Browse Topic: Disaster and emergency management
ABSTRACT Geotechnical site characterization is the process of collecting geophysical and geospatial characteristics about the surface and subsurface to create a 3-dimensional (3D) model. Current Robot Operating System (ROS) world models are designed primarily for navigation in unknown environments; however, they do not store the geotechnical characteristics requisite for environmental assessment, archaeology, construction engineering, or disaster response. The automotive industry is researching High Definition (HD) Maps, which contain more information and are currently being used by autonomous vehicles for ground truth localization, but they are static and primarily used for navigation in highly regulated infrastructure. Modern site characterization and HD mapping methods involve survey engineers working on-site followed by lengthy post processing. This research addresses the shortcomings for current world models and site characterization by introducing Site Model Geospatial System
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force across various industries, revolutionizing processes and enhancing efficiency. In the automotive domain, AI's adaption has ushered in a new era of innovation and driving advancements across manufacturing, safety, and user experience. By leveraging AI technologies, the automotive industry is undergoing a significant transformation that is reshaping the way vehicles are manufactured, operated, and experienced. The benefits of AI-powered vehicles are not limited to their manufacturing, operation, and enhancing the user experience but also by integrating AI-powered vehicles with smart city infrastructure can unlock much more potential of the technology and can offer numerous advantages such as enhanced safety, efficiency, growth, and sustainability. Smart cities aim to create more livable, resilient, and inclusive communities by harnessing innovation through technologies like Internet of Things (IoT), devices, data
When an earthquake, flood, or other disaster strikes a region, existing communication infrastructure such as cell phone and radio towers are often damaged or destroyed. Restoring emergency communications as quickly as possible is vital for coordinating rescue and relief efforts
After hurricanes and other disasters, it is becoming more common for people to fly drones to record the damage and post videos on social media. Those videos are a resource for rapid damage assessment. By using artificial intelligence, researchers are developing a system that can automatically identify buildings and make an initial determination of whether they are damaged and how serious that damage might be
For wealthy countries like Switzerland, having a dense network of earthquake monitoring stations is a matter of course. This is not the case in less developed countries and on the floor of the world’s oceans. While poorer regions lack the money for the necessary number of sensors, the oceans require complex systems that can reliably measure minimal pressure changes at depths of thousands of meters and bring the data signals to the surface
Advanced technology plays a vital role in search and rescue operations after natural disasters such as earthquakes. Thermal imaging equipment and sensitive listening devices are deployed to seek out signs of life. Small aerial drones could also survey otherwise inaccessible spaces, but the inherent fragility of current designs have limited their use
This document provides guidance for in-flight rest facilities provided for use by cabin crew on commercial transport airplane. This document is applicable to dedicated cabin crew rest facilities with rigid walls. The facility includes a bunk or other surface that allows for a flat sleeping position, is located in an area that is temperature-controlled, allows the crew member to control light, and provides isolation from noise and disturbance
As fossil fuels are phased out in the effort to slow global warming, we will be depending upon a reliable source of electric power more than ever. And that means blackouts caused by weather events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and snowstorms will have increasingly serious consequences
A research team at the University of Central Florida has developed technology that could prevent electric vehicle fires, like those caused by saltwater flooding from Hurricane Ian
To make sure our buildings and infrastructure are earthquake-safe, we must understand how seismic activity affects different structures. Two major research efforts funded by the Department of Energy (DOE) seek to fill in the gaps and provide resources for researchers and engineers to study earthquakes across scales, from the initiation of seismic waves at the fault rupture site deep underground, to the interactions between shaking soil and individual structures at the surface
Innovators at the NASA Langley Research Center have developed the Multi-Layer Nuclear Thermionic Avalanche Cell (NTAC), a novel electrical generator, which transforms nuclear gamma-ray photon energy directly to electric power by liberating intra-band atomic inner shell electrons
Motorcyclists are about 29 times more likely than passenger vehicle occupants to die in a motor vehicle crash and are 4 times more likely to be injured. Safe motorcycling takes balance, co-ordination, and good judgement. As per NHTSA, per 100,000 registered vehicles motorcycle fatality and injury rate stand at 58.33 and 975 and that of passenger vehicles stand at 9.42 and 1152. With such rates of fatality and injury of motorcyclists, there is strong need for motorcycle solutions that help to minimize traffic fatalities and improve road safety scenarios. Helmets are estimated to be 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries to motorcycle riders and 41% for motorcycle passengers but there is little to no post-crash assistance available on board the motorcycles. Post-crash emergency response is time sensitive and can be broken down into a subset of activities beginning with discovery of crash, notification, and activation of emergency medical service (EMS), response time, on-scene time
Data is information that has been recorded in a form or format convenient to move or process. It is important to distinguish between data and the format. The format is a structured way to record information, such as engineering drawings and other documents, software, pictures, maps, sound, and animation. Some formats are open source, others proprietary. Regardless of the format, there are three broad types of data. Table 1 lists these types of data and provides examples. DM, from the perspective of this standard, consists of the disciplined processes and systems utilized to plan for, acquire, and provide management and oversight for product and product-related business data, consistent with requirements, throughout the product and data life cycles. Thus, this standard primarily addresses product data and the business data required for stakeholder collaboration extending through the supply chain during product acquisition and sustainment life cycle. This standard has broader application
This SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) specifies criteria for the design, development, standardization, and comprehension testing of placards containing pictures, drawings, symbols, and/or written instructions for locating and operating aircraft emergency equipment. This ARP also provides guidance in the selection and implementation of warning placards intended to instruct occupants inside, and rescue personnel outside, the aircraft
This SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice recommends general criteria for the development and installation of an aircraft emergency signal system to permit any crew member (flight or cabin) to inform all other crew members that an emergency evacuation situation exists and that an evacuation has been or should be immediately started
Coastal and riverine shorelines are dynamic landscapes that change continually in response to environmental forces. The combination of static infrastructure with dynamic and diverse landscapes creates management challenges for navigation, storm damage reduction, and ecosystem health that are exacerbated during natural disasters. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) flood risk management (FRM) mission strives to reduce the nation's flood risk and increase resilience to disasters. FRM is inherently interdisciplinary, requiring accurate identification of environmental, physical, and infrastructure features that can reduce risk from flood and coastal storm disasters
Road traffic injuries continue to be a leading cause of death around the world. Rapid emergency response is a key factor in improving occupant outcomes. Over the past ten years, Injury Severity Prediction (ISP) models have been developed and deployed to assist in effective dispatch of emergency medical services (EMS). Prior versions of ISP have relied on driver-based scenarios that are not relevant in many of the possible autonomous vehicle (AV) contexts. This paper describes the development and validation of occupant-based ISP models that predict injury severity for specific vehicle seat positions. Models show improved predictive performance, sensitivity 80% and specificity over 95%, for front row occupants. Second row occupant models have similar specificity, but sensitivity scores dropped due to occupant heterogeneity and small sample sizes of seriously injured occupants
Scientists have developed color-changing, flexible photonic crystals that could be used to develop sensors that warn when an earthquake might strike next. The wearable, robust, and low-cost sensors can respond sensitively to light, temperature, strain, or other physical and chemical stimuli, making them a promising option for cost-effective smart visual sensing applications in a range of sectors including healthcare and food safety
This document contains information that can be used by the air transportation industry to evaluate the design of airplane interior stairways with respect to the safety of passengers and crew in normal operating conditions and emergency evacuations
This SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) provides guidance for the design and location of cabin crew stations, including emergency equipment installations at or near such stations, so as to enable the cabin crew to function effectively in emergency situations, including emergency evacuations. Recommendations regarding design of cabin crew stations apply to all such stations; recommendations regarding location apply to those stations located near or adjacent to floor level exits
A recent virtual panel discussion reminded me that we ought not forget the propulsion workhorse of our industries: the good ol' diesel engine. It's sometimes easy to forget in the avalanche of EV and fuel-cell developments - quite a few detailed in this very issue - that combustion engines will continue to power the majority of on- and off-highway vehicles at least for the next decade. To further improve ICE efficiency during this powertrain-diversification process, engineers and R&D departments still are plugging away (pardon the pun) at engine and fuel advancements. “For most of the sectors of the construction industry, diesel is the technology of choice particularly for the largest construction machines and equipment,” said Allen Schaeffer, executive director of the Diesel Technology Forum, which hosted the virtual event with industry leaders. “Diesel is still evolving, and it will continue to do so in the future with even lower emissions and greater efficiency
Recent advancements of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft have generated significant interest within and beyond the traditional aviation industry, and many new and novel applications have been identified and are under development. One promising application is rapid response during natural disasters, which can complement current capabilities to help save lives and enhance post-disaster recoveries. The Use of eVTOL Aircraft During Natural Disasters presents issues that need to be addressed before eVTOL aircraft are integrated into natural disaster response operations: eVTOL vehicle development Detect-and-avoid capabilities in complex and challenging operating environments Autonomous and remote operations Charging system compatibility and availability Operator and controller training Dynamic air space management Vehicle/fleet logistics and support Acceptance from stakeholders and the public Click here to access the full SAE EDGETM Research Report portfolio
This document contains general criteria for the planning, design, and construction of military and commercial ground based aviation fueling facilities that receive, store, distribute, and dispense liquid aviation turbine fuels at airports to both fixed and rotary wing aircraft
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season was one of the most brutal on record, producing an unprecedented 30 named storms. What’s more, a record-tying 10 of those storms were characterized as rapidly intensifying — some throttling up by 100 miles per hour in under two days
This standard defines the minimum requirement for the design, construction and performance of continuous flow oxygen masks for crew and passengers of general aviation civil aircraft
Acoustical studies of atmospheric events like convective storms, tornadoes, shear-induced turbulence, micro-bursts, acoustic gravity waves, and hurricanes over the past 50 years have established that these events are strong emitters of infrasound. Current methods to forecast near-term weather phenomenon is electromagnetic (EM)-based radar and data from radiosondes
This SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) provides information and recommended guidelines for handling carry-on baggage prior to emergencies and during the emergency evacuation of transport category aircraft. Recommendations are provided on limiting the size, amount, and weight of carry-on baggage brought into the cabin, improved stowage of carry-on baggage to minimize hazards to passengers in flight and during emergency evacuations, and procedures to ensure carry-on baggage is not removed during an emergency evacuation
This SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) recommends general criteria for availability, location, accessibility, stowage, use, and crew member training needed for aircraft crash axes
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