IIT Madras Unveils Real-Time Indoor Mapping Tech to aid Disaster Relief

Researchers at IIT-Madras have devised a real-time indoor mapping solution that can produce accurate maps whatever the light or environmental condition. As officials made known, this breakthrough technology was of utmost importance for first responders in disaster relief response situations because, during public safety emergencies, traditional infrastructure is often either inaccessible or unreliable and allegations or assumptions based on being removed from the physical environment create problems.

This technology is known as 'UbiqMap', which is lightweight and uses radio-frequency-based imaging to develop detailed maps of indoor settings. This technique is called Radio Tomographic Imaging or RTI. An Indian patent has been filed for the technology and published research has appeared in the journal ‘IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing’.

“The RTI systems rely on a network of wireless transceivers deployed at fixed locations. As these transceivers communicate, the wireless signal strength weakens when obstructed by structures. This reduction in signal power is analysed to reconstruct the structural layout or floor map of the area,” said Ayon Chakraborty, Assistant Professor, IIT Madras.

“UbiqMap introduces a portable approach by removing dependency on pre-installed infrastructure. Instead, it employs wearable transceivers that can be easily worn by rescue personnel. As team members move through the environment, these devices automatically determine their positions and continuously update the floor map, providing an accurate layout of the area,” he added.

Chakraborty explained that in the long term, UbiqMap holds the potential to become a foundational technology for smart cities and autonomous systems, enabling advanced mapping operations in complex indoor environments.