Professional solutions for crisis and disaster management

Providing a comprehensive overview of crisis and disaster situations

A networked understanding of the hazards and challenges of crisis and disaster situations is essential in order to protect employees, local residents, and the environment. The actions taken must involve the population and take preventative measures into account. As growing quantities of data become available it becomes both increasingly important and challenging to establish a comprehensive and reliable overview of a situation based on an extremely diverse range of data sources. Against this background, the Austrian research institute AIT Austrian Institute of Technology researches, develops and applies professional solutions in the field of crisis & disaster management:

Internet of Things (IoT) Sensor Network Management technologies allow environmental, climate and ambient parameters to be measured, analysed and understood in order to subsequently determine suitable measures for improving safety, health, environment or the climate. They enable point measurements (station), distance/area measurements (satellites, drones), and hybrid application scenarios such as environmental protection, climate change, and the detection of hazardous substances.

Command & Control (C2) Systems developed by AIT include interoperability between both civilian and civilian & military systems (dual use) and are aimed at creating a common operational picture, which can be expanded by additional information supplied by the population or other modern sources of information.

New technologies in the field of Community Interaction & Engagement offer new and digital ways of involving the civilian population in crisis situations. For example, involving volunteers in caring for refugees, during a flooding, etc. The smart application of technology significantly facilitates direct communication and the exchange of information between emergency services and the general population. It is also important to use new technologies to effectively request assistance from volunteers to support rescue organisations, fire services, and authorities, for example in reporting damage, providing neighbourhood assistance, citizen science, etc.