ES2797873A1 - METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRAINING IN THE EVACUATION OF THE USERS OF AN INSTALLATION AND ASSISTANCE IN A REAL CASE OF EMERGENCY (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Method and system for training in the evacuation of users of a facility and assisting them in a real emergency. The training is carried out prior to contracting a service through a website, forcing the user to virtually know the installation to which they will go, based on moving virtually within an interactive simulation, in which a virtual image is shown. of an area in which the emergency exits, fire extinguishers and/or other evacuation or fire-fighting equipment are located at all times, as well as any other graphic or furniture elements existing in said area. In case of emergency, the user, who has already completed the training and therefore has basic knowledge about the correct evacuation and is familiar with the system, is notified about it and informed through his mobile device, by signals about the virtual simulation, about your fastest and safest evacuation route. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

Method and system for training in evacuation of users of a facility and assistance in a real emergency

Technique sector.

The invention refers to a method and system for improving the efficiency of the facilities in matters of evacuation based on the use of virtual simulations, which includes the training of users prior to entering the facilities and assistance to them in the event of a real emergency that requires a rapid evacuation.

The previous training of users through virtual simulations guarantees their knowledge of the distribution of the facilities, the best evacuation routes from their future location, the location of emergency signs and equipment, as well as the basic recommendations of security. This prior training guarantees both the acquisition of said basic knowledge and a familiarization by the user with the assistance interface which, in the event of a real emergency, will offer the user instructions through their mobile device to facilitate their evacuation (supplemented by the previous knowledge acquired), information on the state of the emergency and notifications about recommended actions.

The sector of the technique of the present invention is the sector of disaster prevention, such as an attack, a fire or a similar catastrophic circumstance, and the improvement of the efficiency of facilities in the event of contingencies that require the evacuation of users.

The invention is applicable to facilities in various economic sectors, highlighting the transport sector (airports, train stations, bus stations, metro stations), the recreational, sports and entertainment sector (show and concert halls, cinemas, stadiums and sports centers) and the tourism sector (hotels).

State of the art.

Training for handling situations that require rapid evacuation is developed by firefighters or specialized personnel through drills. However, these prevention drills are usually directed only at workers (for example, workers in hotels, hospitals, exhibitions, theaters) or people who regularly occupy the building (for example, school students). The occasional occupants of the facilities are generally not subject to this training (much less are known previous experiences in terms of assisting users in real time) despite vastly outnumbering workers in most cases and assuming therefore a field susceptible of an important improvement for the security.

Based on the foregoing, the present invention arises because it is considered that, if the users of the facilities are not duly informed about the routes they should take, the emergency equipment they have at their disposal or how they should be used. In practice, investments in safety equipment and improvement of facilities, despite having properly trained workers, do not result in an increase in the theoretically estimated level of safety. It is then observed that, for specific material and personnel means, the level of security would be increased if users were better informed about all this, increasing the efficiency of the facilities in terms of security as a result.

Regarding the technology to be used for this, there is a history of the use of virtual reality for the training of workers and the realization of simulations with users or visitors of the facilities. By way of example, patent CN107464465 used virtual reality simulations for training in aircraft emergencies.

However, virtual reality technologies have two significant drawbacks, both linked to the need for specific equipment (glasses and virtual reality controls). First of all, such equipment is not widely used today, which is a limitation for the training to reach all users. Second, it would be necessary to use another type of technology for the user assistance in real time, as this equipment is not available to users during an evacuation. The use of a different system for assistance would reduce its effectiveness, as the user is not familiar with the system in a situation in which an agile and efficient transmission of information is essential to achieve a rapid evacuation.

These are the main reasons for the selection of virtual simulations (instead of virtual reality) that users can access from mobile devices or computers.

With all this, the applicant concludes that he does not know documents of the state of the art in which a method of training and assistance in real time of the characteristics presented in this document is described.

Explanation of the invention

Based on the prior state of the art, the objective of the present invention is to provide a method and system for improving the efficiency of facilities in terms of security through the use of virtual simulations, being understood as "improving efficiency in matters of security. security ”an improvement of the evacuation process without requiring a greater investment in material resources and / or personnel. To achieve this objective, these virtual simulations are used for the prior training of users and for their virtual assistance in the event of a real emergency.

