Abstract:
An adaptive evacuation system and method for providing a safety route to evacuees. Active smoke and heat detector information can be obtained from a fire panel. Routes and exits in proximity to the active detectors are assumed to be unsafe and closed for use in evacuation. Evacuation planning is accomplished with the remaining “safe” routes. The progression of fire and smoke and the time-dependent degradation of evacuation route safety associated with progression of fire and smoke can be predicted and initial classification and signaling of route safety can be performed. As the fire progresses, the initial time-dependent classifications are updated and initially safe routes are reclassified as unsafe and then evacuation directions are modified.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    Embodiments are generally related to data-processing methods and systems. Embodiments are additionally related to evacuation systems and method. Embodiments are also related to time-dependent classification and the signaling of safety evacuation route. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Typically, during an emergency evacuation of a building, occupants must make their own assessment regarding the relative safety of possible egress routes and select a route that they perceive as safe. Under the stress of time pressure and uncertainty, an occupant&#39;s assessment and choice of safety route may be faulty. Frequently, the default choice made by an occupant involves either evacuating along the same route that he or she used to enter the building that day, or moving toward a known fixed emergency exit that may or may not be safe. Adaptive evacuation systems offer the potential to relieve the occupant of these difficult egress decisions. 
         [0003]    In conditions where it is difficult to find a safe path out of a building, indications as to which of the escape routes is/are safe and indications of how to get to that escape route can be very valuable. In more severe emergencies such as earthquakes, parts of a building may have collapsed. This severe damage can block the path to safe egress routes. Further, any changes in the building due to a collapse can combine with smoke and dust to become very disorienting. 
         [0004]    In a severe fire, the whole process of searching for safety evacuation routes may become even more difficult if thick smoke fills the entire structure. In a severe fire, evacuee panic can combine with obscuration by heavy smoke to create severe disorientation in the evacuees. These difficulties can be further aggravated if the fire spreads so rapidly that the escape routes are blocked or cut off by the fire. 
         [0005]    In conditions where it might be difficult to find a safe way out of a building, indications of where the safe egress routes are located would be very helpful. On the other hand, first responders, especially fire fighters, often have considerable difficulty in navigating through buildings during an emergency. Fire fighters have a difficult time determining their location in the building, and where they can go when smoke is thick. Fire fighters often do not know the building layout well, and do not have accurate information for navigating toward an identified location. As a result the fire fighter can be become lost. Fire fighters also often have a difficult time finding multiple objectives such as the fire, standpipes, and the suspected locations of victims, who must be found quickly. 
         [0006]    It is important for fire fighting crews to go directly to the fire when they arrive at a fire scene. Even if the location of the fire is known, getting to the fire can be a challenging task due to a lack of knowledge of the building layout. Fire fighters also need other important information such as the need to travel to water supplies, victims, or special hazards. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0007]    The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the embodiments disclosed and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole. 
         [0008]    It is, therefore, one aspect of the present invention to provide for an improved adaptive building evacuation system and method. 
         [0009]    It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a time-dependent classification and signaling of a safety evacuation route. 
         [0010]    The aforementioned aspects and other objectives and advantages can now be achieved as described herein. An adaptive evacuation method and system is disclosed. Data concerning a hazard from a plurality of hazard detectors monitoring a region of interest can be automatically predicted. Thereafter, how the hazard propagates over time from a current location of the hazard can be predicted using a prediction model in order to evaluate, classify and communicating one or more safety evacuation routes to one or more evacuees, thereby providing a time-dependent classification and signaling of evacuation route(s). 
         [0011]    The adaptive evacuation system receives information from a fire panel about currently active smoke and heat detectors. Routes and exits in proximity to the active detectors are assumed to be unsafe and closed for use in evacuation. Evacuation planning is done with the remaining “safe” routes. But, fires are dynamic and often spread from one area to another over time. Smoke also spreads over time, often unintentionally aided by the building HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) system. 
