Wayfinding of Firefighters in Dark and Complex Environments

Beckham Shih-Ming Lin, Ching-Yuan Lin, Chun-Wei Kung, Yong-Jun Lin, Chung-Chyi Chou, Ying-Ji Chuang and Gary Li-Kai Hsiao
Additional contact information
Beckham Shih-Ming Lin: Department of Architecture, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei City 106335, Taiwan
Ching-Yuan Lin: Department of Architecture, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei City 106335, Taiwan
Chun-Wei Kung: Department of Environmental Engineering, Da-Yeh University, Changhua 515006, Taiwan
Yong-Jun Lin: Center for Weather Climate and Disaster Research, National Taiwan University, Taipei City 10617, Taiwan
Chung-Chyi Chou: Department of Fire and Safety, Da-Yeh University, Changhua 515006, Taiwan
Ying-Ji Chuang: Department of Architecture, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei City 106335, Taiwan
Gary Li-Kai Hsiao: Department of Disaster Management, Taiwan Police College, Taipei City 11696, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 15, 1-13

Abstract: Firefighters searching in dark and complex environments might lose their orientation and endanger themselves at the fireground. This study conducted experiments in the Training Facility of the New Taipei City Fire Department (NTFD), Taiwan. The objective of the experiments was to analyze the profile of each firefighter by a 13-factor self-report survey and their wayfinding time in dark and complex environments (DCEs). The results showed that age might be a marginally significant factor, and fear of confinement might be a significant factor that could affect firefighters’ wayfinding time in the DCEs. The findings could provide strategies for improving the safety of firefighters working in such environments.

Keywords: firefighter; dark environment; confined space; wayfinding; complex environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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