The PPRD Med team extends its heartfelt condolences and solidarity to the families affected by the devastating Dana (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos) extreme weather event. We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives and the hardships faced by communities impacted by this severe weather. Our thoughts are with those grieving and those working tirelessly in response and recovery efforts.
PPRD Med remains committed to supporting resilience-building efforts across the region to better prepare for such tragic events in the future.
Implementation
A4 - Using advanced technologies for prevention, preparedness and response
This activity aims to map the required academic and research skills to be able to address the Civil Protection activities in the 4 phases of disaster risk reduction: Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery, with emphasis on the command and communication chain between the stakeholders. These skills are required to sustain a series of Crisis Management Systems (CMS) in the region with clear hierarchical communication and command processes.
With a non-exhaustive list of skills and technologies used, below is an example of skills, information, and a combination of technologies used for the 4 phases:
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Prevention: Geo maps, land use, and landcover - space-derived maps augmented with in-situ ground data on chemical, biological, radiation, and nuclear operational information. Both geo-locations of the associated critical infrastructure such as dams, water reservoirs, energy grid, and neighbouring cities are required. Tools simulate catastrophic events, and their consequences on the environment (endangering people and infrastructures) are particularly useful.
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Preparedness: Monitoring operational-remote or directly connected information (real-time for the critical infrastructures) enabling climate change or potential man-induced potential crisis. Preparedness to act by people being trained in emulations simulating catastrophic events. Usually, this training is done in a C-SOC (cyber secure operating centre) having the capabilities to emulate, e.g., chemical industries while executing crisis scenarios due to flooding, fires, seismic loads, or others such as dam brakes or heavy industrial pollution in water supplies. Here the data derived from ground sensors ( IoT/ Internet of Things) or those from industry are crucial and need to follow a strict CIA-driven (Confidential- Integer-Available) requirements process.
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Response: All is to be driven by a trained command and communication line. Issues are at what point in time and who in the stakeholder’s hierarchy needs to be informed for action and/or for info, internal and/or external, at appropriate local, regional and international levels.
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Recovery: It is essential to restore minimum critical services (energy, water, telecoms), but also, as far as possible, a minimum economy allowing businesses and small businesses to restart their activities as quickly as possible, which will help keep populations on site while avoiding unmanageable migration crises. This situation should also be simulated, and civil society plays a crucial role and should be involved in the recovery process.
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A 4.1 - Raising awareness about new technologies (Product/Process)
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A 4.2 - Using data satellites as game changers for the prevention & monitoring of Man-Made and Natural disasters
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A 4.3 - Assessing existing academic skills related to advanced technologies used in the field of CP activities
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A 4.4 - Synergies with EU research projects (Horizon Europe, etc...) and ESA programmes