To promote smart city development, the EMSD actively extends innovative application of the Government-Wide Internet of Things Network (GWIN) to different areas. One example is our research and development project of last year, the Drone-based LoRa Network for Location Tracking in Remote Areas, which won a silver medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva 2022 and demonstrated wide recognition of the development potential of the technology. This year, we collaborated with the Fire Services Department (FSD) for further testing of the technology application.
While the existing GWIN fixed gateways already provide practical support in various aspects, using a drone to carry a lightweight GWIN gateway (GWIN-on-drone) can cover more remote areas and offer more diverse solutions. In this connection, the EMSD team worked with the FSD to carry out a test during the training of the Mountain Search and Rescue Team (MSRT) of the FSD at the Plover Cove Country Park in mid-August 2022. During the test, the MSRT members underwent their training with tracking devices while our team operated the GWIN-on-drones to collect data from the tracking devices, in order to test the effectiveness of the location tracking system.
Specially designed for operation in remote areas, the new tracking devices can help search and rescue personnel to pinpoint the locations of injured or missing persons. Despite the fact that mobile gateways have a smaller coverage than fixed gateways, the GWIN-on-drones can flexibly travel through countryside environments. Given the limited load capacity of the drones, the gateway to be carried by the drone must be lightweight but at the same time equipped with sufficient power supply equipment, so that it can be securely mounted on the drone.
In addition to hiking safety, the tracking devices combined with the GWIN and drone technology, can be further applied to ensure the safety of participants in large-scale outdoor and aquatic activities organised by government departments. Our team will continue to study the technology to benefit more client departments by providing them with value-added services.
Please visit the below website to watch a video of the on-site test:
https://bit.ly/3VsVRos