         [0012]    Predicting the progression of fire and smoke and the time-dependent degradation of evacuation route safety associated with it, would allow the initial classification and signaling of the degree of route safety. As the fire progressed, the initial time-dependent classification could be updated, with some initially safe routes reclassified as unsafe and evacuation directions modified. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally-similar elements throughout the separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, further illustrate the embodiments and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain the embodiments disclosed herein. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of a representative data-processing apparatus in which a preferred embodiment can be implemented; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of an adaptive evacuation system, which can be implemented in accordance with a preferred embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top plan view of a building being monitored by an adaptive evacuation system as in  FIG. 2  during a hazardous condition in a region R 1 , which can be implemented in accordance with a preferred embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top plan view of a building being monitored by the adaptive evacuation system of  FIG. 2  during a hazardous condition propagated from a regions R 1  to a region R 2 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  illustrates a high-level flow chart of operations depicting an evacuation and safety route prediction method that can be utilized in association with the adaptive evacuation system depicted in  FIG. 2 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  illustrates a schematic diagram of a smoke or fire propagation model for predicting spread paths over a chosen time period, which can be implemented in accordance with a preferred embodiment; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  illustrates a schematic diagram of a time-dependent classification and signaling of route safety for indicating safety levels of a current route and a route in a chosen time period (e.g., a few minutes), in accordance with a preferred embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate at least one embodiment and are not intended to limit the scope thereof. 
         [0022]    Note that the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in the context of a host operating system and one or more software modules. Such modules may constitute hardware modules, such as, for example, electronic components of a computer system. Such modules may also constitute software modules. In the computer programming arts, a software module can be typically implemented as a collection of routines and data structures that performs particular tasks or implements a particular abstract data type. 
         [0023]    Software modules generally comprise instruction media storable within a memory location of a data-processing apparatus and are typically composed of two parts. First, a software module may list the constants, data types, variable, routines and the like that can be accessed by other modules or routines. Second, a software module can be configured as an implementation, which can be private (i.e., accessible perhaps only to the module), and that contains the source code that actually implements the routines or subroutines upon which the module is based. The term module, as utilized herein can therefore refer to software modules or implementations thereof. Such modules can be utilized separately or together to form a program product that can be implemented through signal-bearing media, including transmission media and recordable media. An example of such a module is module  122  depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0024]    It is important to note that, although the present invention is described in the context of a fully functional data-processing apparatus (e.g., a computer system), those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the present invention are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that the present invention applies equally regardless of the particular type of signal-bearing media utilized to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of signal bearing media include, but are not limited to, recordable-type media such as floppy disks or CD ROMs and transmission-type media such as analogue or digital communications links. 
         [0025]    The embodiments disclosed herein may be executed in a variety of systems, including a variety of computers running under a number of different operating systems. The computer may be, for example, a personal computer, a network computer, a mid-range computer or a mainframe computer. In the preferred embodiment, the computer is utilized as a control point of network processor services architecture within a local-area network (LAN) or a wide-area network (WAN). 
         [0026]    Referring now to the drawings and in particular to  FIG. 1 , there is depicted a block diagram of a representative data-processing apparatus  100  (e.g., a computer) in which a preferred embodiment can be implemented. As shown, processor (CPU)  101 , Read-Only memory (ROM)  102 , and Random-Access Memory (RAM)  103  are connected to system bus  105  of data-processing apparatus  100 . A memory  120  can also be included which includes a module  122  as described above. Memory  120  can be implemented as a ROM, RAM, a combination thereof, or simply a general memory unit. Depending upon the design of data-processing apparatus  100 , memory  120  may be utilized in place of or in addition to ROM  102  and/or RAM  103 . 
         [0027]    Data-processing apparatus thus includes CPU  101 , ROM  102 , and RAM  103 , which are also coupled to Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) local bus  111  of data-processing apparatus  100  through PCI host-bridge  107 . PCI Host Bridge  107  provides a low latency path through which processor  101  may directly access PCI devices mapped anywhere within bus memory and/or input/output (I/O) address spaces. PCI Host Bridge  107  also provides a high bandwidth path for allowing PCI devices to directly access RAM  103 . 
         [0028]    Also attached to PCI local bus  111  are communications adapter  114 , small computer system interface (SCSI)  112 , and expansion bus-bridge  116 , communications adapter  114  is utilized for connecting data-processing apparatus  100  to a network  115 . SCSI  112  is utilized to control high-speed SCSI disk drive  113 . Expansion bus-bridge  116 , such as a PCI-to-ISA bus bridge, may be utilized for coupling ISA bus  117  to PCI local bus  111 . In addition, audio adapter  108  is attached to PCI local bus  111  for controlling audio output through speaker  109 . Note that PCI local bus  111  can further be connected to a monitory  106 , which functions as a display (e.g., a video monitor) for displaying data and information for a user and for interactively displaying a graphical user interface (GUI). In alternate embodiments, additional peripheral components may be added or existing components can be connected to the system bus. For example, the monitor  106  and the audio component  108  along with speaker  109  can instead be connected to system bus  105 , depending upon design configurations. 
