System and method for dynamically and efficently directing evacuation of a building during an emergency condition

Abstract

An emergency response system capable of directing building occupants to a safe location in real-time is disclosed. The system comprises a plurality of sensors which detect and monitor an emergency condition, a central processing unit which evaluates the data, calculates accessible evacuation routes, and sends the result to output devices which provide directional information to occupants. By combining an analysis of the flow of evacuees with changes in building structural information and the evolution of an emergency condition the system combines situation-aware data with contextual information to thereby provide the best available evacuation route to evacuees. In this manner, some evacuees may be redirected to alternate evacuation routes during the evacuation process itself, thereby minimizing problems due to congestion, potential panic of the evacuees, and changes in the emergency condition while increasing the probability that evacuees will reach a safe location.