Description
I-Garment
First intelligent uniform for fighting forest fires, made up of jacket and trousers which include sensors, inclinometers, electrodes for measuring heart rate and terrestrial and satellite telecommunications systems. Developed by the consortium consisting of the Miguel Rios Design office, the information technology company YDreams (coordinating body) and the Instituto de Telecomunicações (Aveiro Unit), for the European Space Agency (ESA). Reference Entity for the user: Sociedade Nacional de Bombeiros e Protecção Civil (National Firefighters and Civil Defence Service) (SNBPC)
In 2003, the consortium comprising Miguel Rios Design, the Instituto de Telecomunicações (Aveiro site), and with YDreams as coordinator, presented a project to the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop the first intelligent uniform to fight forest fires. The National Society of Fire-fighters and Civil Defence (SNBPC) is taking part in the project as the reference organization for the future uniform wearer, on a purely informal basis.
The development of a project like this arose from the preoccupation of a number of southern European countries with the fires that break out during the summer months. In Portugal, fires destroy thousands of hectares of forests each year, causing loss of human life and costing millions of euros of damage. The lack of adequate firefighting equipment is one of the main constraints on controlling them, and that is one of the reasons for developing this uniform.
This ‘intelligent’ uniform, called the I-GARMENT, has involved the design of items of clothing, the incorporation of sensors, land and satellite telecommunications systems, as well as the development of interfaces for mobile devices (PDA, PC, Laptops and SmartPhones).
Miguel Rios Design has been responsible for designing a new uniform for fighting forest fires, consisting of a jacket and trousers, and for researching and choosing the best materials for them. This firm studied how to incorporate the hardware devices (developed by YDreams), which meant planning the system for wiring and integrating the sensors, inclinometers and electrodes. The I-GARMENT has also been conceived, from the design viewpoint, so as to meet the wearer’s needs in terms of high security. It uses abrasion-resistant materials, with flame-proof properties, waterproof and highly visible, bearing in mind the European EN 469 -2005 standard for firefighting uniforms. Given the presence of “foreign bodies” next to the body, with the introduction of a hardware system into the uniform, the I-GARMENT has been studied and developed formally, so as to establish maximum levels of comfort. This studio was anxious to maximize the use of the I-GARMENT and facilitate its handling, within and without firefighting, in the light of the new features it incorporates. Any fire brigade can maintain its equipment (replacing damaged sensors, for instance) on its own premises, without need of outside help. This enhances the brigade’s autonomy and minimizes additional costs.
The I-GARMENT, prototypes of which were developed by LOUSAFIL, a Portuguese enterprise, partner of the consortium and specializing in image and technical uniforms, has more than location sensors and systems to detect motion and environmental conditions: it also has sign monitoring systems that permit management by nearby Civil Defence units, and integration with the databases of that organization.
IBERMOLDES is another firm involved in the project as a partner. It has carried out studies and developed the protective casing for the hardware, incorporated into the jacket, in a place specially designed for it.
The I-GARMENT was funded by the ARTES 5 programme, and after 3 years of study, development, trials and tests on the ground, it was formally presented to ESA at the end of 2006. This project is patented in the EC, USA and Australia.6.
I-Garment
First intelligent uniform for fighting forest fires, made up of jacket and trousers which include sensors, inclinometers, electrodes for measuring heart rate and terrestrial and satellite telecommunications systems. Developed by the consortium consisting of the Miguel Rios Design office, the information technology company YDreams (coordinating body) and the Instituto de Telecomunicações (Aveiro Unit), for the European Space Agency (ESA). Reference Entity for the user: Sociedade Nacional de Bombeiros e Protecção Civil (National Firefighters and Civil Defence Service) (SNBPC)
In 2003, the consortium comprising Miguel Rios Design, the Instituto de Telecomunicações (Aveiro site), and with YDreams as coordinator, presented a project to the European Space Agency (ESA) to develop the first intelligent uniform to fight forest fires. The National Society of Fire-fighters and Civil Defence (SNBPC) is taking part in the project as the reference organization for the future uniform wearer, on a purely informal basis.
The development of a project like this arose from the preoccupation of a number of southern European countries with the fires that break out during the summer months. In Portugal, fires destroy thousands of hectares of forests each year, causing loss of human life and costing millions of euros of damage. The lack of adequate firefighting equipment is one of the main constraints on controlling them, and that is one of the reasons for developing this uniform.
This ‘intelligent’ uniform, called the I-GARMENT, has involved the design of items of clothing, the incorporation of sensors, land and satellite telecommunications systems, as well as the development of interfaces for mobile devices (PDA, PC, Laptops and SmartPhones).
Miguel Rios Design has been responsible for designing a new uniform for fighting forest fires, consisting of a jacket and trousers, and for researching and choosing the best materials for them. This firm studied how to incorporate the hardware devices (developed by YDreams), which meant planning the system for wiring and integrating the sensors, inclinometers and electrodes. The I-GARMENT has also been conceived, from the design viewpoint, so as to meet the wearer’s needs in terms of high security. It uses abrasion-resistant materials, with flame-proof properties, waterproof and highly visible, bearing in mind the European EN 469 -2005 standard for firefighting uniforms. Given the presence of “foreign bodies” next to the body, with the introduction of a hardware system into the uniform, the I-GARMENT has been studied and developed formally, so as to establish maximum levels of comfort. This studio was anxious to maximize the use of the I-GARMENT and facilitate its handling, within and without firefighting, in the light of the new features it incorporates. Any fire brigade can maintain its equipment (replacing damaged sensors, for instance) on its own premises, without need of outside help. This enhances the brigade’s autonomy and minimizes additional costs.
The I-GARMENT, prototypes of which were developed by LOUSAFIL, a Portuguese enterprise, partner of the consortium and specializing in image and technical uniforms, has more than location sensors and systems to detect motion and environmental conditions: it also has sign monitoring systems that permit management by nearby Civil Defence units, and integration with the databases of that organization.
IBERMOLDES is another firm involved in the project as a partner. It has carried out studies and developed the protective casing for the hardware, incorporated into the jacket, in a place specially designed for it.
The I-GARMENT was funded by the ARTES 5 programme, and after 3 years of study, development, trials and tests on the ground, it was formally presented to ESA at the end of 2006. This project is patented in the EC, USA and Australia.6.
