Low cost wireless sensor networks and smartphone applications for disaster management and improving quality of life

IJRET: International Journal of Research in Engineering and Technology eISSN: 2319-1163 | pISSN: 2321-7308
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Volume: 03 Special Issue: 16 | ICPECDM-2014 | Dec-2014, Available @ http://www.ijret.org 84
LOW COST WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS AND SMARTPHONE
APPLICATIONS FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND IMPROVING
QUALITY OF LIFE
Raghu Teja Mulukutla1
, Anurag Mondal2
, Sourabh Bollapragada3
, Gopal Mulukutla4
,
Sandeep Kumar Ladi5
1
Student, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, GITAM University, Visakhapatnam, AP,
India
2
Student, Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, GITAM University, Visakhapatnam, AP, India
3
Student, Department of Computer Science Engineering, GITAM University, Visakhapatnam, AP, India
4
Research Scientist, Earth Systems Research Center, Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans and Space, University of New
Hampshire, Durham, NH, US
5
Assistant professor, GITAM University, Visakhapatnam, AP,India
Abstract
Spatially distributed Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) comprising low-cost components (sensors, Microcontrollers, wireless
communication devices) provide a way to measure several quantitative variables of nature and the human environment (air,
temperature, soil temperature, precipitation and water quality). Owing to the increased human intervention in nature, there is a rise in
unpredictability of weather and natural environment . This causes human induced disasters such as long dry periods, flash
floods,subsequent landslides, heat-island effect, sea-level rise, beach erosion. Very often the effects of disasters natural or
manmade are regional and early warning infrastructure may not be sufficient. In this paper we address disaster preparedness and
prevention by utilizing low cost WSNs to monitor the region and designingfreeAndroid cloud application to instantly notify users, an
occurrence of a disaster. The deployment of the WSN is done using various interconnected nodes across the region. Each node
consists of a low cost Arduino Microcontroller, Xbee radio communication module and sensors which measure data substantial to
detect a disaster. Each node collects data and sends through line of sight to a central station. This station is a server which collects and
sends the data to the cloud where it is stored and inspected for detecting a dangerous situation. The cloud also maintains the sensor
data in an online database periodically. We will demonstrate a smartphone application which communicates with the cloud so
that notifications are sent in real time when a disaster is detected to alert the users located within the WSN area, helping in early
evacuation, finding nearby safety shelters etc. We show that by establishing a synergy between Smartphone and reliable modern
sensors like ground motion sensors(for early warning of earthquakes), soil moisture sensors (for early warning of drought), flow
sensors (for early warning offloods) in WSN will improve the quality of life by ensuring safety against disasters.
Keywords—disaster prevention, wireless network, smartphone alerts during disaster, early evacuation, safety shelters,
early detection, disaster alert, sensors, disaster, flow sensor, ground motion sensor.
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1. INTRODUCTION
Although many developments have been made in
disaster prediction and risk reduction , there is a lot of
ground left to catch up. Early warning systems, which
are generally designed to cater to a wider regions many
a times fail to be equally effective in notifying region
specific hazardous events. Recent increase of human
intervention in nature is causing disruptions in the local
weather patterns and also to an extent climate. These
disruptions make it increasingly tough for making
accurate predictions in local weather and environmental
occurrences. As early warning systems depend on these
predictions, their efficacy is seriously challenged.
With more emphasis given on setting up national
warning centers rather than local centers, there is a
compromise being made on detecting potentially
hazardous scenarios which are specific to a region.
Clearly in some cases of emergencies, a robust localized
approach would generate a faster response to the
situation. For example, local detection of forest fires
will ensure a quick remedy action before it escalates to a
potential national disaster. Moreover, events due to
human error, such as gas leakages, collapsing buildings,
fire accidents and dam flooding are detectable easier
when the approach is local.
One of the major setbacks in establishing a
local-warning system is the cost. A community based
early warning system might not be a priority task for

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economically backward rural areas. However, owing to
the rapid advancements in the realms of electronics and
software in the present, modern digital world, usage of
open source electronics and software counterparts, the
cost of establishing a localized warning system can be
reduced by a great extent.
This paper discusses a low-cost model of a regional
warning system comprising a Wireless Sensor Network
(WSN) and a Smartphone application. This model is an
interdisciplinary approach involving four abstraction
levels:
 Sensor Network
 Gateway
 Cloud
 Android Application
Fig 1 Model Overview
2. SENSOR NETWORK
The Sensor network is deployed over a region to be
monitored. The network consists of nodes constantly
working in tandem, sensing threats by coordinating the
gathered sensor data measured from observable
environmental parameters2.
Each node consists of sensors such as temperature,
geophone, flood , humidity, pH glass electrodes and
many more, interfaced with a microcontroller. A
ZigBee3 based radio frequency transmitter/receiver
module is used to form a network.
2.1 Microcontroller System
Our model uses an open-source Arduino Mega 2560
microcontoller board, which is based on ATmega2560,
an 8-bit Atmel microcontroller. Sensors can be easily
interfaced and monitored by programming the
microcontroller board in C language.
2.2 RF Communication
For the purpose of communicating the sensor data,
XBee Pro, a low power radio module is interfaced with
the microcontroller system.
The XBees modules communicate between each other
in the network using ZigBee protocol[1] which is based
on IEEE Standard 802.15.4. Each XBee assumes one of
these three roles -coordinator, router and end point for a
streamlined communication network. However for any
network it is necessary for having one coordinator.