         [0029]    Data-processing apparatus  100  also preferably includes an interface such as a graphical user interface (GUI) and an operating system (OS) that reside within machine readable media to direct the operation of data-processing apparatus  100 . In the preferred embodiment, OS (and GUI) contains additional functional components, which permit network-processing components to be independent of the OS and/or platform. Any suitable machine-readable media may retain the GUI and OS, such as RAM  103 , ROM  103 , SCSI disk drive  113 , and other disk and/or tape drive (e.g., magnetic diskette, magnetic tape, CD-ROM, optical disk, or other suitable storage media). Any suitable GUI and OS may direct CPU  101 . 
         [0030]    Further, data-processing apparatus  100  preferably includes at least one network processor services architecture software utility (i.e., program product) that resides within machine-readable media, for example a custom defined service utility  104  within RAM  103 . The software utility contains instructions (or code) that when executed on CPU  101  interacts with the OS. Utility  104  can be, for example, a program product as described herein. Utility  104  can be provided as, for example, a software module such as described above. 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  illustrates a block diagram of an adaptive evacuation system  200 , which can be implemented in accordance with a preferred embodiment. System  200  depicted in  FIG. 2  generally includes a plurality of detectors  105  for monitoring a region(s) of interest. The detectors  205  can include, without limitation, detecting devices such as flame detection upon detecting heat detectors, smoke detectors, window position or integrity sensors, door security sensors, motion detectors, or door crash alarms. Other sensors including those that incorporate the use of advanced image processing techniques can be utilized to detect smoke and/or fire can be implemented as one or more of detectors  205 . Audio sensors can also be utilized to detect fire, an individual&#39;s location, or panic. Other types of sensors that could be used to detect a panic, a stampede, a fire, and/or temperature changes include image processing and/or infrared based image processing systems. 
         [0032]    A fire or smoke propagation model  215  can be utilized to detect spread paths over time of smoke or fire. The smoke propagation model  215  can be implemented as a software module, such as, for example, module  122  depicted in  FIG. 1 . A situation assessor  210  evaluates, predicts and classifies safety route for evacuation of occupants using the data from active detectors and other detectors or sensors and the fire and smoke propagation model. The situation assessor  210  can also be implemented in the context of one or more software modules, such as module  122 . A capacity constrained route planner  225  calculates at least one evacuation plan based on the safety rotes obtained from the situation assessor. The capacity constrained route planner  224  can also be implemented as a software module, such as module  122 . A controller  230  can be utilized to control the output patterns of one or more directional sound devices  235  such as, for example, an “ExitPoint™” directional sounder, in order to communicate at least one evacuation path to the evacuees. Note that the ExitPoint™ directional sounder is a product of the “System Sensor” company headquartered in St. Charles, Ill., U.S.A. The ExitPoint™ directional sounder represents only one example of a directional sounder that can be adapted for use with the disclosed embodiments. It can be appreciated that other types of directional sounding devices can also be utilized and that the ExitPoint™ directional sounder is not a limiting feature of the embodiments. The ExitPoint™ directional sounder includes an integral audio amplifier that produces a broadband low-, mid-, and/or high-, range sound in specific pulse patterns. The ExitPoint™ directional sounders, fitted in addition to the normal building evacuation sounders, offer a technique for drawing people to evacuation routes even in perfect visibility. The ExitPoint™ directional sounder can function equally in smoke-filed environments. Triggered by existing fire detection systems, directional sounders positioned at carefully selected locations can guide building occupants along escape routes and to perimeter building exits. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top plan view  300  of a building being monitored by the adaptive evacuation system  200  of  FIG. 2  during hazardous condition  360  in a region R 1 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The  FIG. 3  shows a pair of buildings  350  and  351  of a type commonly found in multi-story buildings. Each building has a pair of doors  356 ,  357  and  359 ,  358  and a pair of stairs  352 ,  353  and  354 ,  355  respectively. The whole system depicted in  FIG. 2  is installed inside a compound wall  390  of the buildings  350  and  351 . 
