Andrew Yee[_1_]
January 19th 08, 08:08 PM
ESA News
http://www.esa.int
17 December 2007
Efficiency of satellite telecommunications for civil protection agencies
Enhancing interoperability during European civil protection operations is
the objective of an ESA project named Decision. In the context of this
project, field trials were held in Chartres, France, focusing on satellite
solutions to improve cooperation between civil protection agencies in crisis
theatres -- whether they occur in Europe or outside.
The 'Decision' (DEvelopment of CIvil protection Satellite communication
services: enhancing Interoperability during deployments Outside Europe --
also referred to as 'Multinational Telecoms Adaptor') Project aims to
increase the efficiency of co-operation between different national civil
protection units working within the same foreign crisis theatre, and between
members of national teams.
The demonstration covered two intervention scenarios. The first focused on a
national situation where an industrial disaster has occurred and, as a
consequence, the terrestrial communications infrastructure has been
destroyed. In this instance, telecommunications satellite links are used to
support coordination between the command post in the field and the regional
crisis operations centre.
The second scenario dealt with an intervention outside Europe (such as an
earthquake or a tsunami) involving a number of different civil protection
agencies. For international disasters, rescue activity coordination needs to
be performed between units in the field, as well as between national centres
in Europe. In such a situation, telecommunications satellites are needed so
as to ensure, on the one hand, communications between field units and, on
the other hand, between those units and their national centres.
The Chartres trial allowed the validation of the satellite multi-adaptor use
concepts that are applicable both in a national and an international
context. It also helped to assess the added value of the multi-adaptor in a
joint operation by different civil protection agencies working within the
same foreign crisis theatre.
The involvement of civil protection agencies as end users is of primary
importance since, by its nature, the project has a user-need oriented
approach rather than a technology-push one.
The field trial was conducted with a cooperative spirit and a complementary
contribution, through which fruitful results and end-user feedback were
collected. This will lead to the definition of new perspectives and
extensions of the current work.
The results truly demonstrated the need for adapted tools such as the
Multi-Service Adaptor Communication Facilities, and some tracking
facilities. These technical assets can ease the work of agencies in case of
emergencies and also show the importance of developing interoperability
solutions adapted to in-the-field needs and constraints.
The field trial benefited of the attendance and involvement of the French
authorities and the French Civil Protection Agency (Direction de la Defense
et de la Securite Civiles - DDSC), the German Technical Relief Agency
(Technisches Hilfswerk - THW), the Belgian Civil Protection Agency, and the
Austrian Civil Protection Support Unit.
Funded by ESA, the Decision consortium is composed of Infoterra France, the
project lead, TRADIA Spain, Astrium Satellites France, EADS Secure Networks
France and Skysoft of Portugal.
In the civil protection field, ESA's activities are now focused on drawing
together the views and expertise of all European civil protection agencies,
to define their requirements and assist them in federating and articulating
their demand for satellite services. To this end, the European Commission
and ESA have set up a tailored work plan for promoting satellite-based
services of direct benefit to European civil protection agencies. The
demonstration held in Chartres was a key milestone in this strategic,
user-driven effort.
[NOTE: Images supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMZBAEQCAF_index_1.html ]
http://www.esa.int
17 December 2007
Efficiency of satellite telecommunications for civil protection agencies
Enhancing interoperability during European civil protection operations is
the objective of an ESA project named Decision. In the context of this
project, field trials were held in Chartres, France, focusing on satellite
solutions to improve cooperation between civil protection agencies in crisis
theatres -- whether they occur in Europe or outside.
The 'Decision' (DEvelopment of CIvil protection Satellite communication
services: enhancing Interoperability during deployments Outside Europe --
also referred to as 'Multinational Telecoms Adaptor') Project aims to
increase the efficiency of co-operation between different national civil
protection units working within the same foreign crisis theatre, and between
members of national teams.
The demonstration covered two intervention scenarios. The first focused on a
national situation where an industrial disaster has occurred and, as a
consequence, the terrestrial communications infrastructure has been
destroyed. In this instance, telecommunications satellite links are used to
support coordination between the command post in the field and the regional
crisis operations centre.
The second scenario dealt with an intervention outside Europe (such as an
earthquake or a tsunami) involving a number of different civil protection
agencies. For international disasters, rescue activity coordination needs to
be performed between units in the field, as well as between national centres
in Europe. In such a situation, telecommunications satellites are needed so
as to ensure, on the one hand, communications between field units and, on
the other hand, between those units and their national centres.
The Chartres trial allowed the validation of the satellite multi-adaptor use
concepts that are applicable both in a national and an international
context. It also helped to assess the added value of the multi-adaptor in a
joint operation by different civil protection agencies working within the
same foreign crisis theatre.
The involvement of civil protection agencies as end users is of primary
importance since, by its nature, the project has a user-need oriented
approach rather than a technology-push one.
The field trial was conducted with a cooperative spirit and a complementary
contribution, through which fruitful results and end-user feedback were
collected. This will lead to the definition of new perspectives and
extensions of the current work.
The results truly demonstrated the need for adapted tools such as the
Multi-Service Adaptor Communication Facilities, and some tracking
facilities. These technical assets can ease the work of agencies in case of
emergencies and also show the importance of developing interoperability
solutions adapted to in-the-field needs and constraints.
The field trial benefited of the attendance and involvement of the French
authorities and the French Civil Protection Agency (Direction de la Defense
et de la Securite Civiles - DDSC), the German Technical Relief Agency
(Technisches Hilfswerk - THW), the Belgian Civil Protection Agency, and the
Austrian Civil Protection Support Unit.
Funded by ESA, the Decision consortium is composed of Infoterra France, the
project lead, TRADIA Spain, Astrium Satellites France, EADS Secure Networks
France and Skysoft of Portugal.
In the civil protection field, ESA's activities are now focused on drawing
together the views and expertise of all European civil protection agencies,
to define their requirements and assist them in federating and articulating
their demand for satellite services. To this end, the European Commission
and ESA have set up a tailored work plan for promoting satellite-based
services of direct benefit to European civil protection agencies. The
demonstration held in Chartres was a key milestone in this strategic,
user-driven effort.
[NOTE: Images supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMZBAEQCAF_index_1.html ]