Abstract
This paper describes a prototype application to use different algorithms for creating optimal evacuation routes in the presence of a wildfire with a dynamic event-based update. The application uses a meteorological API that obtains real-time temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, speed, and wind direction of each location within an area using geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude) for creating a sensor network. The data are stored in a database for monitoring and visualization using the open-source platform Grafana, which includes an early warning mechanism that sends messages when it detects a temperature outside the normal range. Three different simulation scenarios were evaluated, varying the fire’s starting point coordinates and the evacuation route. The results show that the algorithm reacts to the presence of fire, maximizing safety margins even on longer evacuation routes. The prototype can be used to create an application to fight forest fires and safeguard rescue agents’ lives.
Highlights
Evacuation routes are fundamental ways that indicate the path to be followed when leaving a building, generally to a specific meeting point out of danger to avoid putting people’s lives at risk [1]
These tasks are a bit difficult to implement in wooded environments, i.e., there is no defined route in a wildfire since it changes according to the geographical variations of the terrain, topology, climatic factors, and type of fuel; safe evacuation routes vary as the incident progresses [5]
The results show that the evacuation route reacts to the presence of fire in the forest, deviating from its original direction and identifying another appropriate route that maintains a safe distance from the fire, this is not the shortest route to an arrival point
Summary
Evacuation routes are fundamental ways that indicate the path to be followed when leaving a building, generally to a specific meeting point out of danger to avoid putting people’s lives at risk [1]. The implicit hazards of facilities, emergency measures, and safe assembly areas must be considered in the design of evacuation routes [2,3,4]. These tasks are a bit difficult to implement in wooded environments, i.e., there is no defined route in a wildfire since it changes according to the geographical variations of the terrain, topology, climatic factors, and type of fuel; safe evacuation routes vary as the incident progresses [5]. National and international agencies currently encourage research in creating mechanisms for forecasting, detecting, and monitoring forest fires and educational policies for forest conservation [6,7]. Technical guides and evacuation plans are offered as consultation tools aimed at communities and field personnel to minimize risks and reduce the mortality rate in these emergencies [8].
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