COLLARIS Network is currently preparing one of its biggest trials so far – the two-day event at the Hasslum training ground in Skövde, Sweden will take place between May 22 and 24 (the last day being dedicated to evaluator and network workshops), and will be another good opportunity to test and evaluate the use of drones in disaster management.
The trial is planned and conducted by MSB (Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency) in collaboration with the Fire and Rescue Service Skaraborg (RS), the Region of Västra Götaland (RVG), and the Swedish Police. The trial will explore the supplemental values and possibilities of different training and exercise formats: live simulation and virtual simulation for emergency management exercises with a focus on the use of UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems). The scenarios are designed to necessitate the use of several UAS and thereby enhance training related to air traffic management, safety, and collaboration between the different involved organizations. The evaluation will focus on how the challenges related to use of UAS can be addressed in the two training formats. As a supplement to the COLLARIS trial conducted at Valabre in November 2023, which focused on pilot and commander interaction, this trial will concentrate on the multi-agency managerial level.
The trial will be conducted in close collaboration with RS and integrated into the annual live simulation exercises. Three teams of firefighters, their team leaders (incident commander level one), the commanders at levels two and three, as well as police and EMS personnel, participate in these exercises. By integrating the COLLARIS trial into this annual exercise, the trial will take place within the live simulation exercise and also add a virtual simulation exercise. The scenarios will be tailored to include UAS challenges identified in COLLARIS.
Additionally, COLLARIS and RS will collaborate with the RVG-led project Previs 2, which is exploring the use of first responder UAS. In the trial/exercise the Previs 2 first responder UAS will arrive first on scene. The EMS will participate with several ambulances with crews and managers and an EMS helicopter. The Swedish Police will participate with their local police crews, officers, and UAS resources. In summary, the collaboration between organizations and projects enables this large muti- agency exercises in live and virtual simulation and provides the arena for the COLLARIS trial.
***
About COLLARIS
COLLARIS (COLLaborative network on unmanned AeRIal Systems) is a capacity-building initiative to develop a sustainable European network of scientific, engineering, and end-user expertise related to unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in civil protection and disaster response. Learn more.
