Athens, 18 February 2015
Τhe Center for Security Studies (ΚΕΜΕΑ) within the framework of the European research project DARIUS organized on February 16, 2015 the 3rd Meeting of User Advisory Board, with the participation of the representatives of the project consortium, End Users from EU countries (represented by the Hellenic Coast Guard, Fire Brigade, as well as Police and Civil Protection Agencies from several EU Member States) and other stakeholders, the academic, research and business community in the subject area of Security.
The aim of the research project DARIUS is to create an adequate technological framework that enables sharing and exploitation of innovative technological tools and resources produced by different manufacturers, and are potentially belonging in different departments and agencies, as well as businesses in the Search and Rescue (SAR) sector. The proposed approach enables the possibility of mutually available technological resources with emphasis on land, sea and air unmanned systems between neighboring countries on cross-border and large-scale emergency incidents.
During the proceedings of the meeting, which was held in Athens Royal Olympic Hotel, the participants were informed of the final results of the project and the results of field tests and demonstrations of the solution as well as of the work carried out over the last two years. These field trials were related to SAR operations with the combined use of appropriately designed unmanned means and sensors:
1. in maritime incidents of SAR (France – December 2013)
2. in industrial premises in tatters after an earthquake (France – May 2014)
3. in forest fire incident (Greece – October 2014)
The discussion that followed the presentations regarding technologies, activities and the results of the project, was of major importance due to the fact that the meeting participants had the opportunity to exchange experiences and views on the contribution of the technology of unmanned systems in R&D but also to identify the legal and institutional constraints and measures relating to the operational use of this technology.
The meeting concluded with the speech of the Project Coordinator Mr. Stephen Broatch of the British Aerospace Systems (BAE). Mr. Broatch stressed the importance and significance of the project regarding SAR operations, resulting by the project produced Technologies and the achievement of operational interoperability, a crucial factor in any effort of life saving operations.
More information related to DARIUS project are available at the project’s website: http://www.darius-fp7.eu/.
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