The general characteristics of the invention are the following:

1. It is directed specifically to the users of the facilities.

2. Applies mainly, although not exclusively, to those types of emergencies that require rapid evacuation, such as attacks, fires, landslides, gas leaks, natural disasters and riots, where exposure to risk is highly dependent on time spent within the facilities.

3. Applies mainly, although not exclusively, to facilities with special risk of occurrence of emergencies of the previous typology, facilities with greater complexity in terms of evacuation (complexity linked to the size of the facilities or the likelihood of crowds) as well as high-traffic facilities.

In order to achieve the proposed objectives, the invention proposes a method, which has the characteristics of claim 1.

In the first place, the present invention comprises, as a previous step to hiring a service that requires the user to go to an installation of those mentioned above (although in a non-limiting way), the performance of preventive training that the user accesses from the same website for contracting the services. This preventive training is proposed to facilitate the familiarization of the user with the tool that, in case of emergency, will offer assistance in real time, as well as to guarantee that they acquire the minimum knowledge listed below.

- Its relative initial location within the facility. This location will be, for example, the seat assigned in a show, the room assigned in a hotel or the platform that corresponds to it in a train or subway station.

- Exits from the installation; the doors, stairs and elevators present inside the building and closest to its location. This includes emergency exits and doors.

- The optimal evacuation route from the location assigned to you.

- The emergency signs and equipment present in the facility along the optimal route from its initial location and in the vicinity of this area.

- The prohibitions or basic safety recommendations (eg the elevator must not be used during fires).

- The most common mistakes made by users during training (eg 83% of users do this turn in the wrong way).

As mentioned above, the user accesses preventive training from their device through the service contracting website. Next, the user is shown a series of 2D images where it is indicated the user their future position on the floor and their optimal evacuation route, among other aspects. Subsequently, the user is positioned within a 3D simulation, in a specific virtual area within the facility to which they will go, transmitting the objective of reaching the exit in the shortest possible time using the optimal route that was previously indicated.

This training includes the possible consultation by the user of the installation plan so that he can orient himself in this virtual evacuation. This will increase the user's ability to consult them and, consequently, to interpret the plans that are frequently distributed throughout the facilities.

In the same way, the training considers the highlighting of the emergency signs and equipment that the user comes across during the simulation, so that the user's attention is drawn to them and, consequently, the user is able to remember the location. of this safety material during the actual emergency.

The simulations may contain specific eventualities in an emergency, for example: smoke that hinders visibility, obstacles on the road such as fire or debris, and doors or areas with no access due to explosions or gas leaks. This will force the user to modify their route and, consequently, will increase their ability to respond to unexpected, although probable, situations that may appear during the actual evacuation.

According to a characteristic of the invention, the opening and execution of the user's training computer application occurs before the end of the contracting process for the intended service, and the completion of said process is conditioned on the completion of at least one tour from the specific location assigned to the user within the facility, a priori unknown, to departure, to ensure the acquisition of relevant knowledge. The time elapsed since the start of the simulation and the number of deviations from the optimal route will be the two criteria used to evaluate whether the training has been satisfactorily passed.

The previous training through virtual simulation allows the user to know the facilities in detail, including their furniture, the signs present in the facility and the means they have to deal with emergency situations, since all of this has been faithfully reproduced in the virtual simulation. This familiarization with this environment has as a consequence the elimination or notable reduction of panic situations or mental blockage of the user when he has to face a real evacuation situation.

On the other hand, in terms of assistance to the user in a real emergency, once said emergency situation has occurred, the user receives a notification informing him about it through his mobile device. Said notification in turn contains a link to the assistance web application, through which the user is informed about the optimal evacuation route from the position they occupy within the facility at that moment. This application has the same interface used previously in the training, which guarantees the familiarization of the user with it and a greater efficiency of transmission of the evacuation information to the same.

