Comparative Analysis of Wireless Transmission Methods for Firefighting Communication in Challenging Indoor Environments

The demand for firefighting has significantly risen in recent decades, accompanied by increased risks faced by firefighters. Tragic incidents, such as the Shanghai factory fires, have resulted in the loss of over thirty firefighter lives. One of the primary contributing factors is the abrupt breakdown in communication between firefighters inside a building and the commanding officer stationed outside, attributable to the harsh and complex indoor environment. This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of different widely used wireless transmission methods, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and Long Range (LoRa). The experiments are conducted in a two-room setup, with two brick walls acting as a barrier. A wireless data transmitter is placed in one room, while smoke is generated. A receiver placed at varying distances collects the signal strengths. The findings indicate that LoRa exhibits the least drop in signal strength compared to the other methods. In contrast, BLE shows high signal strength variation for the same distances and is not recommended for firefighting communication purposes. This study provides valuable insights for selecting suitable wireless communication modules, particularly in the design of wearable devices for assessing safety risks faced by firefighters.