Real-Time Tools for Situational Awareness and Emergency Management in Transport Infrastructures

Critical transport infrastructures such as interchanges, long tunnels and bridges represent the most vulnerable environments within a transportation network; they are characterized by limited access/egress points and high volumes of users in close confines. A number of factors must be addressed to ensure maximum safety of both travellers and emergency service personnel; these include emergency preparedness, timely support for the decision-making process, and planning of optimal interventions in emergency management situations. This paper discusses the integration of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and virtual reality (VR) to support the self-evacuation of travellers and operational procedures of rescue personnel within these environments, focusing on two key aspects of emergency operations: (i) collecting real-time data and (ii) improving the timeliness of first responders through efficient provision of the collected data. Testimonials, technical results and recommendations collated from two pilot installations realised within the EU-funded SAVE ME project demonstrate the qualitative and quantitative impact of such an approach on emergency situation management.