Interactive Escape Route Control for Passenger Ships Using Emergency Lighting

Maritime accidents lead to massive loss of life and property. In the case of passenger ships, the potential for damage is especially high. Although the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime Organization has recently increased the regulation of passenger ship safety, serious accidents continue to occur. A large passenger ship (e.g., a cruise ship) is very wide and contains a complex population of passengers; it is difficult for crew members to be aware of each passenger's location and idiosyncrasies. Such knowledge could be used by crew members in normal conditions to control the passengers, thereby avoiding dangerous scenarios. In an emergency situation, the same knowledge can help crew members control the flow of escape and help passengers, including handicapped persons, children, and the elderly. In this paper, we examine the use of emergency lighting and wireless sensor networks to create a new methodology for interactive escape route control. The sensor network consists of a wireless system (i.e., ZigBee) that collects raw data from each passenger. These data are then used to determine escape routes, which are communicated to the crew via emergency lighting. We also include simulation results of the proposed interactive escape route control for selected scenarios.