Applying Cern's emerging disrupting technologies to address the UN's SDGs.
The Challenge
We are seeking to develop innovative product service systems that can address the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals using the most exciting technologies to emerge from CERN.
According to demonstrating research there is a strong correlation between muon activity affected by the earth’s crust stress levels. With thousands of people dying due to earthquakes and billions of dollars spent on earthquake recovery each year, the necessity for preparedness and early prediction of these natural incidents is paramount. Currently the emergency response services are vastly affected by the lack of preparedness and difficulty accessing the hurt regions
The Team
Me
Vanessa Karaoglou
Filippo Sanzeni
The Solution
Orbis is the first earthquake prediction and coordination service-system to shift the response time before a potential disaster strikes. The service-system consists of three key elements: the installation of a mesh of low cost muon flux detectors across highly affected regions, a strong network of muon activity data processing, using detector triangulation to signify the area of earth’s crust with high stress levels and, finally, consulting services on emergency planning. Orbis aims to ensure the safety of affected populations during such an event and to mobilise emergency response processes more efficiently reducing costs and lives lost.
We instantly decided to focus our Service Design project on Earthquake Emergency respond and how we could implement a network of sensors in the city’s infrastructure and reduce Emergency response time and more specifically using as a case study Chile.
We started reaching out to Policy Makers, Emergency response teams and data scientists to gain better understanding of the current situation.
In the beginning of the project we had the opportunity to visit Cern’s IdeaSquare and be exposed to various technologies for an entire week. One night we stayed late in the Hub and coincidently met James, an electrical engineer who very willingly shared with us his new low cost innovation using a Raspberry Pi detecting muon activity. Our instant question was and what can you find out using muon detection? He mentioned that there could be potential in predicting Earthquakes. He then took us to his laboratory and started explaining all the technical aspects of his Open Source detector and urged us to design services as he was only interested in the sensor it self which can be freely downloadable in GitHub.
Discovery Moment
01
Understanding
In order for us to propose any solutions we had to get a complete picture of this complex problem which was related not only to unpredicted natural disasters but also public services, infrastructure in the everyday life and the private sector. We began to do intense research, mapping, regulation breakdown and surveys to understand and empathize with people who have experienced earthquake disasters.
We started by breaking down the emergency response offered in Santiago and created the following blue prints to understand where is the gap.
Stakeholders
02 Stakeholder Analysis
As emergency response is a very complex system we analysed the various stakeholders and who is governing them to see in which level we need to intervene.
03 System Analysis
Challenges
01
LACK OF PREDICTION
and early warning mechanisms
02
DELAYS
in information and guidance sharing
03
ACCESS DIFFICULTIES
12-24h delay for the help to reach the affected areas
after the earthquake strike
04
BUREAUCRATIC DELAYS
in planning and sending help
CURRENT RESPONSE
04 System Analysis
Opportunities
01
01
ESTABLISH EARLY WARNING
and early warning mechanisms
02
02
ELIMINATE COMMUNICATION DELAYS
by sharing information and providing guidance on
the spot
03
03
DECREASE RESPONSE DELAYS
calling response units in advance
04
04
SEND HELP IN ADVANCE
while the infrastructure and transportation systems are not damaged.
FUTURE RESPONSE
Opportunity Statement
How might we strengthen earthquake emergency resilience by improving preparedness?
Service Proposition
Our service merges low cost distributed muon flux detectors with a strong network of muon data processing and earthquake support system, for faster reaction rates.
HARDWARE
Affordable service rack solution (400$)
NETWORK
Data collection network
CONSULTANCY
Counceling and support services.
We are processing the information and the data collected my the detector network and then we are providing consulting services to private companies and the governments ensuring the fairness of the information flow to the citizens.
Information flow
System Map
Learnings
This project was an absolute but enjoyable challenge. We had to quickly make decisions and build a new language of communication with scientists as we are using completely different terms and methodologies. I learned to work in a multidisciplinary team and be agile; learn and ideate new solutions. Working with Cern was a crazy experience demonstrating me clearly the role that design could play in the scientific sector bringing life changing innovation upfront and be able to be consumed.
This was the first project I did which was related to the public sector and it taught me how to deal with complex systems and problems and start considering the public reaction to emergency and a systems being capable of collapsing within seconds. We had to see the big picture and be selective about what are the elements we can actually deal with. Systems Design was one of the most important skills I developed throughout this process as well as empathy with the tragedy of the moments.
Work in progress show
Royal College of Art | January 2018
Reactions
"This is some fascinating work proving that design could and must be merged with science."
"When you launch I would like to be involved"
- Postdoc Cambridge University Student
-Data Scientist
"Very creative and playful way to explain to me science"
- Artist
"Prepare a pitch, I would like to invest"
- Insurance Company manager