Research for Civil Security

16 NavIgatION aND lOCalIzatIONI-LOVIntelligent safeguarding localization system for the rescuing of people trapped or buriedunder rubblemotivationImages of events causing damage in which peoplehave been trapped or buried under rubble serve asconstant reminders of the vulnerability of the placeswhere we live and work. To conduct rapid rescue operations,emergency forces all over the world needtimely information on the exact position of peopletrapped or buried under rubble, information on therisk of collapse of debris and standardized interventionprocedures as well as information on the stateof the victims’ health.Project description and goalsThe project focuses on key aspects and challengesin terms of social conditions, emergencymedicine, intervention psychology, law and technologyrequired for the targeted and timely rescueof people who have been trapped or buried underrubble. It aims to ensure the safety of rescue forcesand victims at all times during natural or man-madecatastrophes. Above all, the emphasis is on innovativelocalization processes designed to improve theability to locate buried and injured people.Therefore, a portable information system is to bedeveloped, which will constitute the core communicationsinterface. This system will be used at theaccident site together with especially developedmodular and radio-based equipment systems,which will support rescue forces during rescue operations.These support functions will assist, amongother things, in component securing / debris monitoringfor the protection of rescue personnel andvictims as well as in the localization of the peopletrapped or buried by rubble.Innovations and applicationsAt the conclusion of all research work, demonstratorswill be developed that will be tested continuouslyin field trials under realistic interventionconditions during the course of the project. Thesefield trials are intended to collect findings on suitabilityfor use, localization precision and operationaltactics, in order to optimize the suitability ofthe system for use in disaster areas. The technologiesto be developed will help collect information atan accident site, optimize the communication andinformation flows, increase the efficiency of searchand rescue measures and raise the overall safetylevel while at the same time lowering the cost ofinterventions.Innovative search and detection processes will significantly enhance the ability of emergency forces to locate people and will facilitate the rescue ofinjured persons (source: German Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW)