An INtegrated next generation PREParedness programme for improving effective inter-organisational response capacity in complex environments of disasters and causes of crises

Project Information

IN-PREP

Grant agreement ID: 740627

DOI

10.3030/740627

Project closed

EC signature date 26 April 2017

Start date 1 September 2017

End date 28 February 2021

Funded under

• Secure societies - Protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens

Total cost

€ 9 583 827,11

EU contribution

€ 7 999 556,25

Coordinated by

EREVNITIKO PANEPISTIMIAKO INSTITOUTO SYSTIMATON EPIKOINONION KAI YPOLOGISTON
Greece

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - IN-PREP (An INtegrated next generation PREParedness programme for improving effective inter-organisational response capacity in complex environments of disasters and causes of crises)

Reporting period: 2019-09-01 to 2021-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

IN-PREP’s overarching goal is to support collaborative response planning and training for transboundary disasters and causes of crises. To do so, IN-PREP delivers the Mixed Reality Preparedness Platform and a Handbook that supports Preparedness that allow civil protection agencies to: 1. Make/enter a plan; 2. Create a scenario; 3. Define criteria to test; 4. Play (train); 5. Score, assess and 6. Adapt.
All above are realized through the IN-PREP tools:
1. The Scenario Builder (SB) for dynamically creating, editing, storing and executing training scenarios;
2. The Modelling tools for risk and impact assessments which enhance the dynamicity and realism of the training session and further to that facilitate collaborative response planning process;
3. The Training Platform for sharing the operational picture to decision makers and merging response plans whilst evaluating achievement of training objectives;
4. The C2s that allow insertion of individual response plans and support operational and tactical management during a training session;
The IN-PREP project has designed new technologies to enhance preparedness and to support effective command and control and efficient incident management during emergencies, disasters and crisis events.
The main objectives around which IN-PREP evolves include:
1) To build the MRRP integrating 1) European legacy systems and their coordination capabilities (C3s), 2) including their deployable parts (C2s), and 3) their SA capabilities
2) to deliver the MRPP as a next generation and interoperable collaborative planning , scenario building and training tool.
3) To support national and EU plans inventory
4) To identify and characterise transboundary gaps and shortcomings in crisis management
5) To deliver a Handbook fro Transbounary Preparedness and Response that enhances planning capabilities
6) To realise a rich Training Programme comprised of 6 exercises that are built around transboundary collaboration of civil protection agencies

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

This report presents the work carried out in the third reporting period M25-M42 (1st September 2019 – 28th February 2021) of the IN-PREP project. It includes a summary of the work performed towards the project objectives (in section 1.1) followed by a detailed overview of the work performed per WP (in section 1.2).
The project entered the final period according to plan and the main work items involved: the realisation of the 3 Full Scale Exercises (FSXs), the finalization and integration of the IN-PREP Platform as a whole (the Mixed Reality Preparedness Platform), the delivery of the IN-PREP Handbook of Preparedness and the finalization and delivery of the Final Communication and Exploitation plan and relevant activities. The project delivered as expected all above mentioned outcomes, however it was impacted by the COVID-19 global pandemic and as such a 6-month project extension was granted and some rescheduling on delivery of project activities occurred.
At this point is deemed necessary to be mentioned that the project realises a rich Training Programme (a total of 6 exercises requiring field deployment of developed systems and the active participation of a large amount of trainees originating from all disciplines of Civil Protection domain), hence such activities other that being effort intensive pose quite a challenge for the implementation of the project.
The overarching goal of IN-PREP is to support collaborative response planning and training for transboundary disasters and causes of crises.
In the 3rd period of IN-PREP Project, the following key accomplishments have been delivered:
1. Delivery of a fully integrated Response Planning and Training Platform (MRPP) comprised of 10 subsystems (+ legacy systems), >15 modules and abiding to >300 technical requirements for a) Scenario Building, b) Response Planning and c) Training
2. Delivery of the IN-PREP Handbook for Preparedness (https://www.in-prep.eu/handbook/)
3. Digitisation of 6 individual response plans and creation of joint response plans
4. Inclusion of ethical and societal aspects within MRPP and the Handbook
5. Realisation of 1 Table Top Exercise and 3 Full Scale Exercises (in total 6 within the project as well as a mass casualty and triage one)
6. Increased visibility, dissemination and communication of IN-PREP across EU and delivery of final dissemination and communication plan
7. Delivery of project and individual exploitation plans and added value of tools and solutions following ISO/CEN standards and contributing to CWAs
8. MoUs and interest of users to buy and operationally use IN-PREP modules

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

• The IN-PREP Handbook of Transboundary Preparedness and Response Operations
The work on the IN-PREP Handbook comprises of a variety of gaps and limitation that prevent effective and efficient collaboration when various CP agencies work together, train together and prepare plans in a collaborative manner. Relevant work identified interoperability barriers and problems that hamper collaboration for which on one hand the MRPP provides operational solutions and on the other hand the Handbook analyses and provides relevant recommendation to be considered by the authorities. The Handbook synthesizes lessons learned, recommendations, check-lists and other relevant findings of IN-PREP to be used during the various phases of transboundary crisis preparedness and response operations. In more detail it will contain on the one side operational and procedural recommendations and best practices and on the other side the technical description of the capabilities of the IN-PREP platform.
• The Mixed-Reality Preparedness Platform – A Holistic Training Tool
The MRPP targets the creation of a holistic training tool, integrating several layers of information:
-Scenario and simulation information
-Remote sensing
-C2 information (resource list/availability/allocation/characterisation, alerts/incidents)
-Modelling systems
-Decision support systems
Combination of all these data enables end-users to plan effectively, taking into account every piece of information available to them.
• Dynamic and Collaborative Response Planning
End users emphasize that the planning process itself, is incredibly important. An inactive existing plan is of low value whereas working together to consider risks, approaches, alternatives, necessary resources, etc. leads to valuable discussions and that help crisis managers to be better prepared. IN-PREP fosters this process and provides a collaborative platform where crisis managers from different organizations and countries can efficiently and effectively work together.

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