In order for the notification to be sent to the user in case of emergency and the execution of the assistance application (which needs to know the location of the mobile devices during the emergency to calculate the optimal routes), during the phase of training the user must have registered their mobile number and given their explicit consent both to receive the initial notification and for the positioning system to analyze their location during the emergency. The user will also have the possibility of giving consent for positioning at the same time that he accesses the web application through the link during the emergency, if he has not done so previously. However, accepting it during the training phase saves a few seconds during the emergency.

The assistance to the user in leaving the installation he occupies during an emergency is based fundamentally on the signaling, on the virtual model of the installation, of the route that each of the users must follow to leave, in the fastest and most safe possible, of said installation. This route will be calculated by the system based on the possible existing routes from each area collected in the database, the locations detected by the positioning system and the analysis of the previous information for the detection of possible crowds and obstacles (whether this analysis is carried out by programming algorithms or by security managers from the central platform that is described later), I feel these setbacks are the cause that the optimal route for users may be altered during evacuation.

This assistance to users is complemented with relevant indications and notices that the user receives in real time through the same interface. By way of example, it could be informative notices about the elimination of the danger (e.g. the gas leak is already controlled), about recommended actions during the emergency (e.g. do not open the doors if smoke is observed below the the same) or about the importance of paying special attention in certain sections of the route due to the frequent errors in them during training (eg this turn is a frequent source of error).

This assistance is completed with the possibility for the user to access relevant practical information from its interface during emergencies, such as quick guides for the use of fire extinguishers.

Lastly, the existence of means for accessing the positioning system database enables centralized queries by those responsible for security during the emergency about the number of mobile devices found inside the facilities and their location at all times, in order to facilitate assistance to users in case of entrapment.

Description of the drawings

To complement the description that is being made and in order to facilitate the understanding of the characteristics of the invention, the present specification is accompanied by a set of drawings in which, by way of illustration and not limitation, the following has been represented:

Fig. 1 is a flow diagram that reflects the integration of preventive training in the service contracting process.

Fig. 2 is a flow chart showing the assistance that the user receives from the moment the emergency is registered until the evacuation ends.

Fig. 3 is a schematic image showing the user training application interface, along with the user prompts window.

Fig. 4 is a schematic image that shows the interface of the user training application in the specific case of consultation of the 2D plan of the installation by the user.

Fig. 5 is a schematic image showing the emergency user assistance application interface.

Fig. 6 is a schematic image showing the interface of the user assistance application in the specific case of sending alerts to the user in relation to the emergency situation.

Fig. 7 is a schematic image showing access to the positioning system database for consulting the devices found inside the facilities.

Implementation of the invention

The system for improving the efficiency of facilities in terms of safety, which enables the presentation to the user of a training application and an application to assist them in real time, comprises the following elements.

- A 3D virtual model of the facilities (1), which faithfully reproduces the signage, chromaticity, indications and elements of the rooms or enclosures of the facility in question, so that the user can recognize them when they are actually and physically in that location in the future. The incorporation of physical properties to the elements of the model and the incorporation of position variation commands within the simulation, in both cases programmatically, gives rise to the interactive virtual simulation that the user uses.

- A user interface (Int1), which shows:

■ The virtual model of the facilities (1), described above.

■ A time indicator (2) and an error indicator (3), both of which are visible to the user during training.

■ An indicator of the time and distance (4) remaining until reaching the exit through the optimal route, which is visible both during training and during the actual emergency.

■ Commands (5,6,7) to open in a single window a 2D plan of the facilities (8), the system messages in relation to training (9) or during the emergency (10), as well as reference guides fast.

■ The signage (11) that guides the user during the actual emergency.

- A database in which the division of the installation into zones is stored, the limits by coordinates of each of the zones, the allocation of seats by zone (if applicable), the possible evacuation routes from each assigned zone the user (and those possible routes if the user has movement limitations), lengths of travel by area, historical information about user errors and the frequency of occurrence, as well as the acceptance criteria of the simulations, in terms of on time and errors, individualized for each starting point.

- A central platform from which security managers send the emergency notification and other possible notifications to users. There is also the possibility that, from this same platform, those responsible for security can indicate to the user assistance system the existence of crowds and obstacles on the routes, complementing or replacing the algorithms programmed to carry out said detections. Finally, from this platform the access to the database of the positioning system during the emergency (12) is proposed, so that the number and location of the mobile devices that are inside the facilities and that they are running the assistance application, thus facilitating rescues.

