Human condition monitoring in hazardous locations using pervasive RFID sensor tags and energy-efficient wireless networks

• Published in: Frontiers of information technology & electronic engineering Vol. 13; no. 9; pp. 674 - 688
• Main Authors: Escribano, Javier G, García, Andrés
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Springer Nature B.V 01-09-2012
• Subjects: Algorithms; Condition monitoring; Confined spaces; Data transmission; Radio frequency identification; Transmission rate (communications); Wireless networks; Wireless sensor networks
• ISSN: 2095-9184; 2095-9230
• DOI: 10.1631/jzus.C1100318

Tracking persons in dangerous situations as well as monitoring their physical condition, is often crucial for their safety. The systems commonly used for this purpose do not include individual monitoring or are too expensive and intrusive to be deployed in common situations. In this project, a mobile system based on energy-efficient wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and active radio frequency identification (RFID) has been developed to achieve ubiquitous positioning and monitoring of people in hazardous situations. The system designed can identify each individual, locate him/her, send data regarding their physical situation, and ascertain whether they are located in a confined space. A new algorithm called time division double beacon scheduling (TDDBS) has been implemented to increase operation time and data transmission rate of the nodes in the system. The results show that the use of this system allows us to find the location and state of a person, as well as to provide an analysis of the potential risks at each moment, in real time and in an energy-efficient way. In an emergency, the system also allows for quicker intervention, as it not only provides the location and causes of the event, but also informs about the physical condition of the individual at that moment.