NIJ Project Conceptual Architecture and Data Flow Models

This figure is the conceptual project architecture for the NIJ Project.  This image was adapted from the orignal project proposal by Dr. Jiyeong Lee.  It describes in detail all of the aspects of the project and how data will be inputted and interfaces used.

The next image represents the flow of data from original building CAD file to the final mobile and desktop interfaces.

Mobile Application Implementation

Today I have finished composing a document that details the functionality and goals of the mobile application for NIJ project.  I will include a few of the key details in this post.

Mobile Application Goal

Implement a mobile application to support the operation of a GIS-based intelligent emergency response system (GIERS) (Kwan and Lee, 2005) that uses a 3D geocoding technology for locations in large buildings.  The application will aim to facilitate quick response to emergencies on multi-level structures using existing network technologies.  The mobile application will be a key component in the overall project in order to further the gathering of real-time data to aid in the decision making process.  This will allow emergency managers to respond to emergencies accurately, and evaluate and implement emergency response plans accordingly. 

Along with providing remote data gathering capabilities, the mobile application will serve as a secondary means of communication between dispatchers and emergency responders.  By using informative visualizations we hope to provide a means to guide responders through complex urban structures to points of interest  within the building.  In combination with our desktop application, the mobile application will provide a comprehensive set of tools to reduce the amount of time required to respond to emergencies in large and complex structures.

Functionality

·         Device

o   Provide a UI that is fully integrated for mobile use

o   Use network connections such as Wi-Fi or 3G

o   Effectively visualize key data

o   Useful in an emergency situation

o   Use GPS or cell phone triangulation to locate users

·         Application

o   Allow connection to Postgresql database or web interface

o   Allow editing and viewing of certain data

o   Send/receive data efficiently

o   Display real time information from data source

o   Allow users to easily identify/flag critical information (blocked hallways, stairways, room destinations)

o   Intuitive and easy to use

o   Allow multiple user types with different levels of access

o   Allow self-location of mobile users using GPS or triangulation

o   Allow reporting of different emergency types (fires, flood, chemical spill, etc.)

o   Provide interactive navigational guidance to critical locations 

Project Update

For the next week or so I will be working on figuring out the conceptual framework and goals of our mobile application. I have been reading through the relevant research articles related to our study and have been finding out different ways to implement a solution.

As mentioned in a previous post, we will most likely be creating some kind of web interface that we will use to manipulate the data sets and allow users to edit things in the environment.

For this week I will be composing a document related to this which will be distributed about to be modified by the PI's and other researchers. It will later be distributed to the researchers at Purdue and other relevant people in hopes that it may generate new ideas on the mobile app implementation.