ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a novel indoor communication system that leverages the Fire Exit Sign (FES) for firefighting. SmartFES uses exit signs as anchor nodes to provide landmarks for indoor localization and navigation. SmartFES dynamically seeks an optimal retreat route for each firefighter, which consists of a sequence of FESs. The technical novelty of SmartFES mainly lies in a reliable heading estimation approach, with the help of body-shadowing effect and an optimal route selection algorithm in real time. A large amount of FESs in the building form a sensor network that senses the dynamic indoor environment, localizes firefighters when they are close, and selects an optimal and reliable route for each firefighter. SmartFES employs an optimal route selection algorithm in real time that addresses the dynamic changes in the indoor environment. SmartFES extends those as wireless sensor nodes functioning as reference signs, which are further employed to represent the route on the retreat map.
