THE PROJECT

ENHANCING ASSESSMENT in SEARCH & RESCUE

EASeR project targets a specific aspect of search and rescue (SAR) assessment called “barrier effect” during emergency interventions in response to catastrophes, especially earthquakes. The term “barrier effect”, used by the Fire Dep. of Pisa (IT), refers to obstacles due to a wide range of environmental factors such as: heavy snow, traffic due to damage to the road system escaping in narrow/limited escape routes, road interruptions, non-coherent management of information flow (dissemination of false/fake information, correct information not taken into consideration, missing basic information).

These factors can severely hamper the general assessment in SAR as demonstrated by a direct experience of the USAR team of the Fire Dep. of Pisa in both national and international interventions. EASeR intends to provide a practical strategy to carry more efficiently the assessment in SAR with a positive cascade effect on the general performance of all subsequent operations.

The strategy consists in: i) analyzing the state of the art; ii) providing operational tools as procedures to be validated in IT and Guidelines to be spread at international level; iii) identifying new technologies that can be applied innovatively in support of the assessment (software, drones); iv) covering through procedures the deployment of helicopters belonging to other corps, whenever possible. Procedures and innovative technologies are tested in a small-scale exercise where assessment teams from IT, CZ and PL face the “barrier effect”.

The Fire Dep. of Pisa coordinates the consortium composed by i) FRB MSR (public body, CZ); ii) CNBOP-PIB (research institute, PL); iii) Timesis (SME, IT). The involvement of national authorities in civil protection and emergency departments of fire officers makes the project findings sustainable on the longer term (with direct impact in IT, CZ, PL). Additionally, three final conferences targeting end-users aim at amplifying EASeR findings.

With the support of the Italian Department of Civil Protection

News

BENEFICIARIES

Fire Department of Pisa

Scientific and Research Centre for Fire Protection – National Research Institute (CNBOP-PIB)

Timesis s.r.l.

Fire Rescue Brigade of Moravian Silesian Region (FRB MSR)