When disaster strikes, it is crucial to locate and rescue trapped victims as quickly as possible. EU-funded research is helping to optimise the use of new technologies by urban search-and-rescue teams to minimise loss of life.
An EU-funded project developed a potentially life-saving security system that boosts communication between the public and first responders in crisis situations such as terror attacks or natural disasters. It has since been adapted and is now being used by United Nations staff in the field.
"It's very rare that computer scientists think about the definition of 'resilience', or get to work with the users of a tool," says Shadrock Roberts of the Kenyan non-profit social enterprise Ushahidi, a partner in the COMRADES project. But this is precisely what happened when a diverse consortium of researchers got together to create a platform to support community resilience during a crisis.
New building concepts that take into account catastrophic events such as earthquakes have the potential to save thousands of lives. EU-funded researchers have pioneered new methods and materials for constructing earthquake-fire resistant buildings that are lightweight, energy efficient and cost-effective. The project's results are currently being commercialised.
