Aug 01, 2011Presented below is part 10 of an 11-part series examining the use of radio frequency identification for unexpected applications. In this chapter, we consider RFID's use in the arts.
82. Working on the Railroad
Bombardier Transportation developed an RFID solution to protect subway track workers from speeding trains. Workers wear tagged vests that link to readers installed on the track. The readers, in turn, connect to warning lights and speakers. The system alerts workers to oncoming trains, and lets conductors know workers are on the track, so they can slow down and proceed with caution. (See 'Sketch' the User Experience to Ensure an RFID Project's Success.)
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83. Protecting Miners
Mining companies are relying on RFID to locate miners in the event of an accident or evacuation. They are also using RFID to prevent underground vehicular collisions, which are common occurrences since it's tricky to navigate in loud, dark, rugged environments. RFID and sensor technologies situated throughout a mine can alert mine operators on the surface—in real time—about dangerous levels of gases building up anywhere underground, so the operators could evacuate the mines. (See Mining New Value From RFID and Australian Mining Contractor Prevents Vehicular Collisions.)
84. Countering Terrorism
Alco Water Service, a water utility that maintains unmanned pump stations throughout Salinas, Calif., employs RFID to track personnel and equipment, to gain better visibility into the use of its stations—for operational efficiency and to comply with the Bioterrorism Act. The system ensures that only authorized workers can enter the pump stations. (See California Water Utility Uses RFID to Reduce Terrorism Risk.)
British structural steel manufacturer Severfield-Rowen is among dozens of companies in the United Kingdom that have adopted an RFID-based system that measures the level of hand-arm vibration (HAV) its employees are exposed to every day, to help it comply with a European mandate limiting HAV exposure. Workers typically use power tools in short bursts, and RFID sensors can measure exposure to the minute. (See British Steel Company Monitors Tool-Related Vibration.)
86. Detecting Gunfire
Many local governments from New York to California have implemented the ShotSpotter Gunshot Location System, which uses wireless audio sensors to detect when guns are fired. The system uses triangulation to determine the exact location of the gunshot and send the information to 911 dispatchers and police cars. (See Wireless Sensors Zero In on Crime.)
87. Calling for Help
Kainuu Central Hospital, in Finland, deployed a wireless sensor network in its psychiatric ward. The system works with specially designed tags that let personnel alert supervisors if they are in a threatening situation. Innsbruck University Hospital, in Austria, installed two Wi-Fi-based alarm systems. One is for emergency-room employees who may be confronted with aggressive patients, and the other is for attendants at the psychiatric ward. (See Psychiatric Ward Uses RFID-Based Alarms to Bolster Personnel Security and Innsbruck University Hospital Finds Safety Through RFID.)
88. Providing Aid
A nonprofit organization that provides water-treatment kits to Haitians sends technicians to their homes to make sure they are using the chlorine solution properly. The technicians use mobile phones equipped with Near-Field Communication technology to read the unique ID tags on the water buckets, and then answer some questions. The information is forwarded to a back-end system. (See In Haiti, RFID Tracks Drinking Water.)
Eastern European oil company Rompetrol is employing RFID seals on its fuel trucks, to ensure that the correct type and amount of gas is delivered to stations, and that the fuel is not stolen en route from depots. Paz Energy, an Israeli energy company, is using RFID to track when the fuel valves and hatches on its tanker trucks are opened and closed, to deter fuel thefts and improve efficiency of the fuel-delivery process. (See RFID Fuels Gas Tank Security and Paz Energy Uses RFID for Fuel Security and Inventory Efficiencies.)
90. Ensuring Public Safety
Some 500,000 people attend the annual Boston Pops' Fourth of July concerts, and roughly 350 individuals from 20 federal, state and local agencies work in a makeshift command center to ensure their safety. A portable RFID access system that can be set up quickly controls traffic into and out of the command center, identifying authorized personnel. (See RFID Secures Command Center at Boston Pops Concerts.)
91. Fleeing Danger
People forced to vacate their homes due to hurricanes or other emergencies often leave without personal identification or medical records, and can become separated from family members. To better manage evacuations, Texas is using RFID identification wristbands and other technologies to keep track of families and their pets, and get them settled in shelters quickly. (See An RFID Port in a Storm.)
Click here to read about RFID's use in other unexpected applications.
Illustration: iStockphoto