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Fig 2 Mesh Configuration of XBees in Network
2.3 Sensors
Measurable physical quantities such as temperature,
humidity, toxicity of gases, ground vibrations and alike
are crucial in detecting a threat. A simple example
would be interfacing a commercially available
temperature sensor with the microcontroller system, for
analysis of spikes in temperature. These spikes are a
precursor to a possible fire breakout in the environment
being monitored. The microcontroller system can be
programmed to trigger a signal, in real-time, relaying it
across the abstraction levels, to the smartphone, in case
the temperature gathered from the sensor spikes up
above a set threshold. The availability of low-cost,
high-grade and easily interfaceable sensors allow us to
measure a number of physical quantities and sense
variety of threats.
S.N
o.
Sensor name Related Function
1
Temperature/Hu
midity
Detecting fires(Forest Fires,
Building Fires)
2 Geophone
Detecting ground vibrations
(Earthquake)
3 Water Alarm
Detecting flooding(Dam,
riverbed)
4 Weather Shield
Locally detecting inclement
weather
5 Gas Breakout
Detecting gas
leakages(LPG, CO)
Fig 3 Table showing how varied sensors can be used in
detecting a disaster.
3. GATEWAY
The Gateway is a networking device which is used to
connect the Sensor Network to the Internet. It does this
by converting the packet format received from the
sensor network into the TCP/IP format which is used to
send data on the Internet. It has cellular, Wi-Fi and
Ethernet WAN options for flexible broadband
connectivity.
The Xbee network connects to the Digi Gateway and
feeds the sensor data over the Internet to the cloud.
Python scripts can be run on the gateway for extending
functionalities. Additionally, the Gateway gathers the
GPS location of each nodes present in the network,
which is then used to inform the location of the
occurrences to the users of the application.
4. CLOUD
A Cloud is an aggregation of several computers which
allow centralized storage and online access to resources
and services.
The Digi Gateway connects to Etherios Device Cloud
over the Internet. Device Cloud allows the remote
configuration, monitoring, management and data access
of each XBee present in the sensor network.
In a promising approach, various Data Mining4
techniques employed on the sensor data play a primary
role in , statistical analysis and predicting future
occurrences using data trend analysis.
5

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5. ANDROID APPLICATION
The sensor data directed to the Device Cloud forms a
platform for developing smartphone applications which
function as real-time notification providing an easily
accessible warning system5.The application uses the
Etherios Device Connector APIs for connecting with the
Device Cloud. This allows the mobile application to
communicate with the Cloud and alert the users in case
of emergency.
Along with alerts, a GIS UI provided in the application,
shows insightful information about the disaster
situation. The Map is also useful in routing the users to
safety shelters , thereby expediting relief operations. As
long as connectivity persists, smartphones can help
accelerate the promulgation of disaster alert messages
over a wider range of users.
(A) (B) (C)
Fig 4 Screenshots of Android applications running on a phone. Figure 4(A) & (B) Show an automated emergency
notification. Figure4(C) shows navigation services to route users to safety zones.
6. RELIABILITY CONCERNS
A drawback of this model may be that the electronic
components present in the WSN are susceptible to
physical damage during disaster occurrences resulting in
a disconnection. To combat such nodal disconnections,
the WSN’s networking protocol is designed to be
“selfhealing”, rerouting communication paths
automatically despite the disconnection of few member
nodes. This means that the WSN will continue to
function even after few of the nodes stop operating.
Another concern of this model would be on powering
the nodes present in the WSNs, especially when the area
to be monitored is remote and does not have access to
power lines. As operating voltages are in compliance,
the nodes can be powered by solar cells during the
daytime and with solar powered battery banks during
nightfall.
7. COST & SCALABILITY CONCERNS
The extensive usage of open source technologies and
low-cost high-grade sensor components in this model
reduces the economic burden and allows for high
customizability at any stage. Moreover, almost non
existent licensing helps local communities to adapt the
model quicker without glitches. The WSN supports easy
scalability. Nodes can be easily added to an already
set-up WSN by simple configuration.

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8. CONCLUSION
The interdisciplinary and customizable nature of this
model opens up new ways in which we can improvise
disaster management systems, improving their
efficacy.The WSNs in conjunction with smartphone
technology will establish a highly effective regional
early warning system.
The goal of this model is to detect hazardous situations
real-time and send alert messages almost
instantaneously, leaving enough time to initiate
emergency evacuation or similar operations. This
ensures a feeling of safety in a community , which plays
a primal role in improving quality of life.
REFERENCES
[1]. Sensor Networks for Disaster Relief Operations
Management by Erdal Cayirci and Tolga Coplu.
[2]. Environmental Wireless Sensor Networks By Peter
Corke, Tim Wark, Raja Jurdak,Wen Hu.
[3]. ZigBee: A Low Power Wireless Technology For
Industrial Applications by Nishak and Yask.
[4]. Data Mining: Concepts and Techniques by Jiawei
Han and Micheline Kamber.
[5]. Implementation of an Android-Based Disaster
Management System by Jovilyn Therese.

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