Using fixed & aerial sensors

for mitigating risks

caused by natural disasters
Zoltan Herczeg
Solutions Consultant, Teamnet

EWS - Early Warning Systems,

UAV - Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Early Warning Systems

Fixed sensors to detect:
Floods
Pollution
Earthquakes

Case study: Earthquake EWS at the

Bulgarian Romanian border

How it works?
Seismic sensors
Romania

Seismic sensors

Bulgaria
5

Benefits
Fast alerting allows a 30 to 40 seconds window
before the actual occurrence of the earthquake;
Automatic alerting of local governments and public
safety agencies;
Fast approval process for alerting citizens, including
override for unusual events;
Clear plan definitions for different types of events;
Customizable plans and alerting schemes;

Risk maps generation and simulations;

Easy integration with 112 systems using the same
EmerGIS application.

Case study: Flood EWS at the

Hungarian Romanian border

How it works?
Ukraine

Romania

Hungary
Flood sensors

Serbia

Benefits
Flood prevention by creating risk maps, simulations
and developing countermeasures upfront;
Reduced impact of floods by assisting decision
makers with real-time data and offering a common
operational picture;

Real-time collaboration between authorities, local

governments and public safety agencies;
Improved management of resources to be used
during disasters;
Centralized management of hazardous materials and
plans for intervention in case of spilling;
Proactive intervention and communication plans to
follow in case of disasters;
Faster alerting allows now enough time for
evacuation of the population;
Customizable plans and alerting schemes;
9

Why Unmanned Aerial Vehicles?

For hard to reach and dangerous environments, and to reduce costs

Alternatives
Manned helicopters and aircrafts
Unmanned multirotor and fixed wing drones

Hirrus

Auto piloted fixed wing

enterprise UAV
Air vehicle, ground control station, data link terminal, takeoff, landing
Entire system can be easily carried in a 4x4 vehicle

Hirrus UAV specs

Wingspan: 3 m

Maximum Take Off Weight

9 kg (mini category)
Maximum Speed
120 km/h
Cruise Speed
90 km/h
Service Ceiling
3000 m ASL

Length: 1 m

Autonomy
3h
Take off
Launcher

Propulsion: Electrical

Noise: 35 dB

Landing
Parachute
Max. Payload weight:
1 kg

 Daylight camera (video);

Thermal imaging camera (IR, video);
High definition camera (stills);
Other types:
Multispectral camera (visible light, IR and more);
Specialized sensors (e.g. chemical, radiological);

Drop-off mechanism.

Payloads

GCS Ground
Control Station

Missions planning and control;

Changing flight plans during the missions;
Self test, launch and recovery;
View mission data (control data, video stream);
Offline mission replay;

Relay data to C2 or PSAP;

Automated flight missions (e.g.: follow target)

GDT Ground
Data Terminal
A high gain antenna that tracks the aircraft and provides:
Transmission of mission and ground controls to aircraft;
Reception of aircraft data;
Transmission of payload control data;

Reception of video and payload data;

It provides the real time video streaming range (up to 30km).

Scenarios
Search and rescue, floods, wild fires, border surveillance

SAR Search and Rescue

Fast and effective;

Interoperable with other mobile and fixed forces

High resolution real time aerial images;

Can be integrated with PSAPs;

Visual information on the victims condition.

Floods
Propagation prediction and warning;

Search and rescue;

Damage assessment;

Aid drop-off;
Can be integrated with PSAPs.

Number of houses affected 234

Number of people affected 512
Maximum water depth 1.32 m
Dykes affected 73 m

Wild fires
Detection

Suppression
Post fire monitoring
Can be integrated with PSAPs

Border surveillance
Rescuing refugees;
Day and night surveillance.
Can be integrated with PSAPs;

Integrating RPAS in PSAPs

Recommendations

Legal, safety, operational

Local procedure requirements and smart airspace segregation - the solution for regulatory
framework
Mission allocations and flight sectors;

RPAS should be complementary to manned air vehicles;

Flight missions are being transformed:
Search => unmanned;

Rescue => manned;

Training is needed for RPAS operators (successful missions require hands-on experience);
Spare parts, maintenance and support;

Key features

Key features:
Integration with C2 (video and control);
Video for acting fast, HD images to better see details;
Up in the air time;
Transmission range;

Conclusion
RPAS a solution for hard to reach and dangerous
environments, and for reducing costs.