http://digbig.com/4fera
"'Intelligent' building systems may someday allow U.S. firefighters and other first responders to better respond to emergencies. The National Institute of Standards and Technology researchers in Washington are studying how 'intelligent' building systems can be used by firefighters, police and other emergency responders to accurately assess conditions in real-time. One of the biggest problems faced by first responders is a lack of accurate information. Where is the fire within the building? How big is it? Are there flammable chemicals stored nearby?
The systems would send information such as building floor plans and data from motion, heat, biochemical and other sensors as well as video cameras directly to fire and police dispatchers who then could communicate detailed information about the scene to first responders. Firefighters would use laptops to track the spread of a developing fire on a floor plan even before reaching the scene."
