the sensor's readings.