Radio app will help rescuers

Experts from Kingston University, London, have developed a solution to ensure breakdowns in communication are a thing of the past for emergency workers responding to disasters.

A team led by Dr Christos Politis has designed an internet-based technique to keep rescuers and their central control room in touch independently, rather than using central wireless access points or the TETRA police radio system.

The app, which can be used on an iPad or other personal digital assistant, will also allow emergency service workers in Britain to talk to counterparts across Europe on a secure system.

The research, funded by the European Union’s PEACE project, built on existing work into mobile networks, known as MANETs. These are networks of mobile devices which work independently and are connected by individual wireless links.

Rather than connecting through an external internet network, the new technique allows rescue workers to set up an independent communication system designed for their specific purposes at the scene whatever the situation or location - be it an underground tube station or next to a collapsed office block.

The design allows one of the mobile devices carried by a rescue worker to act as the super-node - a bit like a mini satellite - letting other mobile devices communicate with each other. As soon as a device passes a virtual intelligence security check, it can start to find others in the location.

Each worker can then talk or send video or data to individual workers or entire groups.

The devices can also be used to work with new sensors being created by research partners in the PEACE project.

“In the future the technology will also be able to act as sensors and pick up humidity levels, workers’ heart rates, temperatures, movement and pass these on to a central operator,” Dr Politis said.