Project homeUC03.2: Wide area assessment (USAR)
Version 13.1 by Tjalling Haije on 2025/07/14 13:35
Indoor Drone Exploration and Victim Detection – Firefighting
| Objective | OB01: Increase effectiveness through exploration, sensing and communication means OB04: Improve safety by providing overviews and warnings of environment conditions |
|---|---|
| Description | Use RTK-enabled outdoor drones for wide area assessment before and during USAR operations. Drones hover near structures and provide high-resolution video, controlled manually by an operator. Teams and command staff use the footage to support planning, assess hazards, and make routing decisions. |
| TDP | TDP1, TDP4, TDP6 |
| IDP | IDP1, IDP3 |
| Actors | Drone Operator, USAR Rescuers, Command Center Staff, Camera Analyst (optional) |
| Pre-Condition | Drone is operational and connected; a need for external visual assessment is identified. |
| Post-Condition | Hazards and structures externally assessed; situational awareness increased across teams. |
| Status | Earlier version validated during CFT 2 |
Action Sequence
- Deployment and Initial Positioning
a. Command or team lead requests drone support for external area overview.
b. Drone operator launches drone, checks connectivity and RTK accuracy.
c. Live feed is shared with teams and command center. - Initial Area Assessment
a. Drone hovers and performs a wide pass along the operational area.
b. Camera operator or analyst identifies terrain features and visible hazards.
c. Findings are noted by command staff for initial planning and worksite layout. - Detailed Look Upon Request
a. A responder team or command staff requests specific inspection (e.g. rooftop stability, exit blockage).
b. Operator manually moves drone and zooms in for closer inspection.
c. Team uses footage for tactical decision-making or confirmation before approach. - Data Sharing and Coordination
a. Screenshots or annotated video are shared across teams.
b. Visual information is added to digital maps or discussed in team briefings.
c. Drone remains in overwatch or is redirected to the next location.
Claims (title)
| Claims (title) | Function | Effect(s) | Action Sequence Step(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CL1 Improved SA on environment for teams | Live video from hovering drone | EFXX: Situation Awareness improved of USAR team → Measured with SAGAT or questionnaire. (Teams operate with up-to-date visuals of surroundings.) | 2a, 2b, 3a |
| CL2 Safer team movement planning | Visual human confirmation of hazards | EFXX: Safety of responders improved → Measured with near-incident reporting or field logs. (Avoids unstable paths or collapse zones.) | 3a, 3b, 3c |
| CL3 Increased planning speed | Area scan before deployment | EFXX: Operational tempo (team efficiency) improved because experts (such as structural engineers) can watch along and classify safe entry points etc. → Measured with time-to-plan or decision cycle. | 2a, 2c, 4b |
| CL4 Lower workload for reconnaissance | Drone replaces physical scout | EFXX: Mental workload decreased → Measured with NASA TLX. (Removes need for physical recon of rooftops or hard-to-access zones.) | 2b, 3b |
| CL5 Shared SA between field and base | Feed shared across all actors | EFXX: Coordination improved → Measured with mission replay or comms analysis. | 1c, 4a, 4b |