Fluorescence-Based Fire Safety Monitoring System

Smart monitoring system using fluorescence sensing for temperature, humidity, and fire detection in buildings and tunnels

Overview

Fluorescence-based fire safety monitoring system for buildings and tunnels, using optical fiber sensor networks to detect temperature and humidity changes. Leverages existing fluorescent coatings as dual-purpose ambient lighting and sensing elements for distributed, real-time monitoring without structural modifications.

Problem Statement

Traditional fire monitoring has limited coverage (blind spots), environmental sensitivity (moisture, EMI), slow manual inspection (inefficient for 10s-100s km tunnels), and high maintenance costs. Fluorescence sensing offers electromagnetic immunity, superior temperature/humidity sensitivity, and distributed deployment via optical fibers.

Methodology

Fluorescence Sensing System

  • Optical Path: Laser (45° incidence) → Dichroic filters → Fluorescent materials (rare-earth/thymol coatings) → Photodetectors (CCD/CMOS)
  • Signal Processing: Intensity ratio calculation, spectral peak/centroid shift detection → mathematical transformation to temperature/humidity
  • Control: Computer-based monitoring center, real-time visualization, alert system

Fire Detection Logic

  • Alert Level 1: Temperature rising + humidity decreasing → Potential fire (notify personnel)
  • Alert Level 2: Rapid temp increase + rapid humidity decrease → Confirmed fire (emergency response)
  • Escalation: Failed intervention → Multi-channel alerts (popup, alarm, broadcast, SMS)

Results

System Capabilities:

  • Distributed monitoring across optical fiber networks
  • Multi-parameter sensing (temperature, humidity, trend analysis)
  • Electromagnetic interference immunity
  • Dual-purpose fluorescent coatings (lighting + sensing)

Applications

Target Deployments:

  • Public spaces (malls, transportation hubs, sports venues, hospitals)
  • Critical infrastructure (airports, power plants, government facilities, chemical plants)
  • Tunnels and underground infrastructure
  • High-rise buildings and historical structures

Market: ~300,000 hazardous chemical units in China with substantial fire safety demand

Achievements & Recognition

Awards

  • Silver Award - 12th “Challenge Cup” Jiangxi Student Entrepreneurship Competition (2020)
  • 2nd Prize - 8th National Student Optoelectronic Design Competition (2020)

Key Metrics

  • 6 patents filed and published
  • Prototype systems and semi-finished products developed
  • Distributed optical fiber network integration

Strategic Partnership

Collaboration with Anhui Beyondesign Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd.

Team & Collaboration

Principal Investigator: Prof. Zhang Weiwei (张巍巍)
Institution: Department of Optical Engineering, Nanchang Hangkong University
Core Contributors: Zhou Yanuo (data acquisition and analysis, sensor characterization), Wang Jiahao (circuit design, debugging), Wan Lu (project management, system design)
Collaborators: Yu Yangyang (market research, business development)
Funding: National Natural Science Foundation (“Steady-State Fluorescence Method for Temperature Sensing”)

Timeline

Duration: October 2019 - September 2020 (12 months)
Competitions: August 2020