Virtual Booth

ABSTRACT

The increasing popularity of hiking activities in Malaysia has raised concerns about hiker safety, particularly in remote areas with limited or no cellular network coverage. The absence of reliable communication infrastructure in these areas can delay emergency reporting, complicate location tracking, and hinder search and rescue (SAR) operations. To address these challenges, this project aims to develop The Smart Trail Mesh Communicator (MesCom), an off-grid communication and location-tracking system designed to enhance hiker safety without relying on conventional cellular networks. The system integrates a LILYGO TTGO T Beam v1.1 development board, Long Range (LoRa) communication technology operating at 915 MHz, and a NEO-M8N Global Positioning System (GPS) module to transmit emergency distress signals (SOS) and geographical coordinates between the hiker unit and the base camp. A dual-trigger warning mechanism is incorporated, utilising the Haversine formula to calculate the distance between the hiker and the base camp. An audible buzzer is activated when an SOS signal is received or when the calculated distance exceeds a predefined safety threshold of 50 metres. Monitoring information is displayed locally on an OLED screen, while integration with the Blynk IoT platform enables additional remote monitoring when internet connectivity is available. Preliminary functional testing indicates that the developed prototype can transmit SOS signals and GPS coordinates, calculate separation distances, and activate warning indicators according to the programmed conditions. These results demonstrate the system's functional capability to support off-grid communication and automated safety monitoring. Overall, MesCom presents a practical approach to improving emergency communication and location awareness in remote hiking environments, with potential applications in SAR operations and outdoor recreational safety.

Keywords: LoRa Communication, GPS Tracking, Off-Grid Communication, Emergency Alert System, Hiking Safety, Search and Rescue (SAR).