Development of the Smart Environmental Monitoring System (SEMS)

Firefighters have expressed the need for both increased accuracy in fire detection systems and greater access to environmental information in the event of a fire. To accomplish both tasks, Williams-Pyro, Inc. proposes to develop the Smart Environmental Monitoring System (SEMS). This system comprises both an advanced fire detection system and the networking capability necessary to provide real-time data to emergency personnel. This device will utilize a multi-sensor suite to measure optical radiation, temperature, gases, and smoke produced by a fire. These sensors send their results to an embedded microcontroller that determines the presence of flame through use of an artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm. The ANN sends its response to a network switch that connects it to the building's network. From there, the response can be viewed on a display system, called the fire console, located outside the building or within its common entrance. Along with the location of the fire, the SEMS will show the direction of the fire, the building's temperature, and the presence of harmful gases.