Enhancing Water Safety: Exploring Recent Technological Approaches for Drowning Detection

• Published in: Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 24; no. 2; p. 331
• Main Authors: Jalalifar, Salman, Belford, Andrew, Erfani, Eila, Razmjou, Amir, Abbassi, Rouzbeh, Mohseni-Dargah, Masoud, Asadnia, Mohsen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01.01.2024; MDPI
• Subjects: Alcohol; Algorithms; Artificial Intelligence; Body mass index; Brain damage; Consciousness; Cost analysis; Data mining; Drowning - diagnosis; drowning detection systems; Drownings; Drugs; Equipment and supplies; Humans; Image processing; Low income groups; Lungs; Machine learning; Prevention; Review; Robotics; sensor-based technologies; Sensors; Surveillance equipment; surveillance systems; Swimming accidents & safety; Swimming pools; Technology; Water; water safety; Australia; Africa; image processing; drowning detection systems; sensor-based technologies; surveillance systems; water safety
• ISSN: 1424-8220; 1424-8220
• DOI: 10.3390/s24020331

Drowning poses a significant threat, resulting in unexpected injuries and fatalities. To promote water sports activities, it is crucial to develop surveillance systems that enhance safety around pools and waterways. This paper presents an overview of recent advancements in drowning detection, with a specific focus on image processing and sensor-based methods. Furthermore, the potential of artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning algorithms (MLAs), and robotics technology in this field is explored. The review examines the technological challenges, benefits, and drawbacks associated with these approaches. The findings reveal that image processing and sensor-based technologies are the most effective approaches for drowning detection systems. However, the image-processing approach requires substantial resources and sophisticated MLAs, making it costly and complex to implement. Conversely, sensor-based approaches offer practical, cost-effective, and widely applicable solutions for drowning detection. These approaches involve data transmission from the swimmer’s condition to the processing unit through sensing technology, utilising both wired and wireless communication channels. This paper explores the recent developments in drowning detection systems while considering costs, complexity, and practicality in selecting and implementing such systems. The assessment of various technological approaches contributes to ongoing efforts aimed at improving water safety and reducing the risks associated with drowning incidents.