Radiofrequency Identification by using Drones in Railway Accidents and Disaster Situations

Interdisciplinary Description of Complex Systems 15(2), 114-132, 2017 RADIOFREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION BY USING DRONES IN RAILWAY ACCIDENTS AND DISASTER SITUATIONS Géza Károly Kiss Leizer and Dániel Tokody* Doctoral School of Safety and Security Sciences of Óbuda University Budapest, Hungary DOI: 10.7906/indecs.15.2.1 Regular article th Received: 24 December 2016. th Accepted: 26 June 2017. ABSTRACT Today, railway operation procedures include the transportation of large amount of hazardous substances. Our research has been motivated by the desire to find concrete and urgent solutions to the safety issues of handling waste generated manly in case of accidents and disaster situations during the transportation of hazardous substances In order to ensure safety in the transportation of dangerous goods, and to facilitate the fast and efficient waste handling of hazardous substances released into the environment during unexpected events, we have elaborated a new method, in which we suggest the radiofrequency identification of dangerous consignments in case of disaster situations by the use of drones. KEY WORDS railway accidents, transportation of dangerous goods, waste management, radiofrequency identification, drone CLASSIFICATION ACM: 10010485, 10010554, 10010606 APA: 4070, 4090, 4100, 4140 JEL: L92, O18, R41 PACS: 84.40.Xb *Corresponding author, : ; –; *Doctoral School of Safety and Security Sciences of Óbuda University, H – 1428 Budapest, Pf.:31 Radiofrequency identification by using drones in railway accidents and disaster situations INTRODUCTION DEFINING THE SCIENTIFIC PROBLEM Disasters have always been the part of human life. Their severity, frequency, dimensions and global effects have increased to such extent that protection against them has become a task of highest priority and utmost importance today. The enormous damage caused by such disasters, which have serious economic and social effects, calls for the research into prevention possibilities, the issues and necessity of safe waste treatment [1]. Our research looks into the possibilities to ensure an easier identification of dangerous materials released into the environment during railway-related accidents or disasters, to minimise any consequent damage, and to enable the prompt responding to the effects of the generated hazardous waste. By approaching to waste treatment from the aspect of safety sciences, we focus on the environmental hazards caused by the inappropriate or delayed treatment of the generated waste. The aim of the present article is to show the possibility of using the method of radiofrequency identification for the treatment of hazardous wastes, in the combined way as suggested by us. By using a drone equipped with an RFID reader, hazardous substances may be identified in a faster way, preventing the serious damage that may be caused by the release of hazardous wastes in the event of a disaster. The present study consists of the following sections: following the introduction, Section 2 discusses the technical safety technology factors related to the transportation of hazardous substances. Section 3 presents the possible solutions of radiofrequency identification used in the transportation of hazardous substances. In Section 4 we make a suggestion to the specific use of drones in case of accidents and disasters to allow faster response and the prompt treatment of hazardous wastes. Finally, we present the results that have been achieved so far, formulate our statements for debate and our conclusions as well as our objectives of further research. OBJECTIVES, STATING THE RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS The European Union has specified the technical requirements of waste management in its policy and directives mutually agreed by its member states. Considering the results formerly achieved in this field, it can be stated that the fundamental technical-safety requirements must be ensured by a legislation which is in harmony with these directives and in accordance with the latest research results. It is very important that the members of the EU must cooperate in sharing information about the safe railway transportation of hazardous and other wastes. The purpose of this endeavour is to develop a safe method of waste identification and treatment in the situation of accidents or disasters by successfully using, as we proposed, the RFID-DRONE combination. Therefore, our objective is to examine the possible introduction of RFID identification in the railway transportation of hazardous substances. In the present article we wish to prove the hypothesis that the combined RFID-DRONE system can help to facilitate the recovery process and the mitigation of the harmful effects of the wastes of hazardous substances in case of a disaster situation. REVIEW OF REFERENCES – WITH REGARD TO THE IMPROTANCE AND RELEVANCE OF THE TOPIC Safety technology includes all technical and technological methods and procedures which aim to protect the life of a person/persons or the normal operation of an object/objects [2]. 115 G.K. Kiss Leizer and D. Tokody In case of waste management, this can be achieved by applying the results of technical sciences. During application, all elements which hinder the development, maintenance or introduction of technical safety technologies, or the possibilities to create its conditions, can be considered as influencing factors. The most significant element is the human factor, as it can cause serious damage in case of accidents or disasters which occur as a result of negligence [1]. All personnel having duties and responsibilities in the transportation of dangerous goods must receive appropriate training about the requirements on the transport of dangerous goods to the extent required by their duties and responsibilities, also considering the training requirements on public safety standards. Although the provisions of the relevant sections of the RID prescribe basic and special training, the safety issues of hazardous wastes generated in accidents are not covered even by such special training [3]. In our research, we consider it important that any unburned hydrocarbon or other special operational or transported liquid which can cause soil or water pollution in case of a disaster must be adequately treated in the course of the recovery process. The polluted area must be cleaned of all liquids and other substances which, by this time, will have become hazardous waste [4]. PRESENTING AND DEFINING THE TERMS USED IN THE RESEARCH The knowledge of the following terms is essential for the understanding of the topic discussed in the present article: Waste is any substance or object which the holder discards or intends to or is required to discard [5]. In other words, waste is any substance, solution, mixture or object which is generally not suitable for direct use, but which is removed for disposal through recycling procedures, storage in deposits, incineration or in any other ways [6]. According to our own (...truncated)