Download Final_Report_BSc_project_USAR_SAInT

At the moment, it is impossible to attach an RFID-scanner to an iPad. This is, however,
something that could be implemented in the future. While it is possible to attach different types
of devices to the iPad using either the dock connector or bluetooth, no company has done so
with RFID-scanners so far. And option like this could allow the rescue workers to attach their
maintenance reports to tools more easily, by simply scanning their tags. Adding new tools too
the database would also be significantly easier.
The new check-in/check-out system for equipment will increase the time a search and rescue
team needs to get ready to leave the base camp for a mission. While the scanning of equipment
is not a very time consuming task, it could still be annoying to do when a team wants to
leave quickly. Automatically checking tools in and out, by, for example, passing though a gate,
would require less work from each team compared to manually scanning every item. This does,
however, have several complications, mainly with regard to reliability of the system. If some
items are not registered whenever a team passes through the gate, the data can not be fully
trusted and will therefore become useless.
At the moment, members of a search and rescue team paint symbols and text on walls,
indicating where a victim is located, whether he or she has already been rescued or not and
several other statistics. By registering these actions automatically, data about victims could
be gathered without the need for any user input. This will provide the other teams and the
staff group with information, while it does not take the rescue worker painting the symbols any
additional time. This could be implemented by attaching an iPhone to the spray can. The
accelerometer in the phone could be used to detect the movement of the device, and thereby
detect the movement of the spray can. While a similar device could also be used for this, Apple’s
phone would be best, since it is already being used for the SAInT application.
Finally, our systems still needs to be fully integrated with the service table application.
Currently, all information provided by our applications is being transferred to the server, but
this is not yet available to the staff group. The appropriate XMLRPC methods should be
implemented on the surface table in order to retrieve this. Additionally, our current system
does not use the information provided by the service table. Making this information available
on the iPad could improve the awareness of the command group.
6.2
New Functionality
During the implementation phase, some new ideas for future development arose. One of these
ideas was to implement a message system on the iPad and surface table to allow the staff and
command groups to communicate with each other. A system like this would be similar to a
mailing client, but could be integrated into the SAInT application. This would remove the need
for internet access or phone calls to get in touch with the commander or staff group. Instead
these messages will be sent using the wireless network already in use for the other SAInT
systems.
Additionally, the iPhone application could also use a reduced version of this message system.
In this version, the commander of a search and rescue group would probably not be able to send
messages, but he would be able to view short, sms-like, texts sent by the staff group. These
texts could be a simple request to contact them whenever the rescue worker would have the
time to do so.
Another improvement could be made to the RFID-application. Currently, it is only possible
to view equipment and their location on the iPad. A useful addition would be to make this
information available to someone checking equipment in and out. When replacing another team,
this would remove the need to contact the team to be replaced or to view the equipment on an
iPad. Instead, rescue workers can see which tools another team is currently using and decide
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