New system uses floor vibrations to detect building occupants

By installing sensors in a building's floor slabs, it's possible to measure the vibrations created by footsteps. EPFL - Thanks to a new system developed at EPFL, building owners can detect the number of occupants and track their movement using sensors installed on floor slabs. This novel approach could be particularly useful for enhancing safety in retirement homes or managing buildings' energy use more efficiently. Many buildings, manufacturing sites, shopping malls and other public spaces are equipped with occupant detection systems. These systems generally rely on cameras or occupants' mobile phones. Such technologies infringe on privacy and may not function in emergencies such as fires. Scientists at ENAC's Applied Computing and Mechanics Laboratory (IMAC) , headed by Professor Ian Smith, have developed an alternative approach.