         [0034]    In  FIG. 3 , a hazardous condition  360 , for instance a fire or gas condition has developed in the region R 1  adjacent to a door  357 . The smoke or heat detectors  205  depicted in  FIG. 2 , generally represent the smoke or heat detectors  301 - 320  depicted in  FIG. 3 . A plurality of visual signaling devices  330 - 348  are used to indicate the safety routes to the evacuees. The directional sounders  235  depicted in  FIG. 2 , generally represent the directional sounders  301 - 320  depicted in  FIG. 3 . The hazardous condition  360  is sensed by the active detectors such as  314 ,  313  and  301  and other detectors such as  302 - 312  and  315 - 320  in side the compound wall  390 . The system  200  of  FIG. 2  processes the signals from the detectors  301 - 320  and an evacuation plan is prepared using the processed signals. 
         [0035]    The visual signaling devices  330 ,  331 ,  332 ,  333  and  334  near the hazardous condition  360  are indicated in red color in order to show the evacuees that the route is unsafe for evacuation. The visual signaling devices  347 ,  335 ,  346 ,  336 ,  348  and  345  are indicated in yellow color in order to show the evacuees that the route is currently safe but will be unsafe soon (e.g., in 1-5 minutes) for evacuation. The visual signaling devices  344 ,  343 ,  342 ,  341 ,  340 ,  338 ,  337  and  339  far apart from the hazardous condition  360  are indicated in green color in order to show the evacuees that the route is safe for evacuation. The directional sounders  301 - 320  produce audio signals to the evacuees, based on the smoke spread paths and speeds. The evacuees can choose any of the routes E, F, H and G according to the visual signals indicated by visual signaling devices  330 - 348  and audio signals produce by directional sounders  301 - 220 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top plan view of a building  400  being monitored by the adaptive evacuation system of  FIG. 2  during a hazardous condition  360  propagated from a region R 1  to a region R 2 , d in accordance with a preferred embodiment. Note that in  FIGS. 24 , identical or similar parts or elements are indicated by identical reference numerals. Thus, the  FIG. 4  also contains the visual signaling devices  330 - 348 , detectors  301 - 320 , stairs  352 - 355 , doors  256 - 259 , building  350  and  351 , hazardous condition  360  and a compound wall  309 . 
         [0037]    The hazardous condition  360  for example fire gets propagated from the region R 1  to the region R 2  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The hazardous condition  360  is sensed by the active detectors such as  314 ,  313 ,  302  and  301  and other detectors such as  303 - 312  and  315 - 320  in side the compound wall  390 . The system  200  of  FIG. 2  processes the signals from the detectors  301 - 320  and an evacuation plan is prepared using the processed signals. 
         [0038]    The visual signaling devices  330 ,  331 ,  332 ,  334  and  335  near the hazardous condition  360  are indicated in red color in order to show the evacuees that the route is unsafe for evacuation. The visual signaling devices  347 ,  346 ,  336 ,  348  and  345  are indicated in yellow color in order to show the evacuees that the route is currently safe but will be unsafe soon (e.g., in 1-5 minutes) for evacuation. The visual signaling devices  344 ,  343 ,  342 ,  341 ,  340 ,  338 ,  337  and  339  far apart from the hazardous condition  360  are indicated in green color in order to show the evacuees that the route is safe for evacuation. The directional sounders  301 - 320  produce audio signals to the evacuees, based on the smoke spread paths and speeds. The evacuees can choose any of the routes E and G according to the visual signals indicated by visual signaling devices  330 - 348  and audio signals produced by directional sounders  310 - 320 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  illustrates a high-level flow chart of operations depicting an evacuation and safety route prediction method  500  that can be utilized in association with the adaptive evacuation system  200  depicted in  FIG. 2 , in accordance with a preferred embodiment. Note that the method  500  depicted in  FIG. 5  can be implemented in the context of a software module, such as module  122  depicted in  FIG. 1 . With knowledge of the location of fire and smoke hazards in the building, the system  200  depicted in  FIG. 2  can plan safe routes and communicate them to occupants. The evacuation process initiates as indicated at block  505 . As indicated at block  507 , the system  200  depicted in  FIG. 2 , can receive information from a fire panel concerning currently active smoke and heat detectors  314 ,  313  and  301  depicted in  FIG. 3 . Thereafter, as depicted at block  515 , the system  200  depicted in  FIG. 2  checks whether any of the detectors  330 - 348  depicted in  FIG. 3  are active. If none of the detectors  330 - 348  depicted in  FIG. 3  are active, the system  200  depicted in  FIG. 2  once again checks for the activation of detectors  330 - 348  depicted in  FIG. 3  else the system  200  depicted in  FIG. 2  locates the active detectors  314 ,  313  and  301  as indicated at block  520 . 
