News – RESPOND-A

RESPOND-A Training activities: Lessons learned

The objective of RESPOND-A training activities was to develop a methodological approach to train the First Responders on the use of the RESPOND-A technologies, responding to their specific operational needs: · Gain an understanding about the potential use of the project technologies in emergency situations, and particularly in those resulting from hospitals: Body and environmental sensors, Location and emergency management systems, Cyber security, Augmented Reality. · Increase the level of readiness of the technologies in preparation for the project pilots. · Gain familiarity with the project use cases that will be deployed during the pilots. · Gather feedback from the First Responders in terms of requirements for the further development and fine tuning of the technologies A summary of the lessons learnt of RESPOND-A trainings is available below Add button “Lessons learnt in RESPOND-A Training activities” Information and various promotional materials about the 5 trainings carried out in the lifetime of the project can be found by scrolling down the page.

RESPOND-A project holds its final conference in Cyprus

RESPOND-A project holds final conference in Cyprus, showcasing new crisis management technologies and practices developed over three years with funding from the European Commission. The conference was attended by representatives of 33 organizations from 13 European countries and featured keynote speakers, pilot project results, and demonstrations of sensors, wearables, and data fusion tools.

RESPOND-A Final Video available

We are very happy to share with you the final video of the RESPOND-A project which offers a condensed summary of RESPOND-A, it’s various products and services as well as its training and testing activities”

Press Release

The last training and pilot of the RESPOND-A project respectively took place on the 15th and 16th of February 2023 in the port of Valencia, Spain. This marks the ending of the project testing and evaluation phase, after two successful pilots previously conducted in Cyprus (Forest Fire scenario) and Greece (Earthquake scenario) in 2022. With five trainings and three pilots conducted in less than 3 years, the involvement of end-users has been at the heart of RESPOND-A’s development since the earliest stage. Through a constant dialogue between end-users and technology providers, the project has designed and developed solutions that are not only innovative, but that actually meet the needs of responders and crisis managers. The final demonstration in Valencia was a coordinated effort jointly led by Fundación Valenciaport and the Valencia Local Police involving the project consortium as well as local organisations (Valencia Port Police, Firefighters, Mooring Services, Spanish Red Cross and Civil Protection). A total of approximately 150 participants were involved in the demonstration which simulated a traffic accident causing fire and oil spill – a type of hazard which can have very serious consequences on the personnel involved, critical infrastructures as well as the ecosystem. Read full story here

RESPOND-A @ PSCE Winter Conference in Brussels

RESPOND-A was presented at the occasion of the PSCE Winter Conference that took place in Brussels in collaboration with the Belgian Federal Police, on 5-6 December 2022. Drazen RIBAR (AIRBUS) carried out the presentation titled “Technology Acceptance for First Responders: a technology and usability challenge”. He emphasised that Mobile broadband connectivity (4G/5G/B5G) fosters the interest of new applications and devices in the field of the response to a crisis for Public Safety end users, e.g. Augmented and Virtual Reality, autonomous robot and unmanned aerial vehicle coordination, intelligent wearable sensors, smart monitoring, mobile edge computing, etc.., opening an era of a variety of new smart services for the First Responders. He further noted that RESPOND-A evaluates new technologies in collaboration with First Responders in order to showcase how innovative technologies combined with 5G and MCX capabilities can significantly enhance Situational Awareness during Crisis Management and enable technology acceptance in the near future.

Innovative technologies and equipment for first responders are tested in Cyprus

On 19 October 2022, the RESPOND-A project organised its 2nd pilot near Larnaca in Cyprus. The exercise, led by IANUS consulting, gathered RESPOND-A technology providers, first responders from the Cyprus Fire Service and the Greek Civil Protection (RSF Hellas) as well as observers. The objective was to test innovative technologies and equipment that enhance the safety and operational capabilities of first responders, in a severe forest fire scenario. As a research and development project, pilots are key events in the project’s development as they allow technical providers to test and receive feedback on their solutions. The following technologies have been tested during the pilot: – Common Operational application – Real-time disaster management system – Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) operations and satellite communications backhaul – Interactive multi-view 360° Virtual Reality video system – Sensors and smart wearables for health status monitoring – Next generation triage system These are only a portion of the technologies developed within RESPOND-A. More details about the full range of RESPOND-A products & services are available on the RESPOND-A website. Technologies were used for area monitoring as well as the establishment of a common operational picture through real-time visualization and data collection. Sub-scenarios involving missing responders and the need for quick and effective triage and a rescue of victims in a car crash were also put in place. The performance of each solution will be carefully assessed and the feedback gathered will feed onto the technical development of the project. One last pilot will take place in Valencia, Spain in February 2023. The last RESPOND-A pilot before the end of the project around summer 2023. www.respond-a-project.eu

The RESPOND-A projects organises its last webinar to address Robots and UAVs to support crisis management operations

Robots and Unmanned vehicles have a plethora of uses to support and enhance the safety of first responders. From firefighting robots, providing a Common Operational Picture through UAV imagery, to reconnaissance capabilities, these highly modulable technologies are very promising and are playing an increasingly important role in crisis management operations. On 29 November, the RESPOND-A project organized its final technology-focused webinar. The fourth of a series of webinar addressing innovative technologies that enhance the safety and operational capabilities of first responders. After AR/VR, Smart sensors and wearables, Mission Critical Communications (MCX) Technologies, this last webinar addressed the topic of Robots and Unmanned vehicles to support first responders operations. The event was attended by 80 participants from Europe and worldwide. The meeting was the occasion to introduce the public and interested participants to RESPOND-A, and to present how Robots and UAVs are integrated and developed within the project. This was also the opportunity for other EU-funded projects (Search&Rescue and INTREPID) working on the same types of technologies to present their work. The presentations and recordings are available on this page.

Press Release

The RESPOND-A project tests various innovative technologies for First Responders in Greece On 22 September 2022, the RESPOND-A project organised its 1st pilot in Egaleo, near Athens. The exercise, led by the National Centre of Scientific Research “Demokritos”, gathered 43 participants including local practitioners from across Europe, with the aim of testing technologies that enhance the safety and operational capabilities of first responders. As a research and development project, pilots are key events in the project’s development as they allow technical providers to test and receive feedback on their solutions.

RESPOND-A @ IEEE COINS 2022

A scientific paper titled “Towards the RESPOND-A initiative: Next-generation equipment tools and mission-critical strategies for First Responders” has been accepted and presented at the IEEE COINS 2022 conference that took place in a hybrid format on 1-3 August 2022. IEEE COINS brings together experts in Digital Transformation (from AI and IoT to Cloud, Blockchain, Cybersecurity, and Robotics) from around the globe. IEEE COINS includes a multi-disciplinary program from technical research papers, to panels, workshops, and tutorials on the latest technology developments and innovations addressing all important aspects of the IoT & AI ecosystem.

RESPOND-A presented to the Prime Minister of Montenegro and other ministers

On 6 July the Administration for Maritime Safety and Port Management of Montenegro (RESPOND-A partner) met with Prime Minister of Montenegro, Dr. Dritan Abazović and other ministers of the Montenegro Government, during which, he took the opportunity to present the H2020 projects in AMSPM and particularly the RESPOND-A project to PM and present ministers. During his presentation Mr. Kapidani pointed out the significant efforts of RESPOND-A project in developing the next generation equipement for First Responders and its application in maritime SAR actions, together with other outcomes of project RESPOND-A.