Expected Performance of a Mobile e-nose platform for Real Time Victim Localization

Abstract

In this paper it is presented an analysis for the performance of the sensors of a mobile e-nose system that measures the atmospheric air, gas components’ concentrations (actually CO2 and O2), into a rubble void, where humans are entrapped, after a disastrous event that caused the collapsing of a building/construction. In this case, the entrapped humans in the void, they affect the air composition and temperature into the void. The existence of human(s) creates CO2 source(s), O2 sink(s), and heat source(s) as well (from body temperature). The existence of the entrapped humans constantly affect the air composition and temperature into the void and makes gas components’ concentrations dynamic. There will be presented the human CO2 source(s), and O2 sink(s) inside a cavity. The final goal is to estimate the concentrations of CO2 and O2 into the cavity as a function of time, having as parameters the number of entrapped humans. Estimating the concentrations it will enable the operator of a mobile e-nose system with sensors of a specific sensitivity and specificity, to determine the possibilities of detecting the presence of humans in a rubble void, nevertheless without considering the effect of weather conditions.