Innovative Technologies for European Disaster Response: BIBA completes iTEK research project | Study results published | Basis for EU-wide research created | Findings and technologies from production and logistics can help in natural disasters

Bremen, Osnabrück, Oldenburg, Wallenhorst, Düsseldorf, Berlin. From floods and forest fires to earthquakes – the frequency and intensity of natural disasters is increasing. This also means an increase in the number of people affected and damage to infrastructure, with serious economic consequences. What are the needs of first responders, and which technologies offer options to support them? The BIBA – Bremer Institut für Produktion und Logistik, together with its associated partners, the disaster relief organisation @fire, the ASB-Regionalverband Niedersachsen West and the technology consulting company SWMS Consulting, conducted research on this topic in the iTEK project. They have now published their study results.

The iTEK (Innovative Technologies for European Disaster Response) project was a preparatory step for a Horizon Europe project on innovative technology assessment and selection for European disaster response. The project was funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.

Forecasts call for swift action

Protecting and saving lives and minimising damage – there is an urgent need for innovative disaster management solutions that improve preparedness, response and resilience.

According to the European Commission, forest fires in the EU alone caused an estimated €54 billion in damage between 2000 and 2017. Figures on damage caused solely by weather-related natural disasters are provided by the global database Statista, among others: "Between 1980 and 2020, weather- and climate-related natural disasters caused economic damage of between €460 and €509 billion in the EU member states (plus Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland). Hydrological events caused the most damage. Depending on the source, they accounted for between 39 and 44 per cent of the total. Hydrological events include, for example, floods."

The forecasts show a clear upward trend and call for swift action. Targeted adaptation measures are necessary to minimise damage as much as possible, including in the technology used by emergency services on site and for incident management. However, selecting suitable technologies is a challenge. Although first responders and disaster management organisations have a wealth of expertise in the field of operational measures, they often lack the resources, technical knowledge and structured processes required to identify, evaluate and select suitable technologies.

Real needs and technical solutions

The project partners have summarised their research findings in two white papers. These provide insights into the issues, analyses and initial approaches to possible solutions. The two iTEK papers highlight the actual needs of first responders in disaster response and map relevant, suitable fields of technology that can facilitate, improve and make disaster response more efficient and effective.

The first white paper is based on the experiences of the first responders. The second builds on this. It deals with the technological dimension of disaster response to support first responders. The documentation thus offers useful insights as well as a basis and impetus for future dialogue between practice, research and technology development. In addition, according to another aim of the project partners, the research should also enable a deeper understanding of the actual needs of first responders.

Insights from production and logistics

BIBA contributed its interdisciplinary expertise in production and logistics to the project. These areas are also characterised by highly dynamic processes. ‘Many applications and solutions from these areas can be transferred to civil security research and the field of disaster response,’ says BIBA scientist Moritz von Stietencron, iTEK project initiator and manager. ‘With iTEK, we have shown how application-oriented research from production and logistics can contribute actual added value to disaster response – from robust supply chain solutions to interoperable information and communication infrastructures. The white papers provide a scientific basis for future research projects and technological implementations in both disaster control and civil protection.’

Key data on the iTEK project

In the one-year iTEK project (Innovative Technologies for European Disaster Response), BIBA – Bremer Institut für Produktion und Logistik at the University of Bremen, in cooperation with the German disaster control organisation @fire (Wallenhorst), the ASB-Regionalverband Niedersachsen West (Osnabrück) and SWMS Consulting (Oldenburg), conducted research into the needs of first responders and their future-oriented technological support. The investigations were carried out in preparation for future EU-wide research. The project had a volume of €120,000. It was funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) as part of the ‘Research for Civil Security’ programme (sifo, security research, FKZ: 13N17223) and supervised by the VDI Technologiezentrum (Düsseldorf).

(Sabine Nollmann)

Images accompanying the press release can be found at 20251219_Pressebilder_BIBA_iTEK.zip (zip, 33,4 MB)

Part 1 – TRIAGE: What First Responders Really Need
DOI: 10.26092/elib/4820

Part 2 – ESCAPE ROUTE: Technologies for First Responders
DOI: 10.26092/elib/4824

Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Klaus-Dieter Thoben, phone: +49 421 218-50 005, e-mail: tho@biba.uni-bremen.de

Moritz von Stietencron, phone: +49 421 218-50 117, e-mail: sti@biba.uni-bremen.de

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  241025 atfire FSX Magnitude 0579.jpgWork carried out by the iTEK project partners for their studies on the ‘BIBA Mobile Ad-hoc Infrastructure’ – here in a secure environment. The technology under investigation must also function in the most difficult conditions in an emergency. Image: @fire
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  220803-093223 L1031701 Waldbrand-SaechsischeSchweiz stb-2.jpgFrom forest fires in Saxon Switzerland to earthquakes in Turkey, the disaster relief organisation @fire, an associated iTEK project partner, provides assistance and also tackles major logistical challenges. Image: @fire
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  20240907 ASB LV Landesuebung Impressionen 05.jpgThe ASB Regionalverband Niedersachsen West was involved in the iTEK research project as an associate partner and contributed its wide-ranging experience from countless emergency operations. Image: ASB Niedersachsen West