Case Study: OpenMicroServer

Management of environment surveillance and security systems

Shimizu Institute of Technology

The Safety and Security Center
Echujima, Tokyo

Since its founding in 1804, Shimizu Corporation accomplished many achievements in construction. The company is engaged in environmental protection and cultural activities to create buildings and facilities that provide value for society, with the perspective of the human living in the building always at the center.

Safety and Security Center - A showroom for disaster and crime prevention technology

The Safety and Security Center is a specialized showroom to showcase cutting-edge crime and disaster prevention technology. For the first time, the "Seismic Free System 21" was used, a system that was developed in cooperation between Shimizu Group, architects and university professors. To reduce damage from vibration in case of an earthquake, the second to fourth floor, the living part of the building, is mounted on a suspension system on the central pillar structure, and further protected by a seismic isolator made of layered rubber.

The technology shown in the Safety and Security Center is part of the projects of Hideo Kobayashi, lead researcher of the Shimizu Institute of Technology Incubation Center, to develop housing safety systems for a carefree living.

Development of a flexible high-level disaster prevention system with the OpenMicroServer

Shimizu Institute of Technology
Incubation Center
Lead Researcher
Hideo Kobayashi

The disaster prevention system of the Safety and Security Center employs Plat'Home OpenMicroServers as a key part in the development project for high-technology disaster prevention systems.

Usually, apartment complexes have fire detectors installed, which can ring an alarm and notify the management office in case they detect a fire. Starting from this, Mr. Kobayashi set out to develop a comprehensive disaster prevention system that is both flexible and well-suited to private housing, while still being low-cost. The system he developed features a variety of sensors to detect unusual conditions, including fire and motion detectors.

The detection system also features an OpenMicroServer in every room. Due to its compact size, it can be installed right within the electrical switchboard. Other advantages that lead to the decision for this system are its resistance to heat, the robust, semi-hermetic construction, the broad selection of interface ports and, essential in construction, its compliance to the RoHS environment directive.

Broadening the possibilities for a next generation living environment

The OpenMicroServers are connected to all sensors installed in the room and collect the data, which they compile into a report for the central administration system. Analog sensor devices without Ethernet interface are connected over the MicroServer's DIO interface, and a sound system for the alarm is plugged into the USB port.

This way a flexible high level disaster prevention system is realized.