- A positioning system for mobile devices during the emergency.

The coordinates captured by this system, either an indoor positioning system or based on QR tags, will be used to locate the user in an area of the facilities and, through algorithms, inform the user about the optimal evacuation route. .

- Programming algorithms for the execution of the system and the interconnection between the previous elements. Programming is the engine for the execution of interactive simulations, data movement and data analysis. More specifically, some of the most relevant programming algorithms are the following, not being limiting:

o Algorithms for storing information in the database or reading it.

o Algorithms for the incorporation of the different elements proposed in the user interface and to enable user interaction with them.

o Algorithms for the analysis of the initial zone that corresponds to each user, based on the seat assignment made on the hiring page and the seat-zone classification collected in the database, if applicable.

o Algorithms for starting the execution of the stopwatch during training.

o Algorithms for the location of the user during training by comparing their coordinates and the zone limits established in the database.

o Algorithms for calculating the optimal route during training based on the user's initial location and the closest exit, according to the possible routes stored in the database.

o Algorithms for counting errors during training, defined as deviations from the optimal evacuation route from its initial position.

Algorithms for the final evaluation of the training by comparing the time and number of errors recorded during the simulation and the acceptance criteria established in the system database. Algorithms for the user's location during the emergency by comparing the coordinates collected by the positioning system and the zone limits established in the database. Algorithms to send the notices from the central platform to the users' mobile devices, as well as to transmit programmed notices within the system, whose delivery conditions are stored in the database.

Algorithms for the prediction of crowds and obstacles based on the analysis of the information transmitted by the positioning system.

Algorithms for calculating the optimal route during the emergency, at reduced time intervals, based on the user's location, the closest exits, the possible routes stored in the database, as well as the crowds and obstacles detected by the previous algorithms.

Claims (11)

