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INVESTIGATOR: Cutler, J.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
PELATRON TECHNOLOGIES LLC
1464 W 40 S STE 100
LINDON, UTAH 840421629

RESEARCH TO DETERMINE FEASABILITY OF A RELIABLE, LOW-BANDWIDTH, LOW-POWER MESH NETWORK FOR WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT.

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Each year, approximately 19,000 wildland firefighters risk their lives to battle blazes across the US. The firefighters typically operate in rural, remote locations in rugged terrain with little to no internet communications access. Fire managers have difficulty tracking their firefighters, especially during emergency operations when fire and smoke obscure their vision and ability to locate their personnel. On the ground, the firefighters' communications are limited to use of two-way radios and GPS receivers. If their equipment had the ability to automatically report their locations in frequent intervals, the fire managers would be able to keep firefighters out of dangerous areas, quickly detect and respond to medical emergencies, and be overall more effective at combating fires.Currently wildland firefighters primarily use voice radios and to communicate their locations in relation to landmarks. Some carry GPS receivers and share coordinates manually via voice radio. Most carry their smartphones with them and use commercially available apps to view offline maps. These applications only show the individuals location, not that of team members. Rugged terrain and remote locations inhibit cellular network connectivity.Our research project utilizes wireless mesh radios that pair to a smartphone or tablet and create a self-forming and self-healing mesh network. Once a mesh radio is in range of another, data can automatically transmit from one user to another on the same network to reach its intended recipient. As firefighters come in range of other mesh devices, they will automatically join and extend the network. This establishes a reliable, rapidly deployable, light-weight, low-bandwidth mesh network for wildland firefighters to automatically share individual locations with all personnel working the fire. This will greatly increase firefighter safety by allowing air resources to verify drop zones are clear and giving supervisors and incident command real time information to keep firefighters out of danger. It will also provide the necessary information to more efficiently manage on-site personnel.Our research aim is to establish that these wireless mesh radios can be used to establish a reliable, rapidly deployable, light-weight, low-bandwidth mesh network for wildland firefighters that will automatically share individual locations with all personnel working the fire via a mobile application using the existing USFS map file format.We will begin our research in the lab, calculating optimal antenna types and sizes for those radios that can be customized. Thereafter we will conduct lab and field testing to validate reliability and minimum distance between nodes in various types of terrain. We will build a basic addition to our mobile application which will allow multiple user locations to be displayed on the downloadable maps already in use by wildland firefighters.Our ultimate goal is for our research to validate the reliability of a low cost mesh network that requires minimal extra hardware, cost, and set up time. If our project is successful, firefighters will have the ability to quickly pair the mesh radio to their phone, attach it to their backpack or radio harness and automatically take the network with them wherever they go. Wireless mesh radios can also be placed on ridges or peaks to extend range or connect groups separated by mountains. These relays could be attached to auxiliary batteries and solar panels. If desired, it can be elevated above the ground with a mast, and attached to auxiliary batteries and solar panels. This would require minimal set up and could be collocated with relay stations that are set up for voice radio operation.Our research will also establish general distance and terrain parameters under which firefighters can expect to have reliable connectivity, which is key for widespread adoption.

OBJECTIVES: Overall Goal:Prove the feasibility of implementing a low cost, lightweight, reliable network system that connects and tracks wildland fire management crew using wireless mesh radios and software.We will research the reliability of ad-hoc mesh networks over major variables as described in greater detail below, including transmitter range between ground locations, ground to air, and ground to mountain peaks. We will also test the our software's ability to overlay personnel location data on USFS geoPDF maps, and measure the effective battery life of selected radio transmitters. Finally, we will show how the system allows for AR displays to be integrated for future capability.Specific goals:90%+ reliable connectivityMinimum average range between ground to ground mesh radios For this network to be effective, it must maintain connectivity most of the time. For this study, acceptable connectivity is based on the systems' ability to receive a location update at least every 120 seconds. The wireless mesh radios are able to transmit location updates as frequently as every 5-15 seconds. To conserve battery, updates may be spaced at larger intervals. For this study, 100% reliability will be defined as a successful transmission at least once every 120 second interval. To reach a 90% reliable connectivity threshold, a location update must be successfully transmitted during 90% of those intervals during each individual test. Terrain and obstructions are a large factor in connectivity rates and thus, this study will also estimate which terrain types and wooded/foliage density will allow for a 90% reliable connectivity rate.Minimum average range between ground to ground mesh radios: 1500 ftDetermine terrain types and foliage densities that will reliably allow for successful transmission at a minimum of 1500ft between network nodes.Minimum average range between air to ground mesh radios: 2 milesDetermine conditions under which this objective can be achieved. Air to ground transmission is assumed to be line of sight (no obstructions). For Phase I, a drone will carry a wireless mesh radio. FAA regulations set a maximum altitude of 400ft AGL for drones.Minimum average range between peak to ground mesh radios: 1 mileDetermine conditions under which this can be achieved. This transmission is assumed to be line of sight, with few, if any, obstructions.Minimum mesh radio battery time: 20 hoursDetermine how often location data can be transmitted and received at varying output wattage to achieve this goal.Ability to view location data of personnel and vehicles on the geoPDF maps currently used in firefighting operations