PROJECT TITLE

RESPOND-A: Next-generation equipment tools and mission-critical strategies for First Responders

ABOUT THIS PROJECT

The RESPOND-A project aims at developing holistic and easy-to-use solutions for First Responders by bringing together the complementary strengths of its Investigators in 5G wireless communications, Augmented and Virtual Reality, autonomous robot and unmanned aerial vehicle coordination, intelligent wearable sensors and smart monitoring, geovisual analytics and immersive geospatial data analysis, passive and active localisation and tracking, and interactive multi-view 360° video streaming. The synergy of such cutting-edge technological advancements is likely to provide high-end and continuous flows of data, voice and video information to First Responders and their Command & Control Centres for predicting and assessing the various incidents readily and reliably, and saving lives more efficiently and effectively, while maximising the safeguarding of themselves, before, during and after disasters.

The main aim of RESPOND-A is to leverage First Responders efficiency and safety by introducing a joint technological and conceptual framework for maximal Situational Awareness in terms of boosting Early Assessment, Safety Assessment and Risk Mitigation capabilities together with a clear Common Operating Picture (COP) and the optimal management of operations at any scaling and complexity of disasters. To this end, RESPOND-A envisions at exercising First Responders for getting familiar with the project technological outcomes, and demonstrating their real-world performance and effectiveness in the classified training facilities of our Responder Partners under hydrometeorological, geophysical and technological disaster scenarios.

8BELLS ROLE

8BELLS contributes to the definition of the use cases and system requirements. Furthermore, 8BELLS contributes to the development of the RESPOND-A components and provides assistance to the evaluation of the use cases and the RESPOND-A technologies. Finally, 8BELLS further adds valuable input for the project by exploring market opportunities and proposing dynamic business models.