Design of a System to Monitor Youth Workers' Heat Stress and Positioning using Non-invasive Techniques

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dc.contributor.authorKandel, Matthew Kreismanen
dc.contributor.committeecochairDiller, Thomas E.en
dc.contributor.committeecochairGrisso, Robert D.en
dc.contributor.committeememberWicks, Alfred L.en
dc.contributor.departmentMechanical Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2014-03-14T20:50:27Zen
dc.date.adate2012-01-10en
dc.date.available2014-03-14T20:50:27Zen
dc.date.issued2011-12-07en
dc.date.rdate2012-01-10en
dc.date.sdate2011-12-19en
dc.description.abstractDue to inadequate training and an undeveloped ability to recognize dangerous scenarios, youth workers are exposed to many dangers in the agriculture and lawn care industries. With the abundance of new technologies available on the market, a project was devised to prevent youth from heat exhaustion and equipment run overs by employing sensor based technologies. Using aural temperature measurement techniques involving a thermistor and thermopile, an accurate estimation of core body temperature can be made. The measurements performed by the devices are recorded and transmitted wirelessly over a ZigBee network using XBee radiofrequency modules. Utilizing the properties of radiofrequency transmission, the Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) is used to approximate the distance between devices. With accuracy comparable to GPS methods and no necessity for line of sight to sky, RSSI supplies a more than adequate estimate for proximity distance. The temperature and RSSI values are then sent to a coordinating modem where the data is displayed for the supervisor. After testing and calibrating the device, it was found that these methods are effective for the monitoring of core body temperature and proximity of workers. The temperature sensor was able to measure temperatures with less than 0.25% error and the proximity sensor was able to estimate distance within 1.25 meters at close range.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.identifier.otheretd-12192011-134916en
dc.identifier.sourceurlhttp://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-12192011-134916/en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/36314en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.relation.haspartKandel_MK_T_2011_Copyright.pdfen
dc.relation.haspartKandel_MK_T_2011.pdfen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjecthandheld deviceen
dc.subjectZigBeeen
dc.subjectXBeeen
dc.subjectsensor developmenten
dc.subjectheat exhaustionen
dc.subjectproximityen
dc.subjecthealthen
dc.titleDesign of a System to Monitor Youth Workers' Heat Stress and Positioning using Non-invasive Techniquesen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineMechanical Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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