Designers from around the world have turned their skills to improving river safety in London.
And the winners of a Smart City competition in the capital have designed a “jumper detection system” that uses an optical scanner to identify when people fall from a bridge and into the River Thames, and track their precise location to assist emergency services.
Slovenia-based Instrumentation Technologies (I-Tech) created the ‘jumper detection system’ to help first responders in search and rescue that even operates in thick fog. Its advanced data processing likewise ensures that the lasers detect people rather than birds or falling objects.
The detection system works in tandem with small battery-powered devices to monitor lifebelts at the entrances to the River Thames and prevent misuse. If a lifebelt is removed, it will emit a high-pitched alarm, and if it is not placed back in its housing unit for eight seconds an emergency message will be sent via the Itron IoT network to notify emergency services.
This year’s inaugural Itron Smart City Challenge asked competitors from around the world to design an Internet of Things Solution to improve river safety in the City of London.
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