LOBSTER - Analysing Escaping Groups [Original in Deutsch: Location Based Services für Menschenstromanalyse in Notfall- und Krisensituationen zur Unterstützung von Ersthelfern]

Within the project LOBSTER a system for analysing escaping groups of people in crisis situations in public buildings/constructions is developed. For the localisation and the analysis of the activities of the escaping groups of people, the positioning technologies GNSS, WLAN, and MEMS of common smart phones are used. The determined positions are transmitted to a LBS centre in case of distress. In the centre these data are used in combination with plant layouts and mathematical filter technologies (mathematical particle filter and Kalman Filter) to analyse and predict the escape behaviour. The analysis supports the first responders in establishing a significantly improved coordination and resource scheduling of the rescue teams. The rescue teams themselves are equipped with a localisation system and also send their positions to the LBS center. In combination with the position data of the fugitives it is now possible to detect the escape ways and thus to coordinate the rescue teams in a best possible manner by specific instructions. Furthermore, it will be analysed during the project to what extent an improvement of the indoor positioning accuracy can be achieved by the use of UWB (Ultra-Wideband) techniques and thus, the localisation of security-related equipment and assets can be provided. A very innovative approach is used which depends on the analysis of signal reflections and plant layouts. Further, a psychological analysis of human factors in terms of escaping crowds of people is carried out to identify patterns of movement and escaping reactions in crisis situations.