A low-cost integrated prototype for early detection of multiple disasters — fire, earthquake, flood and railway track breakage — built entirely from first principles, with no microcontroller, cloud, or internet dependency.
This project is a low-cost disaster alert prototype capable of detecting multiple disasters and immediately alerting people through buzzers. It is designed as a demonstration of how simple, affordable sensing circuits can provide early warning and improve public safety in disaster-prone regions — without relying on expensive electronics or internet connectivity.
Flame sensor detects open flame and infrared heat signatures near the monitored zone.
A pendulum-and-coil mechanism senses ground vibration through physical contact.
Conductive probes detect rising water level through changes in circuit conductivity.
A modified IR circuit monitors continuity across an aluminium strip representing the track.
Detect the onset of a disaster event fast enough to give people meaningful time to react.
Combine four independent detection circuits into a single monitored dashboard, instead of one sensor for one hazard.
Use inexpensive, easily sourced components so the design can be replicated in resource-limited settings.
Operate fully offline with no microcontroller, cloud service, or internet connection required to function.
Pair the hardware with clear emergency guidance so detection translates into correct action.
Establish a working baseline circuit that can later be extended with smart, connected technology.
Purpose: Detect open flame or fire outbreak in the monitored area.
The flame sensor continuously monitors infrared light emitted by fire. The moment it detects a flame, the circuit closes and the buzzer activates immediately, providing an instant audible alert.
Purpose: Detect ground vibration caused by seismic activity.
A heavy nut hangs freely on a wire like a pendulum, positioned near a copper coil. During ground vibration, the pendulum swings and touches the coil, completing the circuit and triggering the buzzer.
Purpose: Detect rising water levels before they become dangerous.
Exposed probes on the water level sensor detect conductivity once submerged. When water reaches the probes, current flows through the water, closing the circuit and sounding the buzzer.
Purpose: Detect a break in track continuity that could derail a train.
An aluminium strip represents a section of railway track. A modified IR-based circuit constantly checks for continuity across the strip. If the strip breaks or separates, continuity is lost and the buzzer rings.
| Module | Sensor | Trigger Mechanism | Output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fire | Flame Sensor | Infrared flame detection | Buzzer (instant) |
| Earthquake | Copper Coil + Pendulum | Physical contact on vibration | Buzzer (on contact) |
| Flood | Water Level Sensor | Conductivity across probes | Buzzer (on submersion) |
| Railway | Modified IR Sensor | Loss of strip continuity | Buzzer (on break) |
This dashboard simulates how the physical prototype reports status. Trigger a scenario below to see the alert flow.
Flame sensor reading normal. No thermal signature detected.
Pendulum stable. No coil contact registered.
Water level below probe threshold.
Track strip continuity confirmed.
Led system design, module integration and dashboard concept.
Focused on circuit assembly and sensor calibration.
Handled testing, documentation and exhibition presentation.
Everything in this section is future work only — none of it is part of the current prototype.
Predictive models trained on historical sensor data to forecast risk before an event occurs.
Networked sensors reporting continuously to a central monitoring hub.
Automatic text alerts sent to residents and authorities the moment a hazard is detected.
Location-tagged alerts so response teams know exactly where to act.
Remote access to live status from anywhere via a secure cloud platform.
A companion app for real-time push notifications and history logs.
Wide-area hazard tracking using satellite imagery for regional coverage.
Direct data feed into official disaster management authority systems.
Pattern recognition that reduces false alarms and improves detection accuracy over time.
Aerial verification and damage assessment immediately after an alert.
A dedicated response center coordinating alerts across all monitored zones.
For questions about the prototype, methodology or exhibition demonstration, reach out to the team leader.
Sanchit Hooda — Team Leader
Class IX Charlie