A Real Time Indoor Navigation and Monitoring System for Firefighters and Visually Impaired

ABSTRACT A REAL TIME INDOOR NAVIGATION AND MONITORING SYSTEM FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED MAY 2011 SIDDHESH RAJAN GANDHI M.S. E.C.E, UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor Aura Ganz There has been a widespread growth of technology in almost every facet of day to day life. But there are still important application areas in which technology advancements have not been implemented in a cost effective and user friendly manner. Such applications which we will address in this proposal include: 1) indoor localization and navigation of firefighters during rescue operations and 2) indoor localization and navigation for the blind and visually impaired population. Firefighting is a dangerous job to perform as there can be several unexpected hazards while rescuing victims. Since the firefighters do not have any knowledge about the internal structure of the fire ridden building, they will not be able to find the location of the EXIT door, a fact that can prove to be fatal. We introduce an indoor location tracking and navigation system (FIREGUIDE) using RFID technology integrated with augmented reality. FIREGUIDE assists the firefighters to find the nearest exit location by providing the navigation instructions to the exits as well as an Augmented Reality view of the location and direction of the exits. The system also presents the Incident Commander the current firefighter’s location superimposed on a map of the building floor. We envision that the FIREGUIDE system will save a significant number of firefighters and victims’ lives. Blind or visually impaired people find it difficult to navigate independently in both outdoor and indoor environments. The outdoor navigation problem can be solved by using systems that have GPS support. But indoor navigation systems for the blind or visually impaired are still a challenge to conquer, given the requirements of low cost and user friendly operation. In order to enhance the perception of indoor and unfamiliar environments for the blind and visually-impaired, as well as to aid in their navigation through such environments, we propose a novel approach that provides context–aware navigation services. INSIGHT uses RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), and tagged spaces (audio landmarks), enabling a ubiquitous computing system with contextual awareness of its users while providing them persistent and context-aware information. We present INSIGHT system that supports a number of unique features such as: a) Low deployment and maintenance cost; b) Scalability, i.e. we can deploy the system in very large buildings; c) An on-demand system that does not overwhelm the user, as it offers small amounts of information on demand; and d) Portability and ease-of-use, i.e., the custom handheld device carried by the user is compact and instructions are received audibly

PERCEPT Indoor Navigation System for the Blind and Visually Impaired: Architecture and Experimentation

We introduce PERCEPT system, an indoor navigation system for the blind and visually impaired. PERCEPT will improve the quality of life and health of the visually impaired community by enabling independent living. Using PERCEPT, blind users will have independent access to public health facilities such as clinics, hospitals, and wellness centers. Access to healthcare facilities is crucial for this population due to the multiple health conditions that they face such as diabetes and its complications. PERCEPT system trials with 24 blind and visually impaired users in a multistory building show PERCEPT system effectiveness in providing appropriate navigation instructions to these users. The uniqueness of our system is that it is affordable and that its design follows orientation and mobility principles. We hope that PERCEPT will become a standard deployed in all indoor public spaces, especially in healthcare and wellness facilities

Regulatory and demo assessment of proposed integrated markets

This deliverable, which is part of the Horizon 2020 OneNet project, outlines the alignment activities carried out in OneNet Task 3.4, focusing on integrating the proposed electricity market concepts with demonstrator findings and regulatory aspects. It includes a regulatory study on demand response in electricity markets and ancillary services, consultations within the project, and an external workshop. The study delves into three issues, which are currently attracting much debate: baselining of demand response, prequalification of flexiblity resources, and local market operation, providing insights from literature and OneNet demonstrator experiences. Choices in these areas impact simplicity, accuracy, and integrity. The consultations addressed market integration issues, while the external workshop gathered feedback from external stakeholders to refine proposed solutions and market designs. The document highlights ongoing developments in EU regulations and initiatives related to flexibility.This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 957739

Global Cooperative Impact (GCI) Fund

The project initiated by International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) and Cre?dit Coope?ratif (a cooperative bank) welcome other funding and technical assistance (TA) partners. Cooperatives are businesses owned and run by and for their members. The members have an equal say in what the business does and how to share the profits. As businesses driven by values not just profit, cooperatives share internationally agreed principles and act together to build a better world through cooperation. The GCI is part of the Blueprint Strategy for a Cooperative Decade launched in 2012 by the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) to define an ambitious and global strategy for cooperatives because there is an urgent need for cooperatives to find socially constructive and stable funding. The International Cooperative Alliance and Crédit Cooperative wish to bring a sound solution to this lack of funding and support the development of cooperatives in developing countries by providing them long-term financing while improving the cooperative spirit. The GCI Fund will support the development of cooperatives in developing countries by providing them long-term financing. In collaboration with the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), the Fund selected a number of focus countries to invest in priority. Based on the on-field expertise on the continents of Africa, Asia and Latin America, ICA representatives provided the Fund with countries where the cooperative movement has a strong presence (in terms of institutional support, legal framework, governance and other important parameters) and needs support for further development. It will build management and long-term capacity via dedicated technical assistance, particularly in governance, financial management, business planning and impact measurement; establish cooperatives as an investment class like microfinance has now become and create a financial market for cooperatives, demonstrate the impact of the cooperative models for the final beneficiaries and members, and contribute to more inclusive development