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The use of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for emergency navigation systems suffer disadvantages such as limited computing capacity, restricted battery power and high likelihood of malfunction due to the harsh physical environment. By making use of the powerful sensing ability of smart phones, this paper presents a cloud-enabled emergency navigation framework to guide evacuees in a coordinated manner and improve the reliability and resilience in both communication and localization. By using social potential fields (SPF), evacuees form clusters during an evacuation process and are directed to egresses with the aid of a Cognitive Packet Networks (CPN) based algorithm. Rather than just rely on the conventional telecommunications infrastructures, we suggest an Ad hoc Cognitive Packet Network (AHCPN) based protocol to prolong the life time of smart phones, that adaptively searches optimal communication routes between portable devices and the egress node that provides access to a cloud server with respect to the remaining battery power of smart phones and the time latency.

Emergency navigation procedure with midcourse corrections for space vehicles in returning from the moon

Emergency closures systems are needed at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers navigation projects to reduce damages and economical impacts associated with uncontrolled flow through the project due to failure of a lock or a dam gate. The most likely cause of failure is a navigation accident although an equipment malfunction or an act of terrorism can also result in failure. This Coastal and Hydraulics Engineering Technical Note (CHETN) provides information and input from Corps field personnel in describing the features considered necessary for a functional emergency closure system.

Emergency closures systems are needed at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers navigation projects to reduce damages and economical impacts associated with uncontrolled flow through the project due to failure of a lock or a dam gate. The most likely cause of failure is a navigation accident although an equipment malfunction or an act of terrorism can also result in failure. This Coastal and Hydraulics Engineering Technical Note (CHETN) provides information and input from Corps field personnel in describing the features considered necessary for a functional emergency closure system.

State-of-the-art emergency navigation approaches are designed to evacuate civilians during a disaster based on real-time decisions using a pre-defined algorithm and live sensory data. Hence, casualties caused by the poor decisions and guidance are only apparent at the end of the evacuation process and cannot then be remedied. Previous research shows that the performance of routing algorithms for evacuation purposes are sensitive to the initial distribution of evacuees, the occupancy levels, the type of disaster and its as well its locations. Thus an algorithm that performs well in one scenario may achieve bad results in another scenario. This problem is especially serious in heuristic-based routing algorithms for evacuees where results are affected by the choice of certain parameters. Therefore, this paper proposes a simulation-based evacuee routing algorithm that optimises evacuation by making use of the high computational power of cloud servers. Rather than guiding evacuees with a predetermined routing algorithm, a robust Cognitive Packet Network based algorithm is first evaluated via a cloud-based simulator in a faster-than-real-time manner, and any "simulated casualties" are then re-routed using a variant of Dijkstra's algorithm to obtain new safe paths for them to exits. This approach can be iterated as long as corrective action is still possible.

State-of-the-art emergency navigation approaches are designed to evacuate civilians during a disaster based on real-time decisions using a pre-defined algorithm and live sensory data. Hence, casualties caused by the poor decisions and guidance are only apparent at the end of the evacuation process and cannot then be remedied. Previous research shows that the performance of routing algorithms for evacuation purposes are sensitive to the initial distribution of evacuees, the occupancy levels, the type of disaster and its as well its locations. Thus an algorithm that performs well in one scenario may achieve bad results in another scenario. This problem is especially serious in heuristic-based routing algorithms for evacuees where results are affected by the choice of certain parameters. Therefore, this paper proposes a simulation-based evacuee routing algorithm that optimises evacuation by making use of the high computational power of cloud servers. Rather than guiding evacuees with a predetermined routing algorithm, a robust Cognitive Packet Network based algorithm is first evaluated via a cloud-based simulator in a faster-than-real-time manner, and any "simulated casualties" are then re-routed using a variant of Dijkstra's algorithm to obtain new safe paths for them to exits. This approach can be iterated as long as corrective action is still possible.

Finding shortest and safest path during emergency situation is critical. In this paper, an indoor navigation during an emergency time is investigated using the combination of Voronoi Diagram and fuzzy number. The challenge in indoor navigation is to analyses the network when the shortest path algorithm does not work as always expected. There are some existing methods to generate the network model. First, this paper will discuss the feasibility and accuracy of each method when it is implemented on building environment. Next, this paper will discuss selected algorithms that determine the selection of the best route during an emergency situation. The algorithm has to make sure that the selected route is the shortest and the safest route to the destination. During a disaster, there are many uncertainties to deal with in determining the shortest and safest route. Fuzzy logic can be hardly called for to deal with these uncertainties. Based on sensor data, this paper will also discuss how to solve shortest path problem using a fuzzy number.

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory hosted a %Navigation Lock and Dam Inspection and Emergency Repairs' workshop on 18-20 April 2006. The workshop was sponsored by the Navigation Systems Research Program and was attended by over 70 people from the Corps Districts, Divisions, and the ERDC laboratories as well as industry representatives. The primary purposes of the workshop were to examine current procedures used by the Corps for inspection and emergency repairs by presenting case studies and experiences and follow up on these discussions with suggestions and recommendations for improvement. Ongoing ERDC research and development in the areas of inspection and emergency repairs was also presented. The proceedings from the workshop will be available in the near future on the CHL Web site.

Zoomable full resolution image available at davidrumsey.com . This image 8310.002 is a part of image group 8310.000 . Color map and chart, on sheet 114.5x56.5. Includes text and "Latitude of the sun" chart." Below map: The harp scale. On verso: Tables to determine "Latitude by the duration of the day," " To find your longitude," and "How to recognize the stars" which also includes text on determining directions from the stars and sun. Table A for northern and southern latitudes includes, by date and latitude, time of sun rise and set, duration of the day, and the sun's noon height. See note field above.

Zoomable full resolution image available at davidrumsey.com . This image 8310.001 is a part of image group 8310.000 . Color map and chart, on sheet 114.5x56.5. Includes text and "Latitude of the sun" chart." Below map: The harp scale. On verso: Tables to determine "Latitude by the duration of the day," " To find your longitude," and "How to recognize the stars" which also includes text on determining directions from the stars and sun. Table A for northern and southern latitudes includes, by date and latitude, time of sun rise and set, duration of the day, and the sun's noon height. See note field above.

A few new emergency techniques have been added to this edition and some expanded upon, especially the role of a makeshift quadrant and related devices for taking sun sights