1 Method for training in evacuation of users of a facility and assistance in a real emergency, which includes , a) as a previous step, access a web page to contract a service that requires going to a facility, a priori unknown to the user and, more specifically, to a specific location within said facility; triggering said website, at some point during the contracting of the service, the opening and execution of a training computer application on the device from which the user accessed the recruitment website, a computer application from which he can carry out the training. b) carrying out the training, which comprises phases that are developed simultaneously or sequentially, through the presentation on the user interface of: - a plan or a series of 2D images of the installation to which the user will go, in which their optimal evacuation route is marked; - a 3D simulation, starting from the initial position of the user within the installation to which they will go, which includes: the furniture, signs and emergency equipment that the user encounters during the simulation, and / or various eventualities that may occur in an emergency; and, - at the user's request, the presentation of a plan of the installation so that it can be oriented during the virtual evacuation, in order to increase the user's ability to consult them and, consequently, to interpret the plans that are They are distributed throughout the facilities. c) the evaluation of whether the training has been satisfactorily passed, based on the time elapsed since the start of the simulation and the number of deviations from its optimal route. 2.- Method, according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening and execution of the user's training computer application occurs before the end of the contracting process of the intended service, and the completion of said process is conditioned on the completion of at least one tour from the specific location assigned to the user within the facility, a priori unknown, until departure, to ensure the acquisition of relevant knowledge. 3. - Method according to claim 1, characterized in that during the training the user registers his mobile device number and gives his explicit consent to receive an informative notification of the emergency in case of emergency and for the positioning system to analyze his location during the same in order to assist you in the evacuation through an assistance web application, the user also having the possibility of giving consent for positioning at the same time that he accesses said application, if he had not done so previously . 4. - Method, according to the preceding claims, characterized in that the assistance to the user in a real emergency includes the following phases: a) the sending from a central platform of a notification to the user's mobile device to inform him about the emergency situation, which contains a link to the assistance web application; b) access by the user to the assistance application through the link received and the consequent execution of the application on the user's mobile device, through which the user is informed about the route to follow to leave said facility in the fastest and safest way possible, said evacuation route being calculated by those responsible for security or by algorithms of the computer application depending on the possible routes from each area, as well as depending on: - the locations detected by the positioning system, - the analysis of the previous information on possible crowds and obstacles existing on each route; the assistance to users being complemented with indications and warnings that they receive in real time on their device, through the system interface, whether about the elimination of a danger, recommended actions during the emergency, or about the importance to pay special attention in certain sections of the route due to the frequent errors in them during training. 5.- Method, according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that the application of training and the application of assistance in a real emergency, share an interface so that the user is already familiar with it and guarantees a agile and effective transmission of information in the evacuation phase. 6- System for training in evacuation of the users of a facility and assisting them in a real emergency, which includes : - a 3D virtual model of the facilities (1), which faithfully reproduces the signage, color scheme, indications and elements of the rooms or enclosures of the facility in question, so that the user can recognize them when they are actually and physically in that facility location in the future; - a user interface (Int1), which shows: ■ the virtual model of the facilities (1), described above, ■ a time indicator (2) and an error indicator (3), which are visible to the user during training, ■ a time and distance indicator (4) that remains until reaching the exit through the optimal route, which is visible both during training and during the actual emergency, ■ commands (5,6,7) to open in a single window a 2D plan of the facilities (8), the system warnings in relation to training (9) or during the emergency (10), as well as guides containing practical information that can be useful during emergencies, ■ the signage (11) that guides the user during the actual emergency; - a database in which the division of the installation into zones, the limits by coordinates of each of the zones, the allocation of seats by zone (if applicable), the possible evacuation routes from each assigned zone is stored user and travel lengths by zone; - a central platform from which security officers send the emergency notification and other possible warnings to users; - a positioning system for mobile devices during the emergency that are used to locate the user in an area of the facilities and, through algorithms, inform the user about the optimal evacuation route; - programming algorithms for the execution of the system and the interconnection between the previous elements. 7- System, according to claim 6, characterized in that the elements of the virtual 3D model of the facilities (1) have physical properties and there are also commands for varying the user's position within the simulation, which makes this model 3D in an interactive virtual simulation. 8. - System according to any of claims 6-7, characterized in that the database also stores historical information about user errors and the frequency of occurrence, as well as the acceptance criteria of the simulations, as on time and errors, individualized for each starting point. 9. - System according to any of claims 6-8, characterized in that the central platform has means so that those responsible for security can indicate to the user assistance system the existence of crowds and obstacles on the routes, complementing or replacing to the algorithms programmed to carry out these detections. 10. - System according to any of claims 6-9, characterized in that the central platform has access means to the database of the positioning system during the emergency (12), so that the location of the mobile devices that are running the assistance application inside the facilities, thus facilitating rescues. 11. - System according to any of claims 6-10, characterized in that for the execution of interactive simulations, the movement of data and their analysis will include several of the following programming algorithms: - algorithms for storing information in the database or reading it; - algorithms for the incorporation of the different elements proposed in the user interface and to enable user interaction with them; - algorithms for the analysis of the initial area that corresponds to each user, based on the seat assignment made on the contracting page and the classification of seats-areas collected in the database, if applicable; - algorithms for starting the execution of the stopwatch during training; - algorithms for the user's location during training by comparing their coordinates and the zone limits established in the database. - algorithms for calculating the optimal route during training based on the user's initial location and the closest exit, according to the possible routes stored in the database; - algorithms for counting errors during training, defined as deviations from the optimal evacuation route from its initial position; - algorithms for the final evaluation of the training by comparing the time and number of errors recorded during the simulation and the acceptance criteria established in the system database; - algorithms for the location of the user during the emergency by comparing the coordinates collected by the positioning system and the zone limits established in the database; - algorithms to send the notices from the central platform to the users' devices, as well as to transmit programmed notices within the system, whose delivery conditions are stored in the database; - algorithms for the prediction of crowds and obstacles based on the analysis of the information transmitted by the positioning system; and / or - algorithms for calculating the optimal route during the emergency, at reduced time intervals, based on the user's location, the closest exits, the possible routes stored in the database, as well as the crowds and obstacles detected by the previous algorithms.