RT-HRLE: A system design for real-time hazards reporting and loss estimation using wireless sensors

Abstract

This paper presents a high level design for a scalable and extendable real-time hazard reporting and loss estimation system (RT-HRLE) which helps evaluating the initial estimation of economic losses in case of natural or man-made disasters. The system allows real-time monitoring, tracking of missed people inside buildings and reports partial or total destruction of buildings to a central database. Estimation of the actual number of missed persons inside buildings at the moment of disasters can be also reported to help accelerating medical and disaster relief assistance. The system is based on measuring the changes of the geometrical dimensions of buildings using smart wireless sensors. Reported changes are then automatically compared with pre-configured evaluations to compute the total loss. Collected data for loss estimation are useful for analyzing hazards and vulnerabilities. The current system can be extended to measure cracks in bridges after the earthquake without the need for human intervention.