Horizon Europe project TEMA: Flood Response Innovation
As disasters become increasingly frequent and severe, the need for advanced, interoperable technologies in disaster management has never been more urgent.
Flood
For first responder organisations like the Bavarian Red Cross, which played a critical role in responding to the devastating floods in southern Germany in late May and early June 2024, these challenges underscore the importance of adopting new tools that can swiftly deliver digital situation reports, enhance coordination, speed up response times and ultimately save lives. The Horizon Europe project TEMA (Trusted Extremely Precise Mapping and Prediction for Emergency Management) offers a solution to these pressing needs by introducing cutting-edge, interoperable technologies that integrate into various aspects of disaster management. These tools are designed to streamline communication between different agencies and Public Protection & Disaster Relief (PPDR), improve situational awareness and provide real-time data, making them invaluable in managing large-scale emergencies like the 2024 floods in Europe.
The Bavarian Red Cross HQ is one of several civil protection agencies that have joined TEMA as partners to explore how these technologies can improve their operations. The floods in Germany during May and June 2024 highlighted how disasters can quickly overwhelm existing systems, creating significant challenges for rescue services. In these floods, widespread areas were inundated, causing extensive damage to infrastructure and requiring a coordinated, multi-agency response.
The Bavarian Red Cross, along with other organisations, such as TEMA project partner, the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), played a key role by providing (DLR) and distributing (BRK) satellite maps and satellite products during the crisis. However, as with any large-scale disaster, communication between different agencies posed a critical bottleneck, with information flow often delayed or incomplete. As Uwe Kippnich, Coordinator of security research and applied telematics at the Bavarian Red Cross, explains, “One focus is the operation room which is set up in a working infrastructure. Another point is a command post in the field. It is quite different. Both must communicate in both ways. But if you have no coverage, the command centre cannot connect and get the information for the next planning.” These challenges reinforced the need for systems like TEMA, which will offer an interoperable platform to connect field operatives, command centres and external agencies in real-time.
One of the core features of TEMA is its ability to enhance situational awareness through digital twin technology. A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical asset or environment that can be updated in real-time with live data from the field. In the context of disaster management, TEMA’s interoperable digital twins will allow responders to create detailed, real-time maps of affected areas, track the movement of rescue teams and predict the spread of hazards such as floodwaters or fires. During the 2024 floods in Germany, satellite mapping technology and field data were crucial in understanding the scope and the “epicentre” of the disaster. With TEMA's digital twins, responders will have an even more accurate and up-to-date picture of the affected regions, allowing for better decision-making and faster deployment
The importance of adopting interoperable solutions, like those offered by TEMA, cannot be overstated. The ability for different agencies to seamlessly share information and coordinate their efforts is essential in large-scale disasters. "The most important fact for TEMA is to be integrated with our line of work," notes Uwe, highlighting the crucial role TEMA's technology would play in improving response times and ensuring that all parties work with the same, real-time data. This helps avoid confusion, prevents duplication of efforts and ensures that resources are deployed where they are needed most.
In addition to its digital twin technology, TEMA also offers satellite mapping solutions vital in flood management. During the 2024 floods in southern Germany, satellite imagery provided critical insights into the extent of flooding, allowing authorities to identify the most affected areas and prioritise their response efforts. However, integrating this data with on-the-ground information posed a challenge. TEMA's platform addresses this by offering seamless integration of satellite data with field reports, enabling a more comprehensive and dynamic understanding of the situation as it unfolds. As the world faces more frequent and intense disasters, the role of technology in disaster management will continue to grow. Projects like TEMA pioneer new ways to enhance the effectiveness of rescue operations through interoperable digital solutions that not only improve coordination but also offer real-time insights that can save lives.
For organisations like the Bavarian Red Cross, on the front lines of disaster response, these innovations hold the potential to transform their operations. "The Bavarian Red Cross is very excited to work on this research project, and of course, we support any kind of improvements in our work. Our task is to make the work of our first responders less stressful, more efficient and to save more lives," explains Margareta Mihalic Dogan, project manager in the Bavarian Red Cross representative, underlining the life-saving potential of TEMA's technologies.
By including interoperable technological solutions such as digital twins, smart desks and satellite mapping into their operations, agencies like the Bavarian Red Cross can respond to disasters more effectively, ensuring that critical information is shared in real-time and that resources are deployed efficiently. The 2024 floods in Germany demonstrated the importance of these capabilities and TEMA offers a promising solution for future disaster management efforts. As agencies continue to adopt these technologies, they will be better prepared to handle the increasing complexity and scale of modern-day emergencies, ultimately saving more lives and minimising the damage caused by natural disasters.
Author: Aikaterini Beli, communication manager at the Lisbon Council, communication, dissemination and exploitation leader of Horizon Europe project TEMA