Sensor Networks Applied to the Problem of Building Evacuation An Evaluation in Simulation.pdf

Sensor Networks Applied to the Problem of Building Evacuation: An Evaluation in Simulation Constantine K. Christakos Cambridge, MA Email: dean@ Abstract— Use of ad hoc sensor networks as a decentralized Smart Dust[1] pointed to the trends of “complete systems on control system has been proposed for a variety of applications. a chip, integrated low-power communication, and integrated I propose a distributed sensor system to aid in path finding low-power transducers,” as forces that made intelligent net- and apply such a system to the problem of building evacuation. In simulation, I design an ad hoc protocol to allow sensors works of sensors possible. to cooperate in an attempt to find the best path to an exit Early proposed applications of ad hoc sensor networks in a situation where paths may be blocked and the effective included environmental monitoring,[2], [3], which by their physical topology is dynamically changing. Integrating this sensor nature lend themselves to a centralized architecture in which simulation with a pedestrian simulator, I show that when sensors data is aggregrated back to a base station where it is examined direct pedestrians to travel in the direction of the best path to the exit, escape time is improved. Instructions from sensors and analyzed by inquirers. based on local exchange of data about changing conditions results Another application is traffic detection and control, us- in performance close to the performance of decisions made by ing both inductive loop sensors[4], [5], microphones[6], or pedestrians based on if they had global knowledge of physical cameras[7]