Use of Directional Sound to (1) Aid Aircraft Evacuation and
(2) Enhance Surveillance at Airports

ABSTRACT:


In the event of a survivable crash the ability of passengers to identify, quickly and optimally, the emergency exits is essential. One of the recommendations from the aircraft disaster at Manchester was the use of audio-guidance to exits. Most sounds are not "directional", in other words will confuse the listener as to the location of the sound source. The sound, as well as attracting passengers to appropriate exits, must not interfere with the role in the evacuation of the cabin crew. The presentation will show the results of real aircraft evacuation studies using directional sound. The sound complements and enhances the role of the cabin crew and results in dramatic improvements in exit usage.

Research has also shown that a single brief burst of directional sound ensures a full facial image of potential criminals to be captured on video, resulting in a more effective recognition tool.