Distributed Fire-Alarm System

Abstract

Having fire-alarm systems is mandatory for all businesses and in some countries (such as Germany) also for homeowners. The popular cheap system don’t have any connectivity features and those that have cost thousands. Another problem is that in most of the cases the event log is stored on a device physically located in the location where the event occurs. That means in a case of a fire incident the log might be destroyed.

We are proposing a system that will be cheap and will provide all the functionality of the most expensive system including storing all event data into a distributed ledger such as public or private blockchain thus giving all affected parties – owners, firemen, equipment suppliers and insurance companies, the tool to perform security audits.

Overview

What is LoRa?

LoRa: Long range, low power wireless platform is the prevailing technology choice for building IoT networks worldwide.

Smart IoT applications have improved the way we interact and are addressing some of the biggest challenges facing cities and communities: climate change, pollution control, early warning of natural disasters, and saving lives. Businesses are benefiting too, through improvements in operations and efficiencies as well as reduction in costs.

This wireless RF technology is being integrated into cars, street lights, manufacturing equipment, home appliances, wearable devices – anything, really. LoRa Technology is making our world a Smart Planet.

What is LoRa WAN?

LoRaWAN is a protocol specification built on top of the LoRa technology developed by the LoRa Alliance. It uses unlicensed radio spectrum in the Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) bands to enable low power, wide area communication between remote sensors and gateways connected to the network. This standards-based approach to building a LPWAN allows for quick set up of public or private IoT networks anywhere using hardware and software that is bi-directionally secure, interoperable and mobile, provides accurate localization, and works the way you expect. The specification is available for free to download from the LoRa Alliance website today.

Technology

• • Device
    
    This is a normal ISO standardized smoke detector. We actually use the cheapest models where there is only a signal for smoke detection and no other functionality.
  • LoRa end-node
    
    This is the device that encodes and transmits the data to the network. This is a custom built by us device that is using LoRa chip.
  • LoRa custom firmware
    We write a custom firmware in embedded C to allow low energy transmission of alarm signals through the LoRa network.
  • LoRa gateways
    
    These are the gateways that built the LoRa network and are connecting it the internet.
  • Back-end
    We utilize the standard the things network server for the prototype as well as working on a custom solution for production. The services will handle the following features:
    • Calling methods from the smart contract in the blockchain
    • Handling the cryptographic keys
    • Providing user interface for all participants – operators, clients etc. The user interface includes web and mobile clients.
  • Front-end
    This is the web application where the users and auditors can interact with the system. It is written in C# using .NET Core framework.

Development

Partners

CICONIA Ltd. has been established in 1990 with 100% private capital. The company is estimated as a leading one in the field of producing, re-filling and technical servicing of all kinds of fire extinguishers, fire-fighting and fire alarm systems for marine and land industry, supply of technical gases and fire-fighting equipment. For this kind of activity CICONIA Ltd. is granted an Approval ISO 9001:2008.
The period when CICONIA Ltd. appeared on home and foreign market was neither so short nor so long. According to evaluation of many experts in this field, it is quite a long time for the company to establish itself as one of the most authoritative and prosperous companies in this branch. Its unique is that during the years of existence the company succeeded to establish itself and to keep a non suspected by many “niche”, to enrich and improve it, to make it useful not only for the numerous clients but also for the development of business itself in Bulgaria.