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A technology review of smart sensors with wireless networks for applications in hazardous work environments.

Sammarco JJ; Paddock R; Fries EF; Karra VK

Pittsburgh, PA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2007-114 (IC 9496), 2007 Apr; :1-49

https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/mining/works/coversheet1800.html

20031809

Workers in hazardous environments such as mining are constantly exposed to the health and safety hazards of dynamic and unpredictable conditions. One approach to enable them to manage these hazards is to provide them with situational awareness: real-time data (environmental, physiological, and physical location data) obtained from wireless, wearable, smart sensor technologies deployed at the work area. The scope of this approach is limited to managing the hazards of the immediate work area for prevention purposes; it does not include technologies needed after a disaster. Three critical technologies emerge and converge to support this technical approach: smart-wearable sensors, wireless sensor networks, and low-power embedded computing. The major focus of this report is on smart sensors and wireless sensor networks. Wireless networks form the infrastructure to support the realization of situational awareness; therefore, there is a significant focus on wireless networks. Lastly, the "Future Research" section pulls together the three critical technologies by proposing applications that are relevant to mining. The applications are injured miner (person-down) detection; a wireless, wearable remote viewer; and an ultrawide band smart environment that enables localization and tracking of humans and resources. The smart environment could provide location data, physiological data, and communications (video, photos, graphical images, audio, and text messages).

Mining-industry; Monitors; Monitoring-systems; Coal-mining; Underground-mining

20070401

Numbered Publication; Information Circular

2007

PB2007-108766

A05

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2007-114; IC-9496

PRL; NPPTL

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

PA