Project No.: CY1-UNM-01
Title: Increasing Understanding of Climate Emergencies and Enhancing Safety of Rural and Tribal Areas using Wireless Smart Sensors and Human-Environment-Data Interfaces using Augmented Reality (AR)
Performing Institution: University of New Mexico, High Water Mark LLC, The New Mexico Consortium, and Prospect Solutions LLC
Principal Investigator: Fernando Moreu, University of New Mexico
Start and Anticipated Completion Dates: 10/1/2023-09/30/2024
Abstract: This project aims to develop an interface between users and data in the context of low-cost deployment of sensors that can be tested to collect both rainfall and flooding during significant postwildfire flooding events. The system will be wireless and validated with a local company in New Mexico, High Water Mark (HWM) LLC, with expertise in flooding. The support of Prospect Solutions, another participating company, will enable the research team to develop a transportation-directed tool that can be used for other aspects critical to durability. This project proposes using Low-cost Efficient Wireless Intelligent Sensors (LEWIS) that can be moved and installed at a very low cost, measuring both rainfall and flooding levels (elevation). Real-time data from such sensors can inform the population about the flooding with 10-20 minutes’ notice. The LEWIS sensors are connected to the internet with hotspots and their design and installation are incremental so they can be changed by the owners. The first step will be to design and demonstrate a rainfall/flooding data interface system using simulated rainfall and flooding using indoor facilities at UNM. The second step will be located outdoors near a creek in the mountains to validate the power independence of such a system and to obtain field data from a rain and/or flooding event. The third step is to create a simulation of the sensor-AR interface to collect/identify thresholds of emergencies from the experts (HWM LLC and Prospect Solutions) and subsequently from the community in a workshop, involving a demonstration at the Ohkay Owingeh Casino. The outputs of this project include the following: (1) a new AR-LEWIS interface to relate emergencies with data and data-driven decisions. Simulation of flooding using this interface (i.e., AR and LEWIS data) will be a new humancentered visualization tool; (2) updated hardware and software for sensor durability in extreme weather events, involving new internet connection design and outdoor testing to ensure long-term sustainability; and (3) collected input of the Pueblo members on this interface and recommendations on using augmented reality as a visualization tool. This transformative research is expected to have a significant impact on safety, by protecting rural and tribal communities by working together with the emergency responders. The developed sensors and their capabilities can be used to train communities and to make data-driven decisions such as evacuation due to rainfall, flooding, and wildfire.
Click to read more