         [0040]    Thereafter, as depicted at block  525 , routes and exits in proximity to the active detectors can be classified as “currently unsafe” and closed for use during an evacuation. Evacuation planning can be accomplished with the remaining “safe” routes. Fires, however, are dynamic and often spread from one area to another over time. Smoke also spreads over time, often unintentionally aided by the building HVAC system. Therefore, what is a safe route now may not be a safe route in ten minutes. The system depicted in  FIG. 2  reads the information available from active detectors and fire panel, as indicated at block  430 . As depicted at block  535 , the progression of fire and smoke and the time-dependent degradation of evacuation route safety associated with it can be predicted using a smoke or fire propagation model, such as the model  215  depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0041]    The fire/smoke propagation model  215  depicted in  FIG. 2  can be utilized to predict the fire and smoke propagation paths using the information obtained from fire and smoke detectors. Thereafter, as described at block  540 , when the fire progresses, the routes near the smoke spread paths are predicted as son-to-be unsafe. The remaining routes are classified as “safe” as described at block  545 . Thereafter as depicted at block  550 , the safety route classification is sent to the route planner as depicted at  FIG. 2  and the system as depicted at  FIG. 2  once again checks for activation status of detectors  330 - 348  depicted at  FIG. 3 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 6  illustrates a schematic diagram of a smoke or fire propagation model  600  for predicting spread paths over a selected time period, d in accordance with a preferred embodiment. The propagation model can be configured as a set of partial differential and algebraic equations that describe smoke concentration and/or temperature distribution and its changes in space and over time. The model is constructed upon fundamental principles, such as the conservation of momentum, mass and energy of smoke particles, or simplified equations with reasonable assumptions, or empirical relations. 
         [0043]    As depicted at blocks  605 ,  610  and  615 , information regarding the location, smoke concentration and temperature of active detectors, the air flow information near active detectors due to an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air-Conditioning) system, wind, etc and sprinkler activation information respectively can be provided as input to a fire or smoke propagation model. Thereafter as depicted at block  620 , such a propagation model solves a set of pre-built modeling equations describing smoke or fire propagation over time. The smoke or fire spread paths over a chosen period of time are predicted as indicated at block  625 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 7  illustrates a schematic diagram  700  of a time-dependent classification and signaling of route safety for indicating safety levels of a current route and a route in a chosen time period (e.g., a few minutes), in accordance with a preferred embodiment. A route&#39;s safety level changes over time, depending on smoke spread paths and speeds predicted by propagation model. The passing time for each route is calculated from the route length and a normal evacuation speed. As depicted at block  705  red route indicates that the current route used by the evacuees is unsafe. As the red route is unsafe for evacuation it is excluded for evacuation planning, as indicated at block  710 . Thereafter as described at block  715 , the system  200  depicted in  FIG. 2  shows a red signal to evacuees on this route. 
         [0045]    As illustrated at block  720  yellow route indicates that the current route used by the evacuees is safe but will be unsafe soon (e.g., in 1-5 minutes). As the yellow route is safe but will be unsafe soon it will be excluded for evacuation soon, but can be used for evacuation planning for a short period of time (e.g., in 1-5 minutes), as indicated at block  725 . Thereafter, as described at block  730 , the system  200  depicted in  FIG. 7  indicates a yellow signal to evacuees on this route. 
         [0046]    As depicted at block  735  green route indicates that the current route used by the evacuees is safe. As the green route is safe it can be used for evacuation planning, as indicated at block  740 . Thereafter as indicated at block  745 , the system  200  depicted in  FIG. 2  shows a green signal to evacuees on this route. 
         [0047]    It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.