Recording and Analyzing Infrasounds to Monitor Human Activities in Buildings

Abstract

Infrasound waves originate from multiple sources, whether anthropogenic (explosion) or natural (earthquake, volcano, storm, etc.). They are generally used in atmospheric physics and to monitor nuclear weapons. People familiar with infrasound measurement also know that human presence and activities in buildings (moving, passing through a door, opening a window, use of machines, etc.) produce infrasounds. In the context of smart buildings, these infrasounds may be detected and analyzed to infer information. Infrasounds have the advantages of propagating over long distances and circumventing obstacles. For this reason, a few sensors are able to monitor a large area, but in counterpart recordings may be contaminated by undesired sources.