The 2001 Second Class National Award for Progress in Science and Technology

Fire safety in large space buildings has special characteristics and the damage associated with fires in these buildings is large. The traditional fire detecting methods, such as the smoke detection (the ionization detection, the optical detection), the infrared detection, and the rate-of-heat-rise detection, will meet some difficulties while they are applied to new complex buildings or large buildings or even to some standard buildings. In large space buildings, their response time is too long or they don't respond. However, fire detection systems have to be designed carefully, as early detection of the fire would allow people to escape and would also control and extinguish the fire.

In order to solve these problems, the State Key Laboratory of Fire Science studied a new early-fire detection mode suitable for large-space buildings. It is based on the analysis of the real-time video image using CCD (charge coupled device) cameras. The detection mode includes two methods. One is the double-wave stereo image fire flame detection technology and the other is the light section image fire smoke detection method.

The double-wave stereo image detector uses two CCD cameras. One is an infrared CCD; the other is a color CCD. The image signals are input to computers through the image capture card. For a detector including two CCD cameras, this system can measure the scale and position of the fire. The suppression control system will then automatically start the auto-location-extinguishing monitor or sprinklers near the fire to put out the fire. This system responds very quickly compared with normal detectors.

Light section image detector is made of the infrared light source, CCD, and forms a stereo surface that can protect the detected area very effectively. The system is capable of finding out some typical features of the smoke that can be analyzed through image processing and then utilizing the trend model and model matching algorithms to form the criterions. It has drift compensation adjustments for dust buildup and environmental changes.

The products derived from the two technologies have the following characteristics: practical application to large spaces, excellent early alarming, high proportion of function (fire prevention, protection from burglar and TV monitored control) and price, fire point auto-location, on-the-spot visibility, standardization techniques and open systems.

The products have been applied in many important departments such as the CCTV, the People's Congress Hall, and the garage of the Macao Airport. This achievement has won the 2001 Second Class National Award for Science